TCE Contamination and Cleanup Curriculum
Love Canal: Efficient Waste Disposal
Author: Laura Ziegenhirt
Modifications/Edits: Rachel Hughes & Stephanie Nardei
Time:
4 class periods
Preparation
4 hours
Time:
Materials:
Love Canal Power Point
Information from URLs provided throughout this lesson
Abstract
Students will understand the need for efficient waste disposal and become
aware of the hazards of waste not disposed of properly. Using their
knowledge of chemistry, they will make informed choices and consider waste
disposal issues in Tucson, Arizona. During this exercise, students will use
nomenclature and make a link between chemical structures and the real life
affect of these chemicals when not properly handled.
TAKEN FROM:
University of Buffalo
Libraries
Objectives
Students will be able:
1. Evaluate scientific reports
2. Use nomenclature to understand scientific reports
3. Understand the importance of EPA guidelines and the role of superfund
National Science Education Standard:
Content Standard E – Science and technology
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES
Individuals and society must decide on proposals involving new research and the introduction of
new technologies into society. Decisions involve assessment of alternatives, risks, costs, and
benefits and consideration of who benefits and who suffers, who pays and gains, and what the
risks are and who bears them. Students should understand the appropriateness and value of
basic questions – “What can happen?” – “What are the odds?” – And “How do scientists and
engineers know what will happen?”
Teacher Background
A recent survey by Toxics Link, a non-government organization, found that every household has
some hazardous products stored inside and that most are thrown away without adhering to
proper disposal of waste norms.
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TCE Contamination and Cleanup Curriculum
"Chemicals are poured down the drain with the harmful substances flowing into storm sewers.
Other times these dangerous chemicals are dumped into open bins. Though the dangers of such
disposal methods may not be immediately obvious, improper disposal of these wastes can pollute
the environment and pose a threat to human health,'' says Prashant Pastore of Toxics Link.
TAKEN FROM: http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/18/stories/2007061804180100.htm
The improper disposal of household wastes can cause problems for the entire community.
Wastes can be explosive or highly flammable. Sewers have exploded and garbage trucks have
burned because people have carelessly discarded flammable or reactive wastes.
Hazardous wastes can also be corrosive. The acid from discarded auto batteries can eat away
many substances. Some wastes are poisonous to humans or wildlife, while others can cause
cancer, birth defects or other serious problems.
Related and Resource Websites
Love Canal
Love Canal on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Canal
EPA on Love Canal http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/lovecanal/index.htm
Hazardous Waste Disposal
Baton Rouge Government Website Recycling Office Household Hazardous Waste
http://brgov.com/dept/recycle/whatyoushould&should'tdo.htm
WAAC Newsletter Hazardous Waste Disposal
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/waac/wn/wn06/wn06-2/wn06-205.html
Fact Sheet: Disposal of Household Hazardous Materials http://ohioline.osu.edu/cd-fact/0102.html
Scientific Notation
How to use scientific notation http://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/textbook/scinot.html
Convert from Scientific Notation to Real Number and vica versa
http://janus.astro.umd.edu/astro/scinote/
Scientific Notation on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_notation
QuickMath on Scientific Notation
http://www.hostsrv.com/webmab/app1/MSP/quickmath/02/pageGenerate?site=quickmath&s1=nu
mbers&s2=scientific_notation&s3=basic
Activity
Day 1
Watch Waste Management power point
Watch Love Canal Power point presentation
http://classes.colgate.edu/dkeller/geol101/pp/love/love1.htm
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TCE Contamination and Cleanup Curriculum
Love Canal Read the following sections of the Report: Chemicals identified and History
Day 2
Write the chemical formulae for each chemical and convert the contamination to grams using
scientific notation. If students need practice and assistance with scientific notation conversion,
you may refer them to the websites listed under the Related and Resource Websites [above] for
Scientific Notation. Make a list of chemicals, formulae, structures, maximum contamination, EPA
guidelines and health effects.
Day 3
Read Animal toxicological studies and Epidemiological studies and chronology.
Make a power point to communicate the report.
What is superfund?
Day 4
Students use ARC explorer to construct a map of Tucson which includes superfund sites and
underground hazard plumes: Link to “Using Geographical Information systems to investigate
chemical waste hazards in Tucson”.
Students use the internet to investigate the superfund sites in Tucson:
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/waste/sps/tucson.html
Day 5
Students communicate the importance of safe disposal of chemical waste using power point or
podcast.
Embedded Assessment
1. Questions throughout the exercise allow for assessment of students’ understanding of
nomenclature.
2. The presentations for an assessment of understanding.
Homework
None Assigned.
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