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Chapter 4
Environmental Problems and
Solutions
Sect 1- Environmental Problems
Pollution is an unwanted change in the
environment caused by substances, such as
wastes, or forms of energy, such as radiation.
 1. Garbage/Hazardous waste: includes wastes
that can catch fire; corrode, or eat through metal;
explode; or make people sick. Many industries,
such as paper mills and oil refineries, produce
hazardous wastes.
 2. High-Powered Waste: Nuclear power plants
provide electricity to many homes and
businesses. The plants also produce radioactive
wastes.

3. Chemicals: Chemicals are used to treat
diseases, in plastics and preserved foods.
 The same chemicals that help people may harm
the environment.
 CFCs and PCBs are two groups of harmful
chemicals. Ozone protects Earth from harmful
ultraviolet light. CFCs destroy ozone.
 CFCs were used in aerosols, refrigerators, and
plastics.
 PCBs, was once used in appliances and paints.
 PCBs are poisonous and may cause cancer.
 Both CFCs and PCBs are banned but traces can
still be found in the atmosphere.

4. Gases: Earth’s atmosphere is made up of a
mixture of gases. The atmosphere acts as a
protective blanket. It keeps Earth warm enough
for life to exist.
 Since the Industrial Revolution, however, the
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has
increased. Carbon dioxide and other air
pollutants act like a greenhouse, trapping heat
around the Earth.
 Many scientists think the increase in carbon
dioxide has increased global temperatures.

5. Noise: Some pollutants affect the senses.
These pollutants include loud noises. Too much
noise is not just annoying.
 Noise pollution affects your ability to hear and
think clearly. And it may damage your hearing.
People who work in noisy environments, such as
in construction zones, must protect their ears.

Resource Depletion
Renewable Resource: is one that can be
replaced at the same rate at which the resource is
used.
 Solar and wind energy are renewable resources,
 Non-renewable Resource: is one that cannot be
replaced or that can be replaced only over
thousands or millions of years.
 Most minerals and fossil fuels, such as oil and
coal, are nonrenewable resources.

Nonrenewable resources cannot last forever. These
resources will become more expensive as they
become harder to find.
 The removal of some materials from the Earth also
carries a high price tag. This removal may lead to
oil spills, loss of habitat, and damage from mining.
 Some resources once thought to be renewable are
becoming nonrenewable. Scientists used to think
that fresh water was a renewable resource.
 However water supplies are being used faster than
they are being replaced

Human Population Growth
Advances in medicine, such as immunizations,
and advances in farming have made human
population growth possible.
 Some people argue that there may eventually be
too many people on Earth.
 Overpopulation: happens when the number of
individuals becomes so large that the individuals
can’t get the resources they need to survive.
 Scientists hope that populations level off before
it gets to this point.

Habitat Destruction
Biodiversity: is the number and variety of
organisms in a given area during a specific
period of time.
 Biodiversity can be measured in terms of:
1. Species richness 2. Evenness 3. Genetic
diversity
 Point-Source Pollution: pollution from one
source
 Non-Point Source Pollution: pollution that
comes from many different sources.

Section 2- Environmental Solutions
Conservation: is the preservation and wise use
of natural resources.
 1. Reduce: As much as one-third of the waste
produced by some countries is packaging
material. Products can be wrapped in less paper
and plastic to reduce waste.
 Biodegradable: can be broken down by living
organisms, such as bacteria.
 Agricultural specialists are also working on
farming techniques that are better for the
environment.

Reducing the Use on Nonrenewable Resources
Some scientists are looking for sources of energy
that can replace fossil fuels. Solar energy can be
used to power homes.
 Scientists are studying power sources such as
wind, tides, and falling water.
 Car companies have developed electric and
hydrogen-fueled automobiles. Driving these cars
uses fewer fossil fuels and produces less
pollution than driving gas-fueled cars does.

2. Reuse: Reusing an item can reduce garbage
overall by one-eighth.
 Reusing water is vital to the survival of life on
Earth. Many communities are experiencing water
shortages. Some of these communities are
experimenting with reusing, or reclaiming,
wastewater.
 One way to reclaim water is to use organisms to
clean the water. These organisms include plants
and filter-feeding animals, such as clams. Often,
reclaimed water isn’t pure enough to drink. But it
can be used to water crops, lawns, and golf
courses.

3. Recycle: the recovery of materials from waste
 Plastics, paper, aluminum, wood, glass, and
cardboard are examples of materials that can be
recycled.
 Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy
needed to change raw ore into aluminum. Glass
can be recycled over and over again to make new
bottles and jars.
 Waste that can be burned can also be used to
generate electricity in waste-to-energy plants.
Using garbage to make electricity is an example
of resource recovery.

Maintaining Biodiversity
Biodiversity is also important because each
species has a unique role in an ecosystem. Losing
one species could disrupt an entire ecosystem.
 One way to maintain biodiversity is to protect
individual species. In the United States, a law
called the Endangered Species Act was designed
to do just that. Endangered species are put on a
special list.
 The law forbids activities that would harm a
species on this list. The law also requires the
development of recovery programs for each
endangered species.

Environmental Strategies
1. Reduce Pollution
 2. Reduce Pesticide Use
 3. Protect Habitats
 4. Learn about local issues
 5. Develop alternative energy resources
 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is a government organization that helps protect
the environment. The EPA keeps people
informed about environmental issues and helps
enforce environmental laws.

Chapter 5
Energy Resources
Section 1- Natural Resources
Natural Resource: any natural material that is
used by humans. Such as water, petroleum,
minerals, forests, and animals.
 Renewable Resource: a natural resource that can
be replaced at the same rate at which the resource
is consumed.
 Nonrenewable Resource: a resource that forms
at a rate that is much slower than the rate at
which it is consumed.

Section 2- Fossil Fuels
Energy Resources: natural resources that
humans use to generate energy.
 Fossil Fuel: a nonrenewable energy resource
formed from the remains of organisms that lived
long ago; examples include oil, coal, and natural
gas.
 Energy is released from fossil fuels when they are
burned. The energy is stored in the fossil fuel
until it is burned.

Types of Fossil Fuels
1. Liquid Fossil Fuels: Petroleum-- a liquid
mixture of complex hydrocarbon compounds;
used widely as a fuel source- More than 40% of
the world’s energy comes from petroleum.
 2. Gaseous Fossil Fuels: Natural Gas-- a
mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons located under
the surface of the Earth, often near petroleum
deposits; used as fuel.- Most is used for heating,
but is also used for generating electrical energy.
Advantages to natural gas are a reduction in air
pollution.


3. Solid Fossil Fuels: Coal-- a fossil fuel that
forms underground from partially decomposed
plant material.- Used more in the 1800s and early
1900s to heat homes, cook food and power trains.
Once cleaner options became available, coal was
not used as much die to its large amount of air
pollution.
Stages of Coal Formation
Stage 1: Peat Forms- 60% of peat is carbon
 Stage 2: Lignite Forms- When pressure and
temperature are increased on the peat it turns into
lignite. 70% of lignite is carbon
 Stage 3: Bituminous Coal Forms- When sediment
is added, the pressure and temperature again
increase. Lignite is changed into bituminous coal80% of bituminous coal is carbon
 Stage 4: Anthracite Forms- When pressure and
temperature increase anthracite is formed- 90% of
anthracite is coal. Anthracite is the hardest coal.

Problems with Fossil Fuels
1. Acid Precipitation
 2. Coal Mining
 3. Petroleum Problems
 4. Smog

Section 3- Alternative Resources
1. Fission: splitting the nucleus of a radioactive
atom- during this an extreme amount of energy is
released--- CONS: remains of materials must be
stored in an isolated areas for years until their
danger is no longer.
 2. Fusion: the joining of two or more nuclei to
form a larger nucleus. CONS: extremely high
temperatures are needed for this to occur.
 3. Chemical Energy: the energy released when a
chemical compound reacts to produce new
compounds

4. Solar Energy: the energy received by the
Earth from the sun in the form of radiation. This
is a renewable resource because the Earth
receives radiation constantly. Can be changed
into electricity through the use of solar panels.
PROS: no pollution CONS: panels are expensive
 5. Wind Power: the use of a windmill to drive an
electric generator. PROS: free, no pollution
CONS: if no wind, no energy.
 6. Hydroelectric Energy: electrical energy
produced by falling water

7. Burning Biomass: Biomass: organic matter
that can be a source of energy-- In developing
countries, wood and animal waste are the
primary sources of energy.
 8. Gasohol: alcohol mixed with gasoline to
generate energy for cooking, heating homes
 9. Geothermal Energy: energy produced from
the heat inside the Earth. This form of energy
generation can be seen visually in the form of
geysers.

This
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