Activities

1. A local town is affected by a nearby industry. They are experiencing deforestation, cyanide in their water, and ash dumped in rivers and ponds. What is the industry that was brought to this town?
   1. Wheat farming
   2. Mining
   3. Toyota Manufacturing Plant
   4. Cattle Industry
      
      
2. What is the largest source of air pollution in the United States?
   1. Agriculture
   2. Manufacturing
   3. Transportation
   4. Mining
3. A farmer sprays insecticide on his field. Later that evening, a large thunderstorm dumps an inch and a half of rain on the field. What are some possible effects of the runoff created by the storm?
   
   
4. Describe the relationship between major pollutants released from cars and their relationship to global warming.
   
   
5. Local farmers in Brazil are petitioning their local governments to cut down 20 acres of rainforest. They are arguing that they need more agricultural land to support the people in their village. Develop a logical argument as to why deforestation is a poor option.
   
   
6. The transportation authorities were given the responsibility of creating a scenic highway through Pennsylvania. In an effort to comply, they used various fertilizers and nutrients to boost the growth of plants along the highway. The nutrients that were used ran off into a lake beside the highway causing it to experience an algae bloom. Critique their execution of their beautification process. What problems will be experienced and how would you correct them?

Answer Key/Rubric

1. B
   
   
2. C
   
   
3. Acceptable responses might include, but are not limited to:

1. Biological side effects may include death, health problems, and ingestion of contaminated food or water.
2. Human health side effects may include ingestion of contaminated water or food and rash from skin contact.

4. Major pollutants from cars can include, but are not limited to particle matter, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. The relationship extends to two types of pollution, primary and secondary. Primary pollution is the release of these gases directly into the atmosphere. When these gases are in the atmosphere they act as an insulation, similar to that in a house, and trap heat inside our atmosphere. Secondary pollution is a chemical reaction occurring between the pollutants and other chemicals in the atmosphere. Their chemical reactions occur causing heat to be released as a byproduct of the reaction.
   
5. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
   Discussion of soil erosion, loss of species, and disruption of the water cycle which could lead to desertification, flooding and landslides

6. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
   The transportation authorities should have read the warnings on the fertilizer about using the product so close to a water source. They also should have read the directions on how much to apply. Due to their gross oversight, it is possible that an algae bloom will form and deprive the other organisms living in the lake of vital nutrients and oxygen. As the algae covers more and more of the lake, other organisms will eventually die off providing a feeding ground for the bacteria found in the lake. To remedy the bloom, the transportation authorities should refrain from adding more nutrients to the environment as it will only continue to help the algae flourish. Other remedies include introducing new species that feed off algae (duckweed) into the environment or adding minute amounts of chemicals to the water to kill of algae (although this can be dangerous to the other organisms residing there and might not be a good idea).