This article explores the outcomes of human error, in which an employee, at San Jose’s wastewater treatment, accidentally released nearly one million gallons of partially treated sewage into the San Francisco Bay. The error occurred when the employee turned the wrong valve, which had been discovered and closed ten minutes later. The incident had not caused any damage or harm to the environment or to the public, since the sewage had been secondarily treated - meaning that 95 percent of “suspended solids” are removed. Samples of water were taken by the outflow of the pipe and revealed that the wastewater had not surpassed health limits proposed by the federal or state government. Environmentalists are tracking the conditions and have not found
Did Lorman’s wastewater emissions play any role in this tragic outcome?” Although these are Ben’s thoughts, this is not definitely the case; there is no definite proof that there is a link between the chemicals in the wastewater emissions and health problems. Ben must put aside his our pre-conceived notions and work objectively on the data. This is another good example of his responsibility to use integrity when making a decision to avoid conflicts of interest. 4. To the board of directors: o “Although collected with meticulous care, the data Ben had painstakingly gathered was composed only of educated estimates, leaving him with an uneasy feeling.” Although Ben may want to present his data in a way that supports his decision, it is important that his audiences know the legitimacy of his data. It is his responsibility to communicate information fairly and objectively and to disclose any deficiencies in the data. 5. To shareholders of Lorman Lumber Co: o “Company and shareholder profitability would certainly be affected.” In order to support Ben’s credibility, it is important that he disclose all relevant information to the investors of Lorman Lumber Co. Although shareholder equity would most certainly be affected by such a significant capital investment and reduction of revenue in the short run, Ben could be ensuring shareholder value over the long run by improving productivity, lowering negative
In 1975, seemingly absurd predictions made in Rachel’s Carlson Silent Spring (1962) on human health and ecosystem hazards caused by DDT materialized in our James River, Virginia. Irresponsible chemical disposure from Life Science Products made workers ill from neurotoxin exposure, suffering from symptoms of nosebleeds, headaches, chest pains, and dizziness from neurotoxin exposure (Goldfarb, William). Ecosystem was destroyed animals leaving the area with 200,000 pounds of Kepone found on almost all land surfaces, and parts of the river (Wilson, Sarah).
Toms River—the arrogance of companies in Ocean County, New Jersey affected the environment and human health from dumping waste, discharging acid-laced wastewater, and polluting the air and water exposed toxic chemicals that made children become at higher risk for cancer. Government negligence left these chemical companies avoid prosecution and dumping waste improperly became a common practice. The main idea from this book is the environment does impact your health significantly. Therefore, it is best when regulations are being managed and controlled. Also, studies should be approached in different ways to prove an evidence and remain open to new possibilities and exposures. The main problem in Toms River were regulations were not being enforced
Over the past couple of years a new environmental issue has taken place illegal dumping, which is astoundingly different than the environmental issues that the City of Houston has been commonly known for, although it has devastating effect. In, fact what is rather unusual for this issue unlike the issues of air pollution the oil and gas industry has little to no involvement with creating the issue. While the city of Houston and Galveston had created guidelines for handling illegal dumping in 1999 the need to address this issue returned in early 2015.
This passage reminded me about this book I read, ‘’ Civil Action,’’ the book was resolves around the illegal dumping of the industrial chemical solvent, trichloroethylene, and how it contaminated the city’s drinking water causing Leukemia, cancer and other health issues among the people of Woburn. For instance, there were 12 deaths (8 of them children). However, a law suit was brought to this company since a young boy died of Leukemia. The government need to be held accountable for these damage since they are the one who are making the rules. I believe that the health of citizens should always come first no matter what. I wonder when other companies are going to spend forward admitting to what they are doing to our environment? When will
The top priorities in the United States’ public policy making process continue to be protection from terrorism, a stronger economy, and the creation of more jobs (Pew Research Center, 2015). However, with a growing concern for public health and safety due to environmental issues, perhaps our policy makers should address the issues we face daily while living in our communities. The environmental issues extend beyond unhealthy, and risky conditions due to waste management and unsustainable lifestyles. The environmental issues we face are dispersed unevenly in communities, especially in urban areas among minorities. The unequitable dispersal of environmental hazards, transforms a physical resource problem into one of social justice and political decisions. David Pellow addresses this issue in his book, Garbage Wars, by providing a history of movements, technology, politics, waste management and waste conflicts in the US to create an understanding of how inequalities emerge and persist.
New Bedford Harbor, the world’s famous whaling seaport and current number one fishing port in America, continues to be plagued by toxic pollution, which has caused it to become one of the largest EPA Superfund cleanup sites. The harbor, an urban estuary, contains sediment that is highly contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The PCB-containing industrial waste was introduced into the harbor by two manufacturing facilities from the 1940’s to the 1970’s when the EPA banned the production of PCBs. The result was contamination of six miles of the harbor bottom from the Acushnet River into Buzzards Bay; over 100,000 people currently reside within 3 miles of the contaminated area. PCBs do not break down easily in the environment and therefore pose a serious risk to human health and the environment. Thus, in 1982, the harbor was put onto the EPA’s National Priorities
The beauty of California is slowly fading away and as environmentalists would say, “There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its surrounding” (Carson, 366). According to the findings revealed by research foundations in California, marine life is and has been in great danger as a result of plastic remains that accumulates in the Ocean. In his article Daniel Woods states, “Approximately eighty percent of remains found in Oceans are made of plastic that originates from urban runoffs such as plastic trash carried away from landfills, trucks, as well as garbage containers, marinas, ports and construction trash” (Wood, 20). Furthermore, these results also revealed that marine remains where made up of disposable plastic products that constitute food packaging as well as containers that are ever present and contain precious resources that can be used unsustainably. These issues have affected the state critically and have lead me to research the reasons behind the banning of plastic pollution, their economic impact, harm resulting from plastic pollution, as well as federal concerns on plastic contamination.
A SERIES OF HUMAN ERRORS’ is to blame for a US warplane’s strike on a hospital in Afghanistan run by Doctors Without Borders that killed 30 people and injured dozens last month, according to the official military investigation report – which details a series of technical and procedural problems that led to the tragedy.
During the 1990’s one of the most famous cruise ship companies, Royal Caribbean, was caught illegally discharging toxic waste into oceans surrounding the United States and surrounding countries, as well as international waters. According to Wald the waste included, but is not limited to, oily water from the bilge of the ships, chemicals used for dry cleaning, and chemicals used to develop film. These chemicals were mixed in with the gray water, used water that is safe to drain into the ocean, and then flushed out with the gray water (1999). The Department of Justice pointed out that in an attempt to cover their tracks, workers on these cruise ships kept false maintenance logs, and had bypass pipes
In one paragraph, Carson introduces the problem of over-spraying by saying that “the problem whose attempted solution has touched off such a train of disaster is an accompaniment of our modern way of life” (Carson 4). I do believe that Carson is on the right track with this notion; something must be changed within our society regarding the amount of respect we hold for the sciences and our environment. In support of the belief that modern society is partly to blame for the severity of recent environmental issues Carson also writes, “all other considerations aside, when more taxpayers understand that the bill for spraying the town should come due only once a generation instead of once a year, they will surely rise up and demand a change of method” (Carson 39). This comment reflects upon the somewhat misguided values we hold dear. Capitalism dominates our society, and Carson and I can both agree it is to our detriment that we hold it above all else.
By having knowledge of the chromium in the water supply, PG&E should have been required to let the people know that were affected by it. By not telling the citizens, they were withholding information that affected these people’s lives. Because a risk was created, consequences came, and nothing was done to prevent such injuries that did occur, PG&E should have been considered negligent.
The senior officials of San Jose failed when it came to the disaster that had hit a short time ago. Numerous days leading up to the tragedy, officials had evidence that the water was continuously rising. A better plan should have been implemented in order to minimize the damage as much as possible. Think of it as a company brand; you wouldn't let your business drown when you see evidence of an increasing disaster. The officials of San Jose, their brand is the city of San Jose, and the well being of its residents. Good decision making is essential for management because it shows how the function to solve problems. In the future, they could prevent by making better choices when it comes to available alternatives.
I propose to add the environmental justice issue of environmental discrimination into the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. To do so, I will investigate specific issues and regulation deficiencies that are negatively impacting the Great Lakes’ reserves, and develop a plan of action on your behalf. As you are aware, protecting the Great Lakes is critically important. It is not only the largest source of freshwater in the United States but in the whole world. Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin border the Great Lakes, and all of those states use it as a water source for a total of about 10 million people. Since the passing of the Clean Water Act, industries like U.S. Steel Industry have been using the loopholes found in the bill to further their profit, and as a side effect has caused damage to the water supply, disproportionately affecting people in marginalized communities. By using these loopholes, the Great Lakes are continually polluted, which causes appalling damage to the millions of people who use the water for drinking and other water-centric necessities. Also, aging infrastructure causes leaking pipes, corroding pipes that jeopardize the water systems, and failing sewage treatment plants. These infrastructure problems not only disproportionate effect marginalized communities but all communities suffer when the Great Lakes become polluted.
Hazardous waste and its proper disposal have become a major sociological problem today due to its capability of contaminating the area in which we live and its potential to be lethal to all living things. In order for the United States and the rest of the world to save itself from a potentially life threatening problem they must fix the causes which lead to the improper disposal of hazardous wastes and like materials. Some reasons that hazardous waste has become a problem in the United States today is due to the breakdown in enforcing laws for the proper disposal of such wastes, a lack of initiative on big companies behalf to spend money on proper disposal, and the ease of disposing of such wastes illegally.