ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
IN LATIN AMERICA
SS6G2
Save the Environment!
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As countries grow in population and add more
factories and businesses, they often face serious
challenges to their environment.
One of the most important issues facing Latin
American countries today is how to maintain a
clean, healthy environment amidst rapid growth.
Air Pollution in Mexico City
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Mexico City, Mexico is a huge city with a serious air
pollution problem.
Mexico City is one of the most polluted cities in the
world!
People living there are exposed to toxic gases and
chemicals in the air they breathe every day, which
can lead to respiratory illness.
Air Pollution in Mexico City (cont’d.)
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Mexico City’s pollution is caused by emissions from
factories and automobiles that build up over the
city.
Mountains surrounding Mexico City are like walls
that trap pollutants in a brown haze called smog.
The wind is not strong enough to blow the pollutants
over the mountains, so they continue to accumulate
each day.
Air Pollution in Mexico City (cont’d.)
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The Mexican government has put measures in place
to help reduce the air pollution.
They include a program limiting how often you can
drive your car, strict inspections of emissions systems
on cars, and changing the kind of fuel cars and
factories use.
Quick Quiz Questions
1.
What type of pollution does Mexico City face?
2.
Emissions in Mexico City come from:
3.
What traps pollutants above Mexico City?
4.
In Mexico City, why can you not drive your car
everyday?
Destruction of the Rain Forest in Brazil
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A major environmental issue in Brazil is destruction
of the Amazon Rainforest.
The rainforest is important to the environment of
Brazil as well as the entire world.
Rainforests are home to the largest variety of plant
and animal species on the planet, and are known as
the “lungs of the earth” because they convert
carbon dioxide into valuable oxygen.
Destruction of the Rain Forest in Brazil
(cont’d.)
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The destruction of Brazil’s rainforest is caused by
road building, farmers cutting down forests to plant
crops (called “slash and burn” farming), cattle
ranching, logging, mining, and new settlements.
The deforestation has many negative effects on the
environment, including loss of habitat for millions of
species and climate change.
Destruction of the Rain Forest in Brazil
(cont’d.)
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Trees protect forest soil from drying out into barren
land, and return water vapor back into the
atmosphere.
Although Brazil’s economy is growing from
deforestation, the government is now setting aside
large protected areas and setting up programs
where new trees are planted when older trees are
cut down.
Think About It: Short Answer Questions
1.
2.
3.
List two reasons why the rainforest is important.
List three reasons why the rainforest is being
destroyed.
What negative effect does deforestation have on
the environment?
Oil-Related Pollution in Venezuela
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Oil is an important resource in Venezuela.
Oil provides about 50 percent of their government
revenue.
Oil pollution has caused serious environmental and
economic problems in Venezuela.
Oil-Related Pollution in Venezuela
(cont’d.)
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Occasional oil spills have killed fish, which damages
the environment and hurts the fishing industry.
Oil spills have shut down tourist resorts on Lake
Maracaibo, the largest lake in South America.
Contaminated oil pits, which collect waste from oil
wells, also threaten to seep into Venezuela’s water
sources.
Oil-Related Pollution in Venezuela
(cont’d.)
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Venezuela’s state oil company is working to clean
up its oil pits, and has adopted an environment
policy to focus more closely on environmental
protection.
Write About It
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Write a paragraph explaining how pollution has
affected Venezuela. Be sure to list three ways the
oil is polluting Venezuela’s environment.