Category: Environmental science

Value of flame retardants in furniture

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For this module’s discussion, please first review the following resources:

http://www.bromhttps://www.bsef.com/what-are-flame-retardants/#furniture (Links to an external site.)
http://www.acsh.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/20060809_flame.pdf (Links to an external site.)
http://www.ceh.org/wp-content/uphttps://www.ceh.org/latest/press-releases/playing-on-poisons-childrens-furniture-found-with-harmful-flame-retardant-chemicals/ (Links to an external site.)
http://www.apha.org/policies-and-advocacy/public-health-policy-statements/policy-database/2014/07/02/13/41/preventing-human-exposure-to-polybrominated-diphenyl-ether-flame-retardants-to-protect-public-health (Links to an external site.)
Then, reflect on and respond to the following: Based on these resources (please use references and citations, where appropriate), how do you see the trade-offs between the value of flame retardants in furniture and the risk of health effects of the chemicals used in these processes? What would do? What would you recommend to your family and friends?

Maryland’s approach

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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is working to identify the undeveloped lands that are most critical to the state’s long-term ecological health. These lands, referred to as Maryland’s green infrastructure, provide the natural foundation needed to support diverse plant and animal populations, and enable valuable natural processes like filtering water and cleaning the air to take place. Identifying and setting priorities for protection of the green infrastructure is an ongoing process. Review this description of Maryland’s green infrastructure, Links to an external site. including county-by-county maps.

Using Maryland’s approach as a guide, find out how your community treats its open spaces. If you live in an urban area, does your city protect urban forests or other natural areas? If your community is suburban or rural in nature, is agricultural or habitat protected in any way? What water quality protections are in place at the local level? State level?

The Maunder Minimum

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The Maunder Minimum was a time within the Little Ice Age (1645-1715) where there was little sunspot activity and colder temperatures. One the other hand, there was a period in the North Atlantic Region (950-1250) we refer to as the Medieval Climate Anomaly.

In your opinion, are we in a climate anomaly, in a period of natural warming, or in a time of anthropogenic induced climate change?

Water consumption over the past 24 hours

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One potential source of pthalates is water consumed from plastic water bottles. But quantifying water consumption is not easy.

Consider your personal water consumption over the past 24 hours and contribute to the discussion; How many ounces of water did you consume?

How many of these were from plastic bottles?
Do you know if any of the bottles contained pthalates?
How confident are you in this self report?
If you were conducting a study, what might you do to make the measure of pthalate exposure more accurate?s

A chemical or toxicant that an individual may be exposed to

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Consider the types of places that a safety inspector would visit for an inspection such as a manufacturing or processing plant, a construction site, or a pharmaceutical company. You may even consider the environment that a firefighter may encounter for this assignment. Then identify one chemical or toxicant that an individual may be exposed to in this type of workplace. Research the chemical or toxicant and discuss the following aspects in your scholarly activity response:

Identify the chemical and discuss the chemical properties. What level of exposure of this chemical is considered toxic? What duration of exposure can produce a toxic effect?

Identify the type of workplace where this chemical may be found and the use of the chemical in this environment.

Discuss how exposure of the chemical to the worker could occur. Include the route of exposure and what organ(s) or systems of the body could be affected.

Discuss the toxic effects produced from exposure to this chemical. Consider if it is a localized or systemic effect. Are the effects acute or chronic? Explain the symptoms and effects of the toxic exposure including the organs damaged and the type of damage that occurs. Is the chemical a carcinogen, allergenic, or something else?

Discuss how to prevent toxic exposure to the chemical and any known treatments available for toxicity from this chemical.

 

 

The Clean Water Act

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A developer has proposed to build a retail mall in a long-neglected area of your town. Most people in town support the move because it would bring business and interest to the area. However, a portion of the proposed site is believed to be wetlands.

As the president of the local conservation group, how would you use the Clean Water Act to oppose the proposal?

Alternatively, as the developer of the proposal, what would you do to satisfy requirements of the Clean Water Act and still get the job done?

 

Environmental Health

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Summarize at least three articles on environmental health that you have seen in a recent newspaper (published over the past week). The summaries must be in your own words, not just a partial or complete restatement of the article abstract.

 

In your journal entry, please

List the URLs of the articles you are summarizing.
List the key takeaways from the articles.
Reflect on what aspects of each article is relevant to the community where you live.
Note that even if the factual material is not directly relevant, other aspects, such as regulations or even study methodologies will be relevant.