Essay about Chemicals In The Environment

Environmental scanning can be viewed as a way of acquiring information about outside events that can aid organizations in first identifying potential trends, then interpreting them

Between 2002 and 2005 alone, the amount of chemical substances produced or imported in the United States increased from 42 billion pounds per day to 74 billion pounds per day. The amount of chemicals in commerce in the United States has increased from 62,000 grandfathered chemicals in 1976, to almost 83,000 in 2008, a difference of more than 20,000. Of this 83,000, the EPA has only been able to ban or restrict five chemicals under TSCA: PCBs, dioxin, CFCs, hexavalent chromium, and asbestos. Additionally, the EPA has independently tested only 250 of the 83,000 registered chemicals in commerce in the United States. Richard Denison, a Senior Scientist for the Environmental Defense Fund explained these incredibly low numbers by stating, “TSCA places an impossibly high burden on EPA before it can act to control a chemical.” In fact, under TSCA, “the EPA can’t even require testing to determine whether a risk exists without first showing a risk is likely.” For that reason, a large majority of chemicals used in the United States have never been tested for health and environmental effects. Studies have shown that due to the proliferation of these chemicals into homes, workplaces, and schools, the average American has a detectable concentration of 300 environmental chemicals. Among other issues, many of these chemicals can affect brain and organ function and cause cancer. Consequently, it is clear that

With the supply of fossil fuels steadily declining, gas and oil is becoming harder to harvest which means it is getting more expensive. Fossil fuels take millions of years to be naturally produced, yet each person burns gallons of gas per day (Maehlum par. 5). Though fossil fuels are produced naturally, when burned they release nitrogen oxides gases into the atmosphere, which contributes to the formation of smog and acid rain. According to the EPA, major sources of these nitrogen oxide emissions come from cars and trucks, coal-fire powered plants, large industrial operations, and ships and airplanes (EPA par 3). By reducing the number of gas powered cars on the road, we can reduce the amount of harmful chemicals we are releasing into our atmosphere.

This article talks about what a pesticide is and how it affects people. This is relevant to my research topic because I will be using pesticides on plants to measure the growth. In order to do this, I will need to know what a pesticide is and what it does. A unique feature of this article is that it includes videos explaining the topic, and links at the bottom of the page to look further into pesticides. A strength is that the article is very specific and on-point. However, it doesn't show much more than just what a pesticide is. There is no bias in this source.

When pesticides enter the food chain they cause damage to the DNA and disrupts hormones in humans. The prevalence of cancer in farmers and their families is more often than in general population because they are more exposed to pesticides during farming. “Studies by the National Cancer Institute found that American farmers, who in most respects are healthier than the population at large, had startling incidences of leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and many other forms of cancer” (The Problem with Pesticides, n.d. para 9). Studies also point towards a strong connection between the pesticide exposure during pregnancy and childhood to the increased risk of cancer in children. Furthermore, “ Results of a family based, “case-control” study support a relationship between exposure to pesticides and the development of Parkinson’s disease” (Reuters Health, 2008). Investigations have revealed a higher incidence of Parkinson’s disease in families with no history of Parkinson’s pointing towards the role of pesticides and their neurological impact. In addition, fetal deaths and birth defects have also been associated to the role of pesticide exposure. Pesticide exposure has been found responsible for reduced fertility in males. Owing to

The EPA classifies Glyphosate as a E level chemical, meaning it does not cause cancer and has few negative health effects. Argentine scientists are asking for a temporary ban on Glyphosate as they have found exposure to the chemical has increased birth defects and cancer. Studies in Sweden found that exposure can create a high risk for developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A test performed by journal Chemical Research in Toxicology on the effect of Glyphosate and POEA have on embryonic, placenta, and umbilical cells. All three types of cells were killed by the two, POEA was the most deadly. POEA and Glyphosate together increased the toxicity of the Glyphosate, POEA and Glyphosate are commonly found together in herbicides and pesticides. The chemicals kill the cells by limit their ability to breath, and stressing them to the point of suicide. Cell damage was found at all concentrations of the two chemicals. Roundup is a fertilizer and herbicide producing company, when studies were done using their product on umbilical cells it had the same results as pure Glyphosate. Atrazine is the 2nd most common herbicide used in the United States, in 2007 73-78 million pounds of Atrazine was poured over American soil. Atrazine is known to cause cardiovascular problems as well as reproductive issues. Millions of pounds of Atrazine enter the water system every year, this is because it is

Atrazine is an herbicide that does not occur naturally, can be applied before and after planting to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. Atrazine is part of the triazine chemical class, it is mostly used for agriculture. Farmers value atrazine for its effective use against some of the toughest weeds in corn like lambsquarters, morningglory, pigweed, and foxtails that make it the most popular herbicide in pre-mix combination products. Atrazine is an odorless, white powder that is not very volatile, reactive, or flammable, and that will dissolve in water. Atrazine is used to kill weeds, mostly on farms, but also been used on highway and golf courses. The EPA now controls how atrazine can be used and implemented, only trained people are allowed

Atrazine is a herbicide of the triazene class. It is used to prevent pre and postemergence broadleaf weeds in crops such as maize and sugarcane and on turf, such as golf courses and residential lawns. Also, made in a lab and not naturally.

America the Beautiful! So why are we destroying it everyday with the use of pesticides? It has been proven that pesticides have affects on it's surrounding, although made to improve earths resources, they typically take there negative effect on the environment in time. Pesticides affect more than the environment; they also affect the animals and humans living in the environment. There are alternative, to this major problem but, we as the caretakers of earth must act fast. In the following paper I'm going to share with you what pesticides are. I'll tell you why they are not safe to use and some of the affects of pesticides. Last, I will talk about some new alternatives there are

Many scientific researchers have said that our environment has been filled with toxic chemicals, which us humans have had a part of. There are many different issues that should concern us surrounding these toxic chemicals. The major concern is that many of these toxic chemicals have been claimed to be causing damage to the health of humans and even other life forms. Another concern is that most of the theses toxic chemicals have just recently been produced; and by our environment changing everyday there is no telling what effects these toxic chemicals may have in the long run on the public 's health. Just about all of these toxic chemicals exist in the way they do because of humans. As humans we practice a lot of different activities that cause toxic chemicals to pollute our environment such as, agriculture, industrial, and many domestic activities as well. Many of the toxic chemicals that we produce and use don 't get used in a effective way, which causes them to be wasted, left abandoned, and disposed of. When toxic chemicals are not disposed of properly they effect the environment and the public 's health in a negative way.

“Automobiles have a large impact on the quality of our environment and public health. Automobile use affects virtually every aspect of environmental quality - including noise levels, air quality, water pollution, and urban sprawl. Ninety percent of the environmental impact of automobiles occurs through the operation of the cars: about 10 percent from the production, raw materials and disposal of

can only do harm in this situation of our enviroment. Increasing pollution of these chemicals are

Automobiles are undeniable the greatest source of pollution. The noise pollution created by cars is immense. Another polluting effect of cars is the heat it creates. This heat makes it unpleasant to be near the car while its running. And of course the most famous

of chemicals everyday. It affects us drastically and we depend on it to be clean.

Pollution has become a major issue over the years because it contaminates the Earth’s environment and affects human health. While some environmental pollution is a result of natural causes such as volcanic eruptions, most is caused by human activities. The increase of various types of pollution has made cancer pollutant more prevalent among the people, raising the risk of getting cancer. After being exposed to theses pollutants, the effects may be immediate or delayed. Some of the delayed effects, due to the exposure, can go unnoticed for many years. Another major issue that pollution creates is the tremendous cost for preventing and cleaning it up. However, we can not regulate the pollutants to the extent where there are no more possible