I.
Natural Resources – the raw materials, biotic and
abiotic that support life on earth. Many are being
over-used or wasted. There are three main types.
A.
Renewable resources – those materials that can
be regrown or replenished. However, humans
often consume them faster than they can be
replaced. (i.e. forests, wildlife, soil, etc.)
B.
Nonrenewable resources – those materials that
cannot be replaced or replenished by nature or
people. (water, fossil fuels, minerals, etc.)
C.
Perpetual resources – those resources which are
essentially inexhaustible …special type of
renewable resources. (i.e. solar energy, wind,
tides, etc.)

Nonrenewable

Nonrenewable

Perpetual
II.
Pollution – anything potentially harmful that
humans add to the environment. (There are also
some natural causes.)
A.
It can damage an organism’s health as well as the
environment. (i.e. Some pollutants may be
carcinogens, or substances that cause cancer)


Benzene

Radon
Smoking
B.
Degradable pollutants – pollutants that can be
decomposed, removed, or consumed and thus
reduce into “acceptable” levels by natural
processes or by human engineering systems.
C.
Nondegradable pollutants – pollutants that
cannot be broken down by natural processes. (i.e.
plastic, glass, etc.)
D.
Water Pollution
1. Occurs when some substance or condition degrades
the quality of a body of water that it fails to meet water
quality standards or cannot be used for a specific
purpose.

Cuyahoga River, which flows into Lake Erie, caught fire in
1969 and ignited a firestorm of public outrage over
indiscriminate dumping of sewage and industrial chemicals
into the Great Lakes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRDPqtj3
DJE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtNH0E4
XSdQ
2. The four main categories of water pollution are:
industrial, agricultural, domestic/urban, and naturally
occurring.
3. Pollution enters the environment in two ways.
a) Point-source – waste discharge from an identifiable
location (i.e. sewage pipes, treatment plants, storm
sewers, etc.)
b. Nonpoint – source – waste discharge from multiple
inputs (spread out). (i.e. agricultural land runoff,
atmospheric deposition, etc.)
4. Major water pollutants include:
a. Oxygen-demanding waste – domestic sewage,
animal manure, some industrial wastes.
b. Disease causing agents – bacteria, viruses, parasites.
According to the CDC, as many as 900,000 people get
sick and 900 die every year in the U.S. because of
waterborne microbial infections.
c. Inorganic chemicals and minerals – acids, salts, and
toxic metals.
d. Organic chemicals – pesticides, plastics, detergents,
oil, industrial wastes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyFsodV
Ud-o

Just a thought: Are we responsible for the
pollution carried out by companies that we
buy goods from?
e. Plant nutrients – fertilizers (nitrates and phosphates)
… cause algal blooms
f. Sediment – soils, salts from soil/rocks
g. Radioactive substances – nuclear power plants,
nuclear weapons testing, uranium mining.
h. Heat (thermal pollution) – decreases oxygen levels in
the water.
5. Effects of water pollution include: property damage,
damage/injury to plants and animals, risk to human
health, etc.
E.
Air pollution – when harmful chemicals are added
to the atmosphere in high enough concentrations
to harm humans, other animals, vegetation, and
other materials.
1. There are two types of air pollutants.
a. Primary air pollutant- chemical added directly to the
air that occurs in harmful concentrations.
b. Secondary air pollutant – chemical found in the
atmosphere through a chemical reaction among
components in the air. (i.e. sulfuric acid, nitric acid)
2. Major air pollutants include: carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, particulate
matter, CFCs, etc.
III.
A.
Ozone Depletion
Destroyed by chemicals called
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). (Found in coolants,
aerosol cans, plastic foams)
B.
CFCs can destroy ozone for more than 100 years
before finally breaking down.
C.
Ozone depletion allows for more ultraviolet (UV)
radiation from the sun to reach the earth which
can lead to many health problems in humans such
as skin cancer and cataracts.
IV.
Global Warming – an increase in the overall
temperature of the earth.
A. Caused by the greenhouse effect.
1. Carbon dioxide builds up in the atmosphere due to
the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
2. The carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
(water vapor, methane, etc.) act like a blanket
trapping heat in the atmosphere.
B. Some possible consequences include:
1. Climate and weather pattern changes
2. Increased sea levels
3. Possible ice age.
V.
Acid Rain – precipitation with lower than normal
pH levels. Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6.
Acid rain ranges from 5 to 2. It can damage
forests, lakes, soil, buildings, etc.


Create groups of six with the members of you
class (no more than 6 people per group!)
Each member will have a role:
 Member A – Paper Towel
 Member B – Cotton Balls
 Member C – Sponge
 Member D – Toothbrush
 Member E – Water & Dish Soap
 Member F – Record Data/Observations

Collect materials from side counter
 Paper Towel, Cotton Ball, Sponge, Toothbrush, Water
and Soap
 Five Feathers
 Vegetable Oil



Use your method to remove the oil from the
feather.
Record each others data
Throw away materials –EXCEPT the soap & water
containers, toothbrush and sponge. Please rinse
those out and place them on the drying rack.