2. Review: Conservation of Matter
• Matter cannot be created or destroyed it can only
change form
– The amount of matter in the universe is finite
(unchanging)
– Atoms (of certain elements) are recycled over and
over again.
– 92 naturally occurring elements make up nearly all matter.
– Go through innumerable chemical reactions to both form and
breakdown compounds.
– For example some of the atoms that now make up your body may
have once been part of a dinosaur, a rock, a tree, and a panda
bear at one point in their existence.
3. Review: Biogeochemical Cycle
• Bio = Biosphere (Living
Things)
• Geo = Geosphere (Rocks /
Earth)
• Chem = Chemical Factors
• Biogeochemical Cycles:
Track the repeating
movement of atoms and
energy through both the
living and nonliving parts of
the earth system.
• Biogeochemical Cycles are
the basis for nutrient
recycling and support all
life on earth!
4. Factors Affecting Cycles: Consumption
• Consumption: The rate at which a particular resource is
being used.
• Recharge Rate: The rate at which a particular resource is
replenished by the biogeochemical cycle.
• Sustainable Use: When consumption is the same, or lower,
than recharge rate. Can be maintained indefinitely.
– Renewable Resource: A resource that can be used sustainably.
Usually recharge quickly.
• Mining (Over Consumption): When the rate of
consumption for particular resource exceeds the recharge
rate. Tap into stored reserves (reservoirs) that will
eventually run out.
– Non-Renewable Resource: A resource that is not used
sustainably. Usually recharge very slowly.
5. Water Consumption
• We’ve looked in depth at
water consumption, in
short most of the world’s
water supply is not being
sustainably managed.
• This is important because
we have a very limited
supply of fresh water.
• Excessive consumption is
only half the problem
however....
6. Pollution
• The EPA defines pollution as the
“presence of a substance in the
environment that, because of its
chemical composition or
quantity, prevents the
functioning of natural processes
and produces undesirable
environmental and health
effects.”
• Pollution: The contamination of
air, water, or soil by substances
that are harmful to living
organisms and ecosystems.
• Pollutant: Any substance that
causes pollution.
7. Pollution is a Major Problem!
• Contamination further reduces the limited
amount of resources available for human use.
• Water pollution for example renders much of,
the already small amount, of the earth’s total
fresh water unsafe for human consumption.
– Water requires costly treatment and filtration
before use.
8. Types of Water Pollution
• Pollution can come from natural sources, such as
volcanic eruptions, or from human actions, such
as disposal of industrial waste.
• There are 3 main types of water pollution that
render fresh water unfit for human use:
– Inorganic Pollutants: (Ex. Heavy Metals like Lead)
• Chemical (Ex. Benzene)
• Physical (Ex. Non-Biodegradable Materials like Plastic)
– Organic Pollutants: (Ex. Fertilizer and Sewage)
– Biologic Pollutants: (Ex. Bacteria and Viruses)
• Heat and Sediment Load can also be a dangerous
pollutants for aquatic organisms.
9. Natural Sources of Pollution
• There are many naturally occurring
pollution sources.
- Sulfur springs
- Oil Seeps
- Sedimentation
- Volcanoes
• These pollution sources, however,
have been around for millions of
years.
- Ecosystems have evolved to
accommodate
them.
- Therefore, they represent less of a
threat than anthropogenic sources.
11. Point vs. Non-Point Sources of Pollutants:
• Point Sources involve the
discharge of substances from
specific areas such as
factories, sewage systems, power
plants, underground coal
mines, and oil wells.
• Non-Point Sources are poorly
defined and scattered over broad
areas. Pollution occurs as rainfall
and snowmelt move over and
through the ground, picking up
pollutants as they go. (agriculture
runoff, storm-water drainage, and
atmospheric deposition)
12. Point Sources:
• Discharge from specific
location directly into
waterway
o Drain pipes, sewer outlets,
chemical spills.
• Can be traced back to the
source and dealt with.
– Often use aerial or satellite
imagery.
– Trace concentration levels
upstream.
• Some sources are mobile.
13. Non-Point Sources
• Runoff of pollutants
into waterway
• Farm runoff, feedlots,
golf courses, lawns
• Construction sites,
logging areas, roads,
parking lots.
• Much more difficult to
manage because they
are diffuse (spread
out).
16. What is a Physical Pollutant?
• Physical or Macroscopic
Pollution refers to
pollutants that are large
enough to be seen with
the naked eye.
– large visible items polluting
the water.
– Generally refers to human
“garbage”.
• Plastic is the most common
17. Plastic
• Man-made from petroleum,
produced through complex
(and often dangerous) chemical
processes.
• The first fully synthetic plastic,
Bakelite, was introduced by
Belgian Chemist Leo Baekeland
in the early 1900s.
• Development of Modern
Plastics
• Today plastics have
innumerable uses.
– Over 100 million tons produced
in the US per year.
18. Pros vs. Cons
• Pro:
– Easy to produce
– Cheap
– Malleable
– Waterproof and Durable
• Makes a good container
• Con:
– Not biodegradable.
– Hard to recycle.
• Costs more to recycle a plastic bag than to
make a new one.
– Production releases dangerous chemical
pollutants.
– Not very cheap when you factor in
disposal costs.
– Becomes dangerous pollutant.
19. Problems With Plastic
• The vast majority of plastics are not
biodegradable.
– They cannot be broken down by the
environment.
– Stays in environment forever.
• Despite the fact that the plastic itself
endures for long periods of time most
plastic products are treated as single
use disposable items.
• Less than 1% of the total plastic
produced each year is recycled.
– Americans throw away 2.5 million
plastic bottles every hour.
23. Worldwide humans produce
more than 200 BILLION
pounds of plastic per year.
Once this plastic is released into the
environment it becomes a dangerous
pollutant....
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38. If plastic doesn’t biodegrade and most
isn’t recycled where does it go?
• Like many pollutants, much (10%)
of the worlds plastic washes
downstream and eventually ends
up in the ocean.
– The UN estimates that every
square mile of ocean contains
46,000 pieces of floating plastic.
– 70% Sinks
– 30% Floats
• Once in the ocean the floating
plastic gets carried along by
powerful currents
• Most ends up deposited in what
are known as “garbage patches”
or “garbage islands”.
39.
40. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
• Large island (roughly twice the size of Texas) made
almost entirely of plastic waste.
• Total affected area is larger than Africa (the whole
continent...)
• Extends down approximately 100 feet.
• Plastic outnumbers plankton 6:1
– Animals mistake plastic for food.
41.
42. Why don’t we hear more about the
Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
Answer: It’s largely hidden from human view.
– Located at the center of a Gyre.
• Far from major shipping routes.
43. Hidden in Plain Sight
• Most of the plastic is broken
down into small pieces
through Photodegradation.
– As plastic is exposed to sunlight
the polymers cross link and the
plastic becomes brittle.
– Breaks into tiny pieces, so small
that some are microscopic.
– Hidden just below the surface.
• Practically impossible to clean
up.
– Only solution is to cut back on
new plastic.
44.
45. Come and see our beautiful white sand beaches...
Plastic
47. What is a Polymer?
• A polymer is a long
molecular chain made up
of repeating units.
• Plastic is a generic term
that refers to thousands of
different polymers each
with unique chemical
characteristics.
– Some are dangerous,
others are relatively safe.
– Some can be easily
“recycled” (actually
downcycled) others can’t.
• These polymers are
typically separated into 7
major categories.
48. Safety
• Some plastics are known to
leach chemicals into their
contents.
• It’s never a good idea to
microwave plastic, as the
heat breaks down the
structure and promotes
leaching.
• Dioxins: Carcinogenous
chemicals linked to breast
cancer among many others.
• BPA and Phthalates:
Endocrine disruptors.
Interphase with hormones.
Linked to gender neutrality
and other serious disorders.
49. Recycling?
• While we commonly use the term “recycling” for
everything besides throwing something in the
garbage, this isn’t technically correct.
– Recycling: The process of converting waste into new
products of equal quality.
– Downcycling: The process of converting waste
materials into products of lesser quality and reduced
functionality.
– Upcycling: The practice of taking something that is
disposable and transforming it into something of
greater use and value, leading to a higher material
and energy benefits.
50. #1: PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
• Commonly Found in:
Disposable plastic bottles
• Recycling (Downcycling):
Picked up through most
curbside recycling
programs. Around 20%
recycling rate.
• Recycled Into: Polar fleece,
furniture, carpet.
• Safety: Generally
considered safe. Not
known to leach
carcinogens or endocrine
disruptors.
51. #2: HDPE (high density polyethylene)
• Found in: Milk jugs;
bleach, detergent and household
cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles;
some trash and shopping bags;
motor oil bottles; butter and
yogurt tubs; cereal box liners
• Recycling (Downcycling): Picked
up through most curbside
recycling programs.
• Recycled into: Laundry detergent
bottles, oil
bottles, pens, recycling
containers, floor tile, drainage
pipe, lumber, benches, picnic
tables, fencing.
• Safety: Generally considered safe
with a low risk of chemical
leaching.
52. #3: V (Vinyl) or PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
• Found in: Siding, Flooring,
Plumbing Pipe, Detergent Bottles,
Cooking Oil Bottles, Food
Packaging, Cling Wrap, Wire
Jacketing, Medical Equipment.
• Recycling (Downcycling): Very
very rarely recycled; accepted by
some plastic lumber makers.
• Recycled into: Decks, paneling,
roadway gutters, flooring, speed
bumps.
• Safety: Extremely dangerous
(especially the manufacturing
process) associated with a
number of carcinogens. Leaches
dangerous chemicals, many
recommend avoiding direct food
contact. Burning releases many
toxins.
53. #4: LDPE (low density polyethylene)
• Found in: Squeezable
bottles, shopping bags,
clothing, furniture, carpet.
• Recycling (Downcycling):
LDPE is not often recycled
through curbside
programs. Plastic shopping
bags can be returned to
many stores for recycling.
• Recycled into: Trash can
liners and cans, shipping
envelopes, lumber.
• Safety: Relatively safe, not
commonly associated with
chemical leaching.
54. #5: PP (polypropylene)
• Found in: High Temp
Containers Ketchup
Bottles, Bottle Caps,
Straws, Medicine Bottles.
• Recycling (Downcycling):
Very rarely recycled.
• Recycled into: Brooms,
brushes, ice scrapers,
landscape borders, bicycle
racks, rakes, bins, pallets.
• Safety: Dangerous to
manufacture but
consumer products are
generally regarded as
relatively safe.
55. #6: PS (polystyrene)
• Found in: Disposable
“Styrofoam” products and
packaging, cups, carry-out
containers, plastic silverware.
• Recycling (Downcycling):
Basically never recycled, has
one of the worst
environmental track records.
• Recycled into: Insulation, egg
cartons, foam packing.
• Safety: Very dangerous.
Benzene (material used in
production) is a known human
carcinogen. Butadiene and
styrene (the basic building
block of the plastic) are
suspected carcinogens.
56. #7: Other
• Basically everything else. Includes
everything form new
biodegradable plant based
plastics to polycarbonate to nylon
and other synthetic fabrics.
• Found in: Water-cooler jugs,
'bullet-proof' materials,
sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and
computer cases, signs and
displays, certain food containers,
synthetic fabrics.
• Recycling (Downcycling):
Essentially never recycled.
• Recycled into: Plastic lumber.
• Safety: Polycarbonate in
particular is dangerous. Leaches
BPA, Phthalates, and other
endocrine disruptors.
58. Reduce
• The best way to deal with
the problem of plastic
pollution is to reduce
consumption.
• Buy less plastic.
• Often the price difference is
only a few cents.
• Push for new minimalist
packaging.
– Or natural material packaging
like glass and cardboard
• If it isn’t broke don’t fix it.
• Buy products that are built
to last.
62. Reuse
• Don’t use disposable
items, reusable ones are
better.
• Find other creative ways
to use things rather than
throwing them away.
– Upcycling
• Donate products to others
when done using them
rather than throwing
away.
63. Plastiki
• Sailed a boat made
entirely from post
consumer plastic
across the Pacific
Ocean.
• Raised awareness
about plastic pollution.
• Promote reusing plastic
trash as raw building
material.
64. Recycle
• Rather than throwing out
plastic Recycle it.
• Turns waste into new
products.
• Gives plastic new life.
– Does require energy input.
• Reducing the amount of
virgin plastic that has to be
produced each year.
– Although plastic is rarely
truly recycled, more often
downcycled into lower
quality plastics, it’s still
better than just throwing
away.
65. Changing Business
Ethics
• There is currently a shift going
on in business ethics.
– Some manufacturers are now
accounting for disposal costs
when they make new products.
– Using recycled and green
materials.
• Does it work?
– Patagonia brings 230 million
dollars in annual sales.
– Has been called “one of the most
successful and inspiring
companies ever”.
– Founder Yvon Chouinard has
been called a “business legend”.
66. New Technology: Bioplastics
• Scientists are working
to create new types
of plastic that are
biodegradable.
• Incorporate plant
material (corn and
soy) into the plastic.
• Can be broken down
by microorganisms.
67. Case Study: Organic Climbing
• Handmade in USA
• Utilize a 100% Organic Soy
Bean Based foam.
– Doesn’t break down over time.
• High high quality durable
materials
– 1000d Ballistic Cordura Nylon
– Kevlar thread
68. Organic Full Pad Metolius Bailout
Price: $180 Price: $142
Manufactured In: USA Manufactured In: China
Foam: Organic Soy Foam: Oil-Based Plastic
Useable Life: 3 Seasons Useable Life: 1.5 Seasons
