2. Introduction
⢠Maybe youâve
heard warnings
about dirty air,
water, and soil.
Or youâve heard
about the
destruction of rain
forests. Do these
warnings mean our
environment is in
4. Pollution
⢠Pollution: an
unwanted change in
the environment
caused by
substances or forms
of energy
⢠Pollutants: anything
that causes pollution
â Can be natural or man
made
5. Garbage
â Includes hazardous
wastes, which can
catch fire, explode, or
make people sick
Chemicals
â Some are useful, like
medicines
â Others are poisonous,
can cause respiratory
problems, and cancer
Five Types of Pollution
6. High-Powered
Wastes
â Give off radiation
Gases
â Since Industrial
Revolution, carbon
dioxide gas has
increased
â Contributes to
Greenhouse Effect
Noise
â Affects ability to hear
and think clearly
â May damage hearing
7. Resource Depletion
⢠Renewable resource: one that can be
used over and over or has an unlimited
supply
⢠Examples: wind and solar energy
8. ⢠Nonrenewable resource:
one than cannot be replaced
or that can be replaced only
over thousands or millions of
years
⢠Examples: most minerals and
fossil fuels, such as oil and
coal
⢠Resources become more
expensive as they become
harder to find
⢠Removal of materials carries a
high price tagď oil spills, loss
of habitat, and damage from
mining
9. Exotic Species
⢠Exotic species: an organism that makes a home
for itself in a new place outside its native home
⢠Can become pests and compete with native
species
⢠Example: northern snake-
head fish, native to Asia,
found in MD pond
â Moves across land and can
invade more lakes and ponds
10. Habitat Destruction
⢠Habitat: Place
where an animal
lives
⢠Biodiversity:
number and variety
of organisms in a
given area
⢠Deforestation:
clearing of forest
lands
11. â Animals can mistake
plastics for food, or become
tangled in plastic
Time taken for objects to
dissolve at sea
Paper bus ticket 2-4 weeks
Cotton cloth 1-5 months
Rope 3-14 months
Woolen cloth 1 year
Painted wood 13 years
Tin can 100 years
Aluminum can 200-500 years
Plastic bottle 450 years
For your infoâŚ
14. Protecting Species
⢠Protecting Species
⢠Endangered Species Act:
law designed to protect
individual species in order
to maintain biodiversity
⢠Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA):
government organization
that helps protect the
environment
â Informs people about
environmental issues
â Helps enforce environmental
laws
15. Environmental Strategies that Help
Protect Earthâs Environment:
⢠Reduce
pollution
⢠Reduce pesticide
use
⢠Protect habitats
⢠Learn about
local issues
⢠Develop alt.
energy sources
16. What You Can Do?
⢠Walk
⢠Ride a bike
⢠Give away old
toys
⢠Use recycled
paper
⢠Recycle
⢠Volunteer
⢠Use cloth
napkins
⢠Visit the library