NS 103 - Environmental Science (3 credits)
Fall 2006
Lake Superior State University
This course provides a comprehensive overview and introduction to environmental science.
The major emphasis in this course is to develop the student's understanding of the
interrelationships between the natural sciences, sociology, political science and economics in
framing the major environmental issues facing our society.
Course Objectives: With the successful completion of the course you will be able to:
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Describe fundamental environmental concepts and issues and their underlying scientific
principles.
Describe the elements of a sustainable society.
Describe the scientific method and how science frames the major environmental issues facing
humans today.
Comprehend the role of interrelationships in ecosystem functioning.
Describe the interrelationships of social, economic, and political systems with the environmental
systems of our planet.
Reflect on how the values you hold affect how you think about the environment.
Describe the major environmental statutes, describe their interconnections, and know which
apply to a given environmental issue.
Apply the knowledge you have gained to better understand that as inhabitants of this planet we
must accept responsibility for both the creation and the solution of environmental problems.
Critically evaluate environmental issues and make informed decisions.
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Lecture Hours:
David Szlag, Ph.D., PE
Crawford Hall Room 317, Ext. 2160, e-mail: dszlag@lssu.edu
M: 2-3; T: 2-3; W: 9-11; R: 9-10 or by appt.
M, W, and F 1:00-1:50PM CRW 204
Course Website:
Text:
http://www.prenhall.com/wright
Environmental Science, Towards a Sustainable Future, Eighth edition. By
Wright. Prentice-Hall Inc.
Homework:
Textbook reading assignments are listed on page two of this syllabus.
Supplemental reading assignments will be assigned as needed from the web
site: http://www.prenhall.com/wright or the companion CD.
Tests:
Three 50-minute tests (100 pts. each; See page 3)
Short Quizzes:
Six out of seven quizzes. Five are scheduled and two are pop. Your lowest
quiz score will be dropped. (25 pts. Each; See page 3)
Final Examination: (150 pts.) CRW 204 The final exam will be cumulative.
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Attendance:
Lecture attendance is mandatory. Attendance will be monitored through
administration of quizzes, through the return of materials in class, and by
class participation (30 points possible; to be distributed at the instructor’s
discretion).
Grading:
(600 points possible)
A: 630-700 B: 560-629 C: 475-559, D: 400-474 F: < 400 points
Early or Make-up Quizzes and Exams: There are no make-up quizzes. Rescheduling exams will
require prior arrangement and/or convincing me of the validity of your excuse for missing the test.
All make-up exams will consist of 5-7 essay questions. If you fail to convince me, you will receive
a zero on that test. If you reschedule more than one exam during the semester you forfeit the
attendance points.
If you are a student athlete or involved in some other University sanctioned activity (e.g. Model
UN), you may arrange at least one week in advance to have your coaching staff or advisor
administer the same exam or quiz as that given to the rest of the class while on the road.
Academic Misconduct: Scholastic misconduct is cause for a failing grade, and I reserve the right to
place a letter about the incident in the student’s permanent file. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but
is not limited to, cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing, misrepresenting as your
own work any part of work done by another, or interfering with another student’s work.
Student Accommodations and Support Services: In compliance with Lake Superior State
University policy and equal access laws, disability-related accommodations or services are
available. Students who desire such services are to meet with the professor in a timely manner,
preferably the first week of class, to discuss their disability-related needs. Students will not receive
services until they register with the Resource Center for Students with Disabilities (RCSD). Proper
registration will enable the RCSD to verify the disability and determine reasonable academic
accommodations. RCSD is located in the Library, extension 2355.
Finally, this syllabus is my best estimate of the schedule given the topics we will cover. I reserve
the right to make minor changes to this syllabus as I see fit during the course of the semester.
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date
Day
Meeting
Reading
(chapter)
8/30/04
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Overview
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Exam 1
CH7
CH7-8
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CH14
Exam 2
CH15
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CH17
CH17
CH18
CH19
CH20
CH20
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Exam 3
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Review
9/07/04
9/14/04
9/21/04
9/28/04
10/05/04
10/12/04
10/19/04
10/26/04
11/01/04
11/08/04
11/15/04
11/22/04
11/29/04
12/06/04
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CH22
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Review
Assignment
Quiz 1
Labor day
Quiz 2
Topics
Global Environmental Issues
Sustainability; Scientific Method
What are ecosystems
What are ecosystems
Chemistry and Energy
How ecosystems work
Ecosystem Change
Succession
Human populations
Consequences of human Pop
Exam 1 CH1-6
Quiz 3
Hydrology
Hydrology/soils
Food production
Food Production
Biodiversity
Ecosystem Capital
Ecosystems as Resources
Energy from fossil fuels
Nuclear power
Nuclear power
Alternative (renewable) energy
Exam 2CH 7-14
Quiz 4
Risk and risk analysis
Risk and risk analysis
Pest control
Genetically modified crops
Water pollution
Water pollution
Solid waste and landfills
Hazardous waste and toxic stuff
Atmosphere and climate change
Atmosphere and climate change
Air pollution
Air pollution
Exam 3 CH15-21
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Environmental economics
Quiz 5
Environmental economics
Sustainable communities
Sustainable communities
Sustainability; putting it all together
Sustainability; putting it all together
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Environmental Science:
Toward a Sustainable Future
Eighth Edition by Richard T. Wright &Bernard J. Nebel
Chapter One - Introduction: Sustainability, Stewardship, and Sound Science
Chapter Two - Ecosystems: What They Are
Chapter Three - Ecosystems: How They Work
Chapter Four - Ecosystems: Populations and Succession
Chapter Five - Ecosystems and Evolutionary Change
Chapter Six - The Human Population: Demographics
Chapter Seven - Issues in Population and Development
Chapter Eight - Soil and the Soil Ecosystem
Chapter Nine - Water: Hydrologic Cycle and Human Use
Chapter Ten - The Production and Distribution of Food
Chapter Eleven - Wild Species: Biodiversity and Protection
Chapter Twelve - Ecosystems as Resources
Chapter Thirteen - Energy from Fossil Fuels
Chapter Fourteen - Nuclear Power: Promise and Problems
Chapter Fifteen - Renewable Energy
Chapter Sixteen - Environmental Hazards and Human Health
Chapter Seventeen - Pests and Pest Control
Chapter Eighteen - Water Pollution and Its Prevention
Chapter Nineteen - Municipal Solid Waste: Disposal and Recovery
Chapter Twenty - Hazardous Chemicals: Pollution and Prevention
Chapter Twenty-One - The Atmosphere: Climate, Climate Change, and Ozone Depletion
Chapter Twenty-Two - Atmospheric Pollution
Chapter Twenty-Three - Economics, Public Policy, and the Environment
Chapter Twenty-Four - Sustainable Communities and Lifestyles
Chapter One - Introduction: Sustainability, Stewardship, and Sound Science
1. Sharp contrasts exist in the way in which different peoples of the world interact with their
environments. Give a range of contrasting "pictures" supporting this statement.
2. History is a saga of rises and falls of civilizations. What are the factors that brought about the
collapse of the Easter Island civilization? Are there any parallels in the present?
3. There is cause for concern about the general condition of the global environment. What are four
global trends that are of particular concern?
4. Sustainability is the practical goal towards which we should be working. What is meant by
sustainability? For a sustainable society, what are the principal prerequisites?
5. Sustainable development is now a broadly accepted ideal. How do different disciplines address
sustainable development?
6. Stewardship represents the ethical and moral framework that should inform our public and
private actions. How can stewardship be applied to the natural world and to concerns for justice?
7. The modern environmental movement has had many achievements in recent years. How did this
movement start, and what have been some recent reactions against it?
8. Sound science is the basis for understanding how the world works and how human systems
interact with it. What are the distinctive characteristics of science and the scientific method?
9. Science occurs within a community of scientists. How does this community function to prevent
the occurrence of poor, or "junk," science?
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Chapter Two - Ecosystems: What They Are
1. Natural communities are organized into units we call ecosystems. What are ecosystems? How are
they organized into larger units?
2. The organisms in every ecosystem can be assigned to trophic categories. What are the categories?
How do they function together in food webs to make a sustainable system?
3. Many non-trophic relationships also exist in ecosystems. What role do mutualism and competition
play in ecosystems?
4. Environmental factors can be categorized into conditions and resources. How do these factors act as
limiting factors in the distribution of different species in ecosystems?
5. Precipitation and temperature are the predominant determinants of climate. How do these factors
interact to produce the different biomes around the globe?
6. Revolutionary changes have occurred in human culture that have greatly changed the relationship
between humans and the environment. How have the Neolithic and Industrial Revolutions impacted
the natural environment, and what is meant by the Environmental Revolution?
Chapter Three - Ecosystems: How They Work
1. All the elements that comprise living things come from the environment. What are these key
elements? Where is each found?
2. All chemical reactions taking place in living things involve energy. What are the different forms of
energy, and what are the laws that govern energy exchanges?
3. Photosynthesis and cell respiration are the two fundamental biological processes. What matter and
energy changes occur in these two processes? Relate them to the dynamics of ecosystems.
4. Detritivores and decomposers promote the breakdown of organic matter. What are they, and how
important is their role?
5. The flow of energy is one of the vital processes that occurs in all ecosystems. Describe how energy
flows in terms of trophic levels. How efficient are the transfers of energy?
6. The recycling of elements is another vital functional process occurring in all ecosystems. Describe
the biogeochemical cycles for carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen. How have humans impacted these
three cycles?
7. The goods and services performed by natural ecosystems are essential to human survival. What is
their overall value, and of what significance is it to measure this value?
Chapter Four - Ecosystems: Populations and Succession
1. Population growth is the result of a balance between biotic potential and environmental resistance.
What do these terms mean, and what are the basic patterns of growth of natural populations?
2. Density-dependent mechanisms help to regulate natural populations. Explain density-dependence
and density-independence, and apply the concept of critical number.
3. Predators, parasites, and grazers are important in controlling populations. Explain how they can
operate in a density-dependent manner.
4. The introduction of a foreign species frequently has disruptive ecological results. Explain why this is
the case. Give examples.
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5. Competition between species can be an important check on populations. How is competition
between plant species minimized by different plant adaptations and a balanced herbivory?
6. Natural ecosystems may undergo gradual succession until they reach a climax, or a more stable
state of ongoing adaptation. What is meant by succession, and what factors are responsible?
7. Fire is a major form of disturbance to terrestrial ecosystems. Of what significance are disturbances,
and what role can they play in maintaining high levels of biodiversity?
8. Replenishment of nutrients, regrowth of plant cover, and succession to a forest can all be thought of
as resilience mechanisms. Explain the concept of resilience in ecosystems. Give examples.
9. The major ecological imbalance on Earth is between the human species and the rest of Earth's biota.
What will be the probable consequences of not achieving a balance? What directions can be taken
toward achieving a balance?
10. Adaptive management is a means of changing environmental practices and policies as our
understanding of environmental processes improves. What is the relevance of this concept for
sustainable development?
Chapter Five - Ecosystems and Evolutionary Change
1. In nature, we find that each species is remarkably adapted to the factors of the ecosystem in which it
exists. What does this imply about the "moldability" of species?
2. The characteristics of a population can be modified by differential reproduction. Give an example of
this in terms of selective breeding; in terms of natural selection.
3. Mutations and differential reproduction lead to inevitable changes in the gene pool of a species.
Explain how this occurs.
4. Natural selection can lead to the development of new species. How does this occur? What are the
prerequisites and limitations?
5. Although all ecosystems have the same functional groups of organisms, the species performing the
functions differ greatly on different continents and islands. Explain this in terms of selection at the
individual level.
6. In the face of environmental changes, some species will survive, whereas others will become extinct.
What attributes influence the survival of a species?
7. The past history of the Earth has involved the movement of entire continents. How does the theory of
plate tectonics explain the movement of continental land masses?
8. Evolution is the most widely accepted explanation for origins, but it is also controversial. What are
the reasons for the controversy?
9. Loss of biodiversity undercuts the ability of species, ecosystems, and agriculture to adapt to
changing conditions. Why is this the case?
Chapter Six - The Human Population: Demographics
1. The human population is undergoing an explosion. When did it start? What are its causes? What is
the current growth rate?
2. The world is comprised of high-, middle-, and low-income nations. Identify the nations or regions,
and describe representative lifestyles in these three groups.
3. The most rapid population growth is occurring in developing countries. What are the social and
environmental consequences of such growth for developing countries? For developed countries?
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4. Population profiles give the age structure of populations. How are these profiles used to project
future populations?
5. Population profiles for developed and developing countries are fundamentally different. What are the
differences?
6. Populations in the developed countries have experienced great reductions in birth and death rates
over time. What is the demographic transition, and what are the different phases of this transition?
7. Different regions of the world are at different phases of the demographic transition. What are the
consequences of remaining at earlier transitional phases?
Chapter Seven - Issues in Population and Development
1. Many regions of the developing world are stuck in the middle of the demographic transition. Must
they modernize before fertility will decline, or must they bring fertility down before they can
modernize?
2. The factors that influence fertility rates are more specific than development in general. What are the
factors that actually influence the number of children desired?
3. The vicious cycle of poverty, high fertility, and environmental degradation continues over much of the
globe despite past efforts at development. Why have such efforts missed the mark? What is being
done to change this record of failure?
4. The shift from high to low fertility in developing countries is being accomplished by social
modernization. How is this different from industrialization, and on what five areas must development
efforts focus for successful delivery of social modernization?
5. In 1994, world leaders met in Cairo, Egypt, at the United Nations Conference on Population and
Development. What was the significance of this meeting? What were the agreed-upon strategies for
addressing the problems of poverty, excessive population, and environmental degradation?
Chapter Eight - Soil and the Soil Ecosystem
1. Certain properties of soils are described by soil scientists for purposes of understanding how they
were formed. What is a typical soil profile and how can soil texture be differentiated?
2. Soils are classified in a complex taxonomy. What are four common groups of soils important for
agriculture and forestry?
3. The soil environment must provide plants with water, nutrients, and air for the roots. What are the
key attributes of the soil that bear on its being able (or not being able) to provide these things?
4. A dynamic interaction between mineral particles, detritus, and organisms in the soil is most important
in developing the soil's key attributes. Describe this dynamic interaction and how it develops these
attributes.
5. Soil degradation is devastating to the future productivity of a landscape. What are the major
practices leading to erosion and desertification and what are some ways to combat these harmful
processes?
6. Certain irrigation practices may be nonsustainable. Why? Describe the problems that may develop
from irrigation.
7. To bring about better stewardship of soil resources, soil conservation must be promoted at the level
of public policy. Describe some encouraging changes that are taking place in the United States
8. Individual landholders and herders hold the key to sustainable soil stewardship. What are some
steps being taken to promote sustainable agriculture in the developing world?
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9. Dryland ecosystems cover over one-third of the land area of Earth. How are these systems defined,
and what is their significance?
Chapter Nine - Water: Hydrologic Cycle and Human Use
1. All water on Earth is constantly recycled, repurified, and reused. How does the hydrologic cycle
inform us on how recycling and repurification occur?
2. Humans have three major impacts on the hydrologic cycle. What are they, and what are their
effects?
3. All of the water humans use must come out of the hydrologic cycle. What are the major uses, points
of withdrawal, limitations and consequences of overdrawing water?
4. Historically, humans have addressed water problems by obtaining more water. To what degree is
this not a viable option for the future?
5. Humans can reduce their water demands in numerous ways. How can demands be reduced in
agriculture, industry, and domestic use?
6. Urbanization seals surfaces with pavement, increasing runoff of stormwater and associated
pollutants on the land surface. Discuss the problems caused by paving over soil. How should these
concepts influence development?
7. There is potential for all parties to get together to work out compromises for water usage between
agriculture, cities, and natural ecosystems. What are some policy options that would encourage this
process?
Chapter Ten - The Production and Distribution of Food
1. In industrialized societies, an agricultural revolution has taken place that has radically affected the
practice of farming and its environmental impact. What is industrialized agriculture, how did it
develop, and what are its environmental costs?
2. The agricultural revolution has been transferred to the developing world in a process called the
Green Revolution. What are the origins and impacts of the Green Revolution?
3. Agriculture in most of the developing world is still practiced in traditional ways, called subsistence
agriculture. How important is subsistence agriculture?
4. Continued population growth puts pressure on agricultural practices to keep producing more food.
What are the prospects for increasing food production?
5. There is a lively and important world trade in foodstuffs. What are the global patterns of the food
trade, and what are its consequences?
6. Hunger and malnutrition still plague human societies. What is the extent of hunger, malnutrition, and
undernutrition in the world?
7. Famines continue to occur. What are the causes of famine, and which geographical areas are
affected?
8. Food aid is distributed to countries all over the world. Is food aid necessary? How is aid distributed?
9. Agricultural sustainability is a desirable goal. How can the four principles of ecosystem sustainability
be applied to agriculture—both in developed and developing countries?
10. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has been welcomed by governments, the private sector, and
environmental groups. Describe the main provisions of this document. Why is it important?
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Chapter Eleven - Wild Species: Biodiversity and Protection
1. Preserving wild species may require that we find a way to show that they have value. How can we
establish the value of natural species?
2. Wild species and their habitats are threatened and endangered by human activities, a matter of
concern for many people. How does public policy in the United States protect endangered species?
3. Many naturalists claim that we are losing much of the biodiversity that has enriched Earth for millions
of years. What is biodiversity, and what is the current extent of it?
4. It seems certain that humans are the cause of the decline in biodiversity. What human enterprises in
particular are responsible for this decline?
5. Much of the loss in wild species and biodiversity is occurring outside of the United States. How has
the international community acted to protect biodiversity?
Chapter Twelve - Ecosystems as Resources
1. Natural ecosystems perform a number of "natural services" that are vital to human interests. What
are these services?
2. As natural resources, ecosystems are put to both consumptive and productive uses. What are the
distinctions between these two kinds of use?
3. Exploitation and overuse of natural systems is pervasive and nonsustainable. How do the concepts
of maximum sustained yield and the tragedy of the commons help us to understand these problems?
4. Forests are highly productive ecosystems that perform a host of natural services and provide lumber,
fuel, and paper for the world’s economy. However, in many parts of the world forests are being
cleared. Why is this happening, and what are its immediate consequences?
5. Temperate and tropical forests can be managed sustainably. What are some patterns of forest
management, and what are the components of sustainable forestry?
6. The harvest of fish and shellfish has reached a plateau worldwide, and many once-abundant
fisheries are no longer viable. What is causing these changes, and how can the declines be
reversed?
7. Public lands occupy 40% of the land area of the United States and represent a vital national
treasure. How are federal lands being managed for sustainability?
8. Attempts to combat pollution, restrict overuse of natural systems, and preserve biodiversity have
generated an environmental backlash. Why is this, and how has it influenced public policy?
Chapter Thirteen - Energy from Fossil Fuels
1. The development of modern civilization has depended greatly on the development of energy
sources. How have the three primary fossil fuels been harnessed in recent history?
2. Much of total energy use is devoted to generating electrical power. How are fossil fuels coupled to
electrical power, and what are the major environmental impacts of these processes?
3. What are the major categories of primary energy use and the energy sources that match those
uses? How does an analysis of end-use energy demand help us design energy supplies?
4. Crude oil is an essential energy source for transportation. What are the reserves of this resource,
and how are they estimated?
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5. The United States now imports more than 50% of the crude oil it uses. What led to this dependency
on foreign oil? What are the problems of acquiring and shipping this quantity of oil?
6. Oil shortages and gluts have rocked the world economy in recent years. What are the reasons for
these violent shifts, and what are their long-term consequences?
7. Coal and natural gas are also important fossil fuels in the United States. What are the reserves of
these resources, and how are they being put to use at present?
8. Sustainable energy options are clearly desirable for the development of a sustainable future. What
are some options that meet our needs for energy with the least economic environmental
consequences?
Chapter Fourteen - Nuclear Power: Promise and Problems
1. Nuclear power currently generates 20% of electricity in the United States, 7% of energy overall, yet it
is controversial. What is the history and current status of nuclear power?
2. The objective of nuclear power technology is to use a controlled nuclear reaction to drive a
generator. How does a nuclear power plant work?
3. In order to understand the hazards of nuclear power, we must understand something about
radioactive materials. What are radioactive materials, and what hazards do they pose?
4. Disposal of nuclear waste is one of the major issues causing concern. What are the problems
surrounding the disposal of nuclear waste?
5. The other major issue causing great concern is the possibility of nuclear accidents in nuclear plants.
Of what significance are the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear accidents?
6. Fusion-based energy has long been considered a candidate for a pollution-free energy source of the
future. What is the prognosis for fusion-based energy?
7. In light of current energy choices, nuclear power still appears to be an attractive option. What future
is there for nuclear power?
Chapter Fifteen - Renewable Energy
1. The total amount of solar energy reaching Earth is enormous. What is the potential for harnessing
this energy?
2. Solar water-heating and space-heating systems for buildings represent well-developed technologies.
What is preventing a more widespread adoption of these forms of solar heating?
3. Solar energy via photovoltaic cells and solar-tough collectors is used to produce electrical power.
What are the current applications of these technologies, and what is their promise for the future?
4. There is a great need to develop solar energy sources that can be coupled to fuel for transportation.
What is the potential for fuel from solar hydrogen production?
5. Water, fire, and wind have provided energy for centuries. What are sustainable ways of expanding
these options in the near future?
6. The options for energy into the twenty-first century are many. In the light of global climate change,
moving in the direction of renewable energy sources seems essential. What is in the way of such a
move, and what is being done now to move in this direction?
Chapter Sixteen - Environmental Hazards and Human Health
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1. Life expectancy is rising worldwide, yet ten million deaths occur yearly in children under the age of
five in the developing world. What are the major causes of death in developing and developed
countries?
2. Exposure to hazards in the human environment brings about the risk of injury, disease, and death.
What kinds of cultural factors, infectious diseases, physical factors, and toxic chemicals are most
important in this regard?
3. Hazards take many pathways in mediating environmental risks to humans. In what ways do the
following bring harm: poverty, smoking, malarial disease, and indoor air?
4. Risk analysis is a scientific tool that the EPA is applying to its regulatory work. How is risk analysis
practised by scientists and employed in policy development?
5. The public often perceives risks differently from the experts. What is the significance of risk
perception in policy development?
Chapter Seventeen - Pests and Pest Control
1. Life expectancy is rising worldwide, yet ten million deaths occur yearly in children under the age of
five in the developing world. What are the major causes of death in developing and developed
countries?
2. Exposure to hazards in the human environment brings about the risk of injury, disease, and death.
What kinds of cultural factors, infectious diseases, physical factors, and toxic chemicals are most
important in this regard?
3. Hazards take many pathways in mediating environmental risks to humans. In what ways do the
following bring harm: poverty, smoking, malarial disease, and indoor air?
4. Risk analysis is a scientific tool that the EPA is applying to its regulatory work. How is risk analysis
practised by scientists and employed in policy development?
5. The public often perceives risks differently from the experts. What is the significance of risk
perception in policy development?
Chapter Eighteen - Water Pollution and Its Prevention
1. Water pollution is the human-caused addition of any material in amounts that cause undesired
alterations to the water. What are some point and nonpoint sources of water pollution?
2. Waterborne diseases, organic wastes, chemical pollutants, sediments, and nutrients are the most
important types of water pollutants. How do these reach the water, and what are their basic impacts?
3. Eutrophication refers to the ecosystem changes that occur with nutrient enrichment. Describe these
changes, including the depletion of dissolved oxygen, and why they occur.
4. Although it is possible to treat the symptoms of eutrophication, long-term control will depend on
reducing inputs of nutrients and sediments. How can this best be accomplished?
5. Modern societies employ a system of sewers and wastewater treatment plants to deal with human
and domestic wastes. Describe the technologies of primary and secondary treatment, and biological
nutrient removal.
6. Sewage sludge is a byproduct of cleaning the water. How can sludges be treated and converted into
useful products?
7. The Clean Water Act of 1972 is the landmark legislation establishing public policy for water pollution.
Describe some of its accomplishments, and some problems in reauthorizing the act.
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8. Two important applications of water quality criteria are the NPDES and TMDL programs. What is the
significance of these programs in the control and prevention of water pollution?
Chapter Nineteen - Municipal Solid Waste: Disposal and Recovery
1. 210,000,000 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) are disposed of annually in the United States.
What are the components of MSW, and how is this waste handled?
2. Fifty-five percent of MSW is disposed of in landfills. What are the problems with landfills, and how
are these addressed in newer landfill sites?
3. Seventeen percent of MSW is combusted, mostly in waste-to-energy (WTE) combustion facilities.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of WTE combustion?
4. The best solution to solid waste problems is to reduce waste at its source. How can the total volume
of refuse be reduced?
5. More than 75% of MSW is recyclable. What role is recycling playing in waste management, and how
is recycling best promoted?
6. Although most management of MSW occurs at the local level, federal regulations concerning MSW
are increasing. What regulations have affected the management of MSW?
7. Much more can be done to move MSW management in a more sustainable direction. What are some
recommendations to improve MSW management?
Chapter Twenty - Hazardous Chemicals: Pollution and Prevention
1. Hazardous materials (HAZMATs) are chemicals that present a hazard or risk. What are the four
properties that characterize HAZMATs? Why are heavy metals and synthetic organic compounds the
two categories of chemicals that present the worst toxic hazards?
2. Before 1970, chemical wastes were disposed of indiscriminately. What were the consequences of
unregulated land disposal?
3. One of the most daunting tasks our society faces is cleaning up the thousands of existing toxic waste
sites. How does the Superfund Act of 1980 address this task?
4. A number of laws have been passed to protect the public and the environment from present toxic
wastes. What roles do the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, RCRA, EPCRA, and TSCA play in
accomplishing this objective?
5. A future direction for pollution is one of pollution avoidance rather than pollution control. What is the
distinction between avoidance and control? How has the EPA changed its strategies in order to bring
about more cooperation from states and industries to accomplish pollution avoidance?
Chapter Twenty-One - The Atmosphere: Climate, Climate Change, and Ozone Depletion
1. The atmosphere is the site and source of our weather. How is the atmosphere structured, and how
does it function to bring us the major features of our weather?
2. There are ways of investigating the past to reveal features of past climates. What does the past tell
us about climate change?
3. The oceans and atmosphere are closely linked in creating climate. What is the ocean conveyor, and
how could the functioning of this system change to bring about a major climate change?
4. The interaction of solar radiation with atmospheric gases controls the balance of warming and
cooling of Earth. How have atmospheric gases from human activities affected this balance?
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5. Greenhouse gases are increasing in the troposphere. What is the probability that these gases will
bring on global warming? If it occurs, what will be the major effects of global warming?
6. Global warming poses a serious threat to the world's climate. How have the countries of the world
responded to the threat?
7. The stratospheric ozone shield is vital in protecting life from damaging ultraviolet radiation. How is
ozone formed and destroyed in the stratosphere?
8. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other gases destroy stratospheric ozone. What evidence confirmed
these destructive processes?
9. Continued ozone destruction represents a threat to life on Earth. What is the global community doing
about slowing or reversing ozone loss?
Chapter Twenty-Two - Atmospheric Pollution
1. Understanding air pollution begins with understanding normal atmospheric function. How is the
atmosphere normally cleansed?
2. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, unhealthy smogs have plagued human cities. How are industrial
and photochemical smogs generated?
3. The variety and effects of the major air pollutants have now been identified. What are the eight major
air pollutants and their most serious effects?
4. Much is known now about the origins and chemistry of air pollutants. Where do primary pollutants
originate, and how do they form secondary pollutants?
5. Acid deposition impacts natural ecosystems as well as industrial centers. What is acid deposition,
and what are its most significant effects on the environment?
6. Public policy now identifies standards for air pollutants based on their impacts on human health.
What are the existing U.S. air pollution standards?
7. The most recent legislation addressing air pollution is the Clean Air Act of 1990. What are the main
provisions of this act, and how are they related to former legislation?
8. Coping with acid deposition requires both technological and political change. What is being done in
the United States to reduce acid deposition?
9. Further improvements in air quality may require rethinking of how we structure our society. What
further steps could be taken to improve air quality and our way of life?
Chapter Twenty-Three - Economics, Public Policy, and the Environment
1. Environmental public policy includes laws and agencies that deal with a society's interactions with
the environment. How necessary are environmental public policies?
2. Economic systems are social and legal arrangements people make in order to satisfy their needs
and wants. What are the two basic kinds of economic systems, and how do they differ?
3. The wealth of a nation is the resources a country draws on to establish and maintain an economy.
What are the three components of a nation's wealth, and how do the world's nations compare in
wealth as measured with these components?
4. Environmental public policy appears in response to specific problems and needs. How is
environmental public policy developed in modern societies?
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5. It is argued that many environmental regulations are too costly. Do the economic effects of
environmental public policy outweigh the costs?
6. Benefit-cost analysis is an economic tool that is applied to environmental policies. How does this tool
work? What are the benefits of the last 25 years of environmental policy?
7. Politics often play an important role in the development of environmental public policy. What new
developments have occurred in this arena over the last few years?
Chapter Twenty-Four - Sustainable Communities and Lifestyles
1. Urban trends since World War II are marked by exurban migration, urban sprawl, urban blight, and a
growing dependence on cars. Describe these trends and how they are all related.
2. Urban sprawl is at the root of many environmental problems. List and describe these problems.
3. Urban sprawl is giving way to "smart growth" in many communities. What is being done to rein in
urban sprawl?
4. Exurban migration set into motion a vicious cycle of urban decline. Describe the factors involved in
this cycle. What is economic exclusion?
5. Many cities around the world are attractive and "livable." What are the characteristics that make a
city livable?
6. The UN's Sustainable Cities Program and the work of the U.S. Council on Sustainable Development
are working toward establishing sustainable communities. Describe these programs.
7. Environmental decision-making is strongly influenced by values. What are some values that may be
employed by people to promote stewardship and sustainability?
8. Changes in lifestyles are vital to sustainability. What are the most important changes? How can
people best become involved in working toward building a sustainable society?
9. The concept of "smart growth" has recently emerged as a method of reining in urban sprawl. What is
meant by this term?
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