...is an extreme amount of pollution in the Missouri River. According to a report released in 2012 by the advocacy group Environment Missouri, the Missouri River was ranked as the seventh most polluted U.S. waterway, with nearly 5 million pounds of dumped toxins. (Bernhard, Blythe, “Mississippi River is second-most polluted U.S. waterway,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 22, 2012). The source of much of this pollution is companies that are a part of our everyday lives, and is often illegal. For example, Tyson Fresh Meat, which is the world's leading beef and pork supplier, was fined one million dollars for unlawful polluting. Further, in 2009, “Bayer CropScience released 342 pounds of cancer-causing chemicals into the Missouri River.” (“Top Ten Frightening Fact About The Missouri River,” Environment Missouri, October 28, 2010)....
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...Environmental problem: Water pollution Nowadays in our world there have many environmental problems happening and almost of them haven’t been solved yet and still have an effect until nowadays. The one of interesting environmental problem is water pollution. Water covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface. Water is usually important and necessary for humans and animals life. We can’t deny that everyone needs water in order to be alive but nowadays many countries in our world have problems of water pollution. Water pollution occurs when the pollutants contaminate to water bodies. The pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly to water bodies and it is often that the pollutants get into water mainly by human causes. The contaminated drinking water can be as a contributor to wide range of health problems in humans and have negative impacts on wild animals and the environment as a whole. According to a report released by the advocacy group environmental Missouri, there were more than 12.7 million pounds of toxic chemicals, such as nitrates, arsenic, benzene and mercury were dumped into the Mississippi River in 2010. And another data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only the Ohio River, with 32 million pounds, received more toxic discharge in 2010 (Bernhard, 2012). "Missouri's waterways are a polluter's paradise right now," said Sarah MacFarland, state field associate for Environment Missouri. "These toxic chemicals end up contaminating our drinking water and are absorbed...
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...Acting Locally Paper Crystal Dillon-Reeves BIO/289 February 25,2013 Dennis Kostac Acting Locally Paper The Shut-In Mountain Fen has some of the wettest and the driest habitats that are founf in the state of Missouri. This particular wetland fen has the most diverse ecological community and habitats found in the state. The Shut-In Mountain Fens preserve features of more than 15 types of fen communities ("Missouri Shut-In Fens", 2010). It is located in the Ozark Mountains in the southern central part of the state. In 2010, researchers found the rare carnivorous palnt called the Small Bladderwort growing here. The plant is an aquatic plant species that floats on the ponds, lakes and marshes with almost no root system. This animal eating plant feeds off of aquatic invertebrates, such as mosquito larvae, protozoans and tiny crustaceans. That is not the only thing that has been found in the plants traps though. Small tadpoles and newly hatched fish have also been found to fall prey to this carnivorous plant. The Small Bladderwort is Missouri’s only carnivorous plant. A plant eating animals is a rare quality, so to find one around where you live is an exciting thing. The plant does not really have an intrinsic value. It is mainly just about what they are and what they are about. It is not thought that this plant has any beneficial use to humans, other than the plant is hughly unique. The Shut-In Mountain fen is also the only home to the Current River Saddled Darter. This fish species...
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...always thought bottled water was the best thing on the planet; however, after being educated by my professor and conducting my own research, my whole perspective on bottled water has changed. But what exactly is a bottled water? According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, “water is classified as ‘bottled water’ or ‘drinking water’ when it meets all applicable federal and state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container and is sold for human consumption” (“Bottled Water FAQS”). To most of us, a bottle of water is a shiny, durable container filled with refreshing water that is consumed every day. However, there is a secret story behind the use of...
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...Cameron Wilbert GLG 171 4/24/13 Prof Gutierrez Mercury is a toxic element that pollutes our lakes and streams in the United States and around the world. Some might ask what mercury is. It is a silvery colored element that is naturally found in air, water, soil and even rocks. It is a dense liquid of the heavy metals category of elements. It can be commonly found in thermometers, batteries, light switches and fluorescent light bulbs. Mercury pollution comes from coal burning power plants. When it is released into the air it returns to earth via rain and snow and therefore deposited into our bodies of water. Once the mercury is in our water it is transformed by bacteria and sunlight into the most toxic form of mercury; methyl-mercury. Most mercury that is in our environment can be found as a gas; Hg. When it is high in the air it converted into Hg (ii). Methyl-mercury is so dangerous because it is highly soluble and bio accumulative in the food chain. Bio accumulation is the process where organisms take up a contaminant faster than their bodies can eliminate it. As mercury moves up the food chain it bio magnifies and the contaminants concentration becomes more and more dangerous each time it grows. It enters the food chain first by small insect and animals which are then ate by smaller fish and so on, each time the methyl is passed on to the cells of the fish until they reach the predatory biggest fish in the environment. The fish at the top of the food chain; big mouth bass...
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...Essentially, this will free the country from dependence on foreign oil companies and make it a net exporter of oil (Bell). Although it is easy to see the economic benefits concerning foreign affairs, the safety of the environment and citizens are possibly in danger, providing the pipeline is constructed. Furthermore, if an oil spill occurs, it will likely contaminate the environment around it, endanger plants and wildlife, and possibly enter into water sources upon which millions are dependent. There are many Native Americans who dislike the pipeline, however, there are also some who “welcome” the development and change just on the other side of the river(Sisk). Although some Native Americans support the new development they are still concerned with the welfare of their people and the water source they heavily rely on, the Missouri river. Many diverse groups have come...
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...From another perspective, the U.S education system needs to impart the students regarding the cultural values and beliefs of the Native American in an authentic way as possible. Alyssa Landry, author of "All Indians Are dead? At Least that What's What Most Schools Teach Children." expresses that "Every once in a while, a student would mention something about the Trail of Tears. It was incredibly frustrating. They were coming to college believing that all Indians are dead" (107). She is upset regarding to most of the schools throughout the United States provide the imprecise facts about the Indigenous populations for the students; The schools also misrepresent the Native people who are in feathers and chasing buffalos on pinto ponies Those people...
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...Watersheds, Watersheds Water is essential to have for any living thing, any given day. Most humans use, consume, or waste the most amount of water. Humans have the mindset that water will never run out, when in fact that is just the case. Our water is slowly vanishing, being contaminated, or wasted. There are key factors to take into consideration when determining how our water is doing not only internationally, but globally. When it comes to water, the World Health Organization (WHO) is one of the main corporations responsible for passing along the information on how the water security is doing. There are more ways to infect water than to help it. The WHO clearly states on the front page of the water section of their website, “The amount of fresh water on earth is limited, and its quality is under constant pressure. Preserving the quality of fresh water is important for the drinking-water supply, food production, and recreational water use. Water quality can be compromised by the presence of infectious agents, toxic chemicals, and radiological hazards” (WHO). This is just an emphasis on the importance of being aware of the preservation of water and how it easily it can affect anything when infected. The WHO does everything in order to ensure the safety of the water and creates opportunities to become informed about the water one drinks. Water has a huge affect on anything living. Water has the same impact on the United States as it does globally. If water is contaminated, then...
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...Keystone XL Pipeline Do you think you would want a pipeline to go through your property and put lives at risk? No, people don’t want the pipeline to happen because of the horrible things that could end up happening. Many believe the pipeline will create more jobs, but many think otherwise. A life could be taken away in a second. The pipeline would put the wildlife at risk from toxic oil spills, polluted water, and more. The people and animals in the way of the pipeline will end up having to move when the construction begins. In the U.S, the Keystone Pipeline is doing more harm than good. Trans Canada is a large public company that operates diverse energy-related investments (McElroy). They are also the leader in the development and reliable and safe operation of North American energy infrastructure. Trans Canada owns and has interests in over 10,500 megawatts and is one of the continent’s largest...
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...Contents…………………………………………………………………………..Page 1 Abstract…………………………………...……………………………………………………...2 History of the Clean Water Act..……………………………………………………...…………3 The Purpose and Intent of the Clean Water Act……………………….…......………………….5 Summary of the Clean Water Act...........................................................................................…. .5 How the Clean Water Act affects Businesses………………………………………..…………..6 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………...…………………..10 References……………………………………………………………………………………….11 Appendix Case Study …………………………………………………………………………...………..7 Abstract This paper was written with the attempt to educate the reader on the inception and brief history of “clean water act of 1972”. Before this important law companies used our waterways as liquid landfills. This law was one of many that was desperately needed to help make America a better place for generations to come. Antonio Hines Environmental Science November 3, 2014 The Clean Water Act of 1972 History of the Clean Water Act Dead fish floating in our river ways and different wildlife lying on the banks of our streams was common place in the early 60’s. In Ohio, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland was so polluted that it caught fire – for the tenth time! Time Magazine reported that Lake Erie was dying from all the waste dumped into it. Saint Louis took its drinking water from the muddy Missouri River because it had gotten to the point that no one wanted to eat or drink from the Mississippi River...
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...clear-cut standard; everything that is essential for our continued existence and well-being depends, directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability generates and preserved the conditions under which human beings and nature can exist in constructive accord, which allows fulfilling the economic, social and other conditions of current and future generations. Sustainability is vital to making sure that humans will maintain and will have materials, water, and resources to guard human health and our environment. Sustainability has surfaced as an outcome of major distress about the unintentional economic, environmental, and social consequence of increased economic and population, and use of our natural resources. The nation environmental “watch dog”, the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA), attempts to make sure that businesses meet all legal condition to manage pollution, In recent years, the EPA began creating a concept, tools, and procedures that allowed it to go from managing to preventing pollution. At the present time, the EPA aspires to make sustainability the next step of environmental security by gaining advances in science technology to defend human environment and health, and encouraging new green business routines. The Earth’s life foundation systems are in danger. Human beings are not living sustainably, and are heading towards a breakdown of the natural resources on which human civilization and its economy depends on. Even though it is not a popular...
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...overflowing of a body of water onto dry land’, is enhanced by human intervention. Apart from natural causes; rainfall. Humans, in development, conquest to disturb the environment. Human factors such as urbanisation, changing of river systems (e.g. the building of levees, channel straightening etc.) are all important in the causes and consequences of flooding. * Firstly, there is the issue of deforestation; the cutting down and removal of trees. Deforestation means that there is less vegetation for the interception of water, meaning that there is a larger amount of surface run-off, while deforestation also results in the loss of top-soil, and therefore the inability for new trees to grow. Since 1990, Bangladesh has lost a total of 2,600 hectares (ha) of forest cover per year, this equates to 0.17% of all forest cover in Bangladesh, meaning that by 1998, there would be an average loss of 20,800 ha of forest, this is contrasted in the US, where afforestation is taking place due to Flood Action Plans by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). * Secondly, urbanisation. 82% of the United States’ population lives in urban conditions, while the 1990 US census shows that in Mississippi State alone, there was 49% urbanisation. Let alone this and discounting the 31 states covered by the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB), the 12 states that the Mississippi river basin comprises of: Arkansas; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kentucky; Louisiana; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Ohio; Tennessee...
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...While many citizens understand that farms can come with a little odor, the concentration of these fumes near CAFOs can be overpowering and even limit the enjoyment one has in their own home and impact their health. The primary cause of the odor pollution comes from the gasses emitted from decomposing manure; these gases can come either from the building sites or from the fields where manure is applied to land as fertilizer. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) notes that “The most typical pollutants found in air surrounding CAFOs are ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and particulate matter, all of which have varying human health risks.” (Hribar...
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...sustainable agriculture company. Monsanto Company is a publicly traded American multinational agricultural corporation headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Founded in 1901 by John Francis, by the 1940s it was a major producer of plastics, including polystyrene and synthetic fibers. Monsanto has become the world leader in genetically modified organisms. Present in 46 countries, leader in biotechnology produces 90% of GMOs grown worldwide (soybean, rapeseed, cotton, corn, etc..) and became one of redemption by the first seed of the planet that could ultimately control the entire food chain. Notable achievements by Monsanto and its scientists as a chemical company included breakthrough research on catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation and being the first company to mass-produce light emitting diodes (LEDs). The company also formerly manufactured controversial products such as the insecticide DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange, and recombinant bovine somatotropin. On their official website this company looks like a perfect and respectable agricultural society. Their principal slogan is “Monsanto a sustainable agriculture company”. The website also shows advertisement such as "Our innovations helps farmers produce more food using less natural ressources" , "Monsanto is playing a key role in helping farmers adress the challenge of water", "Monsanto company named one of CR' magazine's 100 best corporate citizens", or “learn how Monsanto is connecting the dots to a more sustainable future”...
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...humans and the human condition, this is a fairly simple and insightful way to discover the changes that environmental factors have on gene expression. With an increased focus on production and manufacturing decades ago, humans also increased the pollutions in the air, ground and water. Around the Industrial Revolution was in full force, may new diseases and other disorders also emerged. Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill write about the potential mechanisms behind this happening, they infer that these diseases may not have been from the presence of microbes but by the new presence of pollution. Olmsted and Blaxill argue, “it is possible that just as the most common infectious diseases jumped the species barrier from animal to man as human progress put these animal species in close regular contact with large numbers of humans, industrial progress has similarly evoked a new set of human diseases: conditions that have their roots not in microbes we shared with our animal companions but in the pollution we created as we began to unleash the power of fossil fuel, burning and releasing centuries of natural toxins that had settled in alongside the hydrocarbons” (Olmsted and Blaxill, 2010). Due to this sharp change in fossil fuels and other pollution that was being released into the air during the Industrial Revolution it is entirely possible that people were exposed to more or less of certain chemicals. This could be contingent upon occupation, living situation, health status and many other...
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