The Environment And Effect On Human Health Environmental Sciences Essay

The Environment And Effect On Human Health Environmental Sciences Essay Polychlorinated Biphenyls are a group of manmade chemicals. They make up a group of two hundred and nine individual chlorinated biphenyl rings, known as congeners. In the concentrated form, PCBs are oily liquids, oily solids, and clear to yellow in color.(EPA, 2012). They have no smell or taste. (EPA, 2012). They are very stable mixtures that are resistant to extreme temperature and pressure. They have a low degree of reactivity. PCBs are not flammable, have high electrical resistance, and are good insulators.(Barbalace, 2002) PCBs were seen as an industrial breakthrough, because of its chemical properties. Before their ban in 1979, Polychlorinated biphenyls entered the environment during their manufacture and us in the United States. The organic chemicals were first manufactured by Monsanto in 1929. Prior to their ban, PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications, as electrical insulators. Uses for PCBS included transformers, electrical equipment, hydraulic fluids, oil based paint, carbonless carbon paper, compressors, heat transfer systems, pigments, adhesives, liquid cooled electric motors, fluorescent bulbs, cable insulation, plastic, and the list goes on.(EPA, 2012). Domestic uses included cereal boxes and bread wrappers. Because of its role in prevent fires and an explosion, the chemical was required by fire code. PCBs were seen as the ideal insulator for companies and consumers. The qualities that make PCBs wanted by consumers and companies are also the ones that make it hazardous to the environment and human health. PCBs high thermal and chemical resistance means they do not break down easily when exposed to heat or chemical treatments causing it to be hard to get out of the environment. Since they do not break down they remain in the environment and continue to build up. Today, the chemicals can still be released in the environment through spills, leaks, and improper disposal and storage. More than half of the PCBs produced during 1929-1979 have been released into the environment. (Barbalace, 2012). Although PCBs are no longer commercially manufactured or widely used , there are still ways people can be exposed to concentrated Polychlorinated Biphenyls. The most common exposures include through food, surface soils, drinking and ground water, indoor air, and in the workplace. PCBs are an organic pollutant. Companies that used the substance contaminated the environment through its uses and disposals. In 1935, the Monsanto Company purchased the Theodore Swann chemical company and began manufacturing PCBs in the United States. Monsanto continued to produce PCBs at its Anniston plant until 1971.(Lyons, 2004). During its forty years of manufacturing PCBs as an electrical insulator, the Monsanto Company flushed tens of thousands of pounds of PCBs into nearby creeks and buried millions more pounds in a hillside landfill. (Lyons, 2004). The Monsanto Company was sued by thousands of current and former residents of Anniston, who claim the company was aware of the dangers posed by PCBs and actively schemed to hide this information from the nearby public. (Firestone, 2002). In 1966, Monsanto managers discovered fish near the waste sites turned belly side up spurting blood and shredding skin, within ten seconds of the PCBs disposal.(Firestone, 2002). The company hid t heir findings. In 1969, fish were found with 7500 times the legal PCB level.(Grunwald, 2002). Company records reveal the companys decision that there was no reason to go to expensive extremes in limiting discharge form the plant.(Grunwald, 2002). The company was ordered to pay $53 million in cleanup cost and agreed to a global settlement involving current and future cases in Alabama.(Lyons, 2004). There are numerous known contaminated sites around the U.S. Among the most dangerous of these,  is the Hudson River Valley. In 1947-1977, General Electric (GE) began dumping PCB in the river. By the ban in 1979, an estimated 1.3 million pounds of the synthetic chemical had entered the Hudson river. The Hudson River was contaminated with PCB pollution. Twenty years later, officials still have to deal with the environmental effect of PCBs in the bedrocks of the Hudson River. (Mele, 1998). PCBs are now found throughout the Hudson River ecosystem, in in sediment, water, and wildlife. (Mele, 1998). The spread of PCBs throughout the Hudson River and the food chain has created one of the most widespread, hazardous waste problems in the nation.  The EPA ordered the General Electric Company to pay 460 million dollars to dredge the PCBs it had dumped into the Hudson River. (Grunwald, 2002). The Environmental Protection Agency Prevention regulates PCBs through the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The Act bans the use, distribution, manufacture, and processing of PCBs. TSCA gives EPA the authority to develop and enforce regulations concerning the manufacture, use, cleanup, and proper disposal of PCBs. (EPA, 2012). Through the environment, humans came into contact with the chemical. Polychlorinated Biphenyls are linked to numerous health hazard. It has an acute toxic affect. Skin irritations can occur in people exposed to high levels of PCBs. Studies in the workplace suggest that exposure to PCBs may also cause irritation of the nose and lungs. PCBs are a probable human carcinogen. EPA ´s regulations on cancer-causing chemicals use the term `probable ´ when a chemical is known to cause cancer in animals and where there is evidence that suggests that it causes cancer in humans but which is not conclusive. Studies of PCBs in humans have found increased rates of cancer patients that may be connected to the synthetic chemical. PCBs are known to cause a variety of types of cancer in rats, mice, and other study animals. (EPA, 2012) Polychlorinated Biphenyls are linked to developmental effects. Proper development of the nervous system is critical for early learning and can have potentially significant implications for the health of individuals throughout their lifetimes. (EPA, 2012). Women exposed to PCBs before or during pregnancy can give birth to children with significant neurological and motor control problems. These problems include lowered IQ and poor short-term memory. (EPA, 2012). PCBs disrupt hormone function. PCBs with only a few chlorine atoms can mimic the body ´s natural hormones. PCBs are also thought to play a role in reduced sperm number, reformed sex organs, puberty, and altered sex ratios of children. PCBs with more chlorine atoms act like dioxins in altering the metabolism of sex steroids in the body, which change the normal levels of estrogens and testosterone. PCBs also upset the balance of thyroid hormones, which may affect the growth, intellectual, and behavioral development. (EPA, 2012). PCBs are found throughout the environment, and it may be impossible to avoid coming into contact with Polychlorinated Biphenyls. People can try avoiding contact with contaminated soils and sediments. (Wisconsin, 2012). Practice good hygiene habits. Limit their consumption of sport-caught fish. Wash fruits and vegetables before eating them. Also, if any member of the household works with old electrical equipment be sure the equipment is properly maintained and the area is well ventilated. (Wisconsin, 2012). Polychlorinated Biphenyls are a chemical that will not go away. The Environmental Protection Agency is trying their best to rid the environment of its effects. The characteristics of the synthetic drug cause it to be transported easily and hard to break down. The drug has caused damaged to the environment, and the people around the environment. Polychlorinated Biphenyls will have a lifetime effect on the environment and people. Sources Barbalace, Roberta C. The Chemistry of Polychlorinated Biphenyls.  : PCB, The Manmade Chemicals That Wont Go Away (EnvironmentalChemistry.com). N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2012. . Environmental Protection Agency. Polychlorinated Biphenyls.  EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. . Firestone, David. Alabama Jury Says Monsanto Polluted Town.  The New York Times. N.p., 23 Feb. 2002. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. . Grunwald, Michael. Monsanto Held Liable For PCB Dumping.  The Washington Post. Raw Food Info, 23 Feb. 2002. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. . Lyon, Steve. PCB Pollution in Anniston, Alabama. Reading.  Commonweal. Professor Raquel Pinderhughes. San Francisco State Unversity . Urban Studies and Environmental Programs, 2004. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. . Human Health Hazards PCBs and Your Health.  Human Health Hazards PCBs and Your Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. . The Hudson River PCB Story A Toxic Heritage. Dir. Andy Mele. W. Alton Jones Foundation, 1998. Short Film.  The Hudson River PCB Story A Toxic Heritage. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. . What Are The Human Health Effects Of PCBs?  What Are The Human Health Effects Of PCBs?  N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Sept. 2012. .

Moral Recovery Program

Moral Recovery Program, An Overview Proclamation No. 62 dated 30 September 1992 declared a Moral Recovery Program in response to the need to strengthen the moral resources of the Filipino people rooted in Filipino culture, values and ideals that are pro God, pro people, pro country and pro nature. This Moral Recovery Program (MRP) refers to the national campaign for moral renewal which includes the objectives, strategies and cumulative experiences generated in the course of implementing Presidential Proclamation No. 62.It’s vision is to help the Filipino nation to become God-centered, people-empowered, prosperous national community living in unity, justice, freedom, love and peace governed by a visionary government that is democratic, responsive and effective, graft-free, transparent and self-corrective with a community of civil and military servants who are professional, competent, disciplined and trustworthy. It is about time that our political and religious leaders work han d in hand to bring about moral order in Philippine society.Freedom of worship and religion must be guaranteed. The family must be strengthened as the basic unit of society. Promote the values of integrity, excellence and service starting from the home, school, church and communities. There must be zero tolerance against violence, corruption and exploitation. Bring back the BAYANIHAN SPIRIT in order to instill civic consciousness and sense of patriotism among citizenry. Reaction Paper:According to the definition on the first page, Moral Recovery Program or MRP refers to the national campaign for moral renewal in response to the need to strengthen the moral resources of the Filipino people rooted in Filipino culture, values and ideals that are pro God, pro people, pro country and pro nature. In the definition, I can say that this program is very good not only for Filipinos but also to other people around the world.We know that all people have problems and as I observe, some people now adays experiencing problems don’t seek to God to ask help or ask guidance but instead they make money as their personal savior. And as for Filipinos, this national campaign for moral renewal can really help to restore and establish the Filipino culture not only in the Philippines but also to other countries. Maybe through this program, Filipinos will now learn to love their culture. Filipinos now will not waste their money buying imported things from abroad instead they will spend all their money to buy their country’s product.And also, some Filipinos who are not proud of their culture will now be proud and they will also promote it to other countries. This national campaign for renewal also helps nurture and preserves Mother Earth. Through this campaign, some people will now avoid cutting trees, do â€Å"kaingin†, killing endangered species and many more. And through this campaign people will learn that Mother Earth is very important to us and we must save our beloved Mother Earth from our wrong activities while it’s not too late.

Should Gay Marriage Be Recognized - 1692 Words

Krisha McCoy Final Paper August 25, 2014 SHOULD GAY MARRIAGES BE RECOGNIZED ACROSS STATES There are many debates going on about whether gay-marriage should be recognized by all United States. Why is it that some states ban gay-marriage but others allow it? Why is it that some states declare that a ban on gay-marriage is unconstitutional yet others say it is not? Why is it that some states recognize gay-marriages from other states but others do not? These are some questions that should be very closely looked at if we are going to ever understand the debates that go on about gay-marriage. The definition of marriage in today’s society is often debated. Some people believe marriage consists of only a man and a woman and believe that gay-marriage is against the Bible. Some people believe that marriage can include same-sex couples too. The idea or view that marriage means only one man and one woman is outdated. Also in the past this idea has been swayed by religious beliefs. If we were to base all of our laws on the bible there would be a tremendous amount of people going to jail for every little thing under the sun. For example; a married man falls in love with another woman and with a bible based law he is then put in jail for adultery. Another example is a teenage girl lies to get out of trouble she is then put into jail for lying. This is why we have the separation of church and state. We cannot have laws based on other religious beliefs or theShow MoreRelatedGay Marriage Should Be Recognized997 Words   |  4 Pagesgives the audience a look into the argument of both sides of same sex marriage. The actors did a great job of getting their points across about why and why not gay marriage should be recognized. 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In some of these states, the uniting of two gays is called a civil unionRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal1434 Words   |  6 PagesGay marriage has slowly become a significant factor amongst individuals of today’s society. On June 26, 2015, it was ruled out by the U.S. Supreme Court that gay marriage was now legal. The first thing that I thought was that â€Å"Wasn’t it already legal in the United States?† Well, apparently no it has not been legalized in the United States! (Dumb me.) The U.S. is known to be a nation of equality and gives everyone the freedom of the speech, but it is actually a nation full of racism, sexism, and homophobiasRead More Gay Marriage Should Be Legal Essay853 Words   |  4 Pagesdecades, it is the gay community tha t now finds itself striving for equal opportunities in our culturally diverse nation. Although they have already come a long way in the path of acceptance, most recently the gay community has had to confront extremist conservative groups who claim that allowing same-sex couples to join in a civilly recognized union violates the act of a traditional, sacred marriage. Gay and lesbian individuals feel that, like any other group, they should not be denied rightsRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Is The Legal Union Essay1562 Words   |  7 PagesAbout Company Legal Site Map Contact Advertise ï‡ º ï‡ ¼ ï‡ ½  ©2015 StudyMode.com Home Same-sex marriage Same Sex Marriage Same Sex Marriage Civil union, Homosexuality, Marriage By kwhite89 Mar 16, 2015 1510 Words 56 Views More info ï„” PDF View Text View Page 6 of 6 Read MoreThe Issue With Same-Sex Marriages1568 Words   |  6 Pagesabout the issue of same-sex marriage. For many, it is one of the fundamental human rights to love and marry whomever one chooses. 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The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Orders

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act orders all states to give disabled students a free and appropriate education. Many schools in the United States mainstream disabled students and have succeeded in properly educating them, along with creating a safe environment where they are socially comfortable and accepted. However, there are too many incidents where teachers improperly handle these students and administrators do not give enough money to fund adequate supplies for these students. Although disabled students gain social benefits when mainstreamed, they ultimately do not thrive in such settings due to immoral methods and insufficient budgets. In academic settings, disabled students have access to more opportunities and many†¦show more content†¦Most importantly, â€Å"children with disabilities have the opportunities to observe, imitate and model the language use of their peers who do not have disabilities† (Grabmeier). By following their nondisabled fri ends, disabled students learn how to better communicate their thoughts, feelings and ideas which makes it easier for teachers to help them and understand them. Another beneficial skill disabled students receive through mainstreaming is positive thinking. According to Kathy Foust, the mainstreaming environment allows disabled students to learn what type of behavior is appropriate and what is not. They learn that listening to a teacher leads to little or no punishments while disobeying a teacher leads to more punishments. Foust also includes that mainstreaming stimulates self-esteem because the disabled know they are in regular classes, which makes them proud of themselves. These students believe that since they are in classrooms with nondisabled students, they are in higher and more advance classes. In other words, since students around the disabled are capable of extraordinary things, the disabled feel like they are extraordinary as well, thus having an improved self-esteem. â€Å"The Choice of Settings: The Pros and Cons of Mainstreaming Children With IntellectualShow MoreRelatedIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act1188 Words   |à ‚  5 PagesIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was initially passed in 1975. Prior to the passage of the IDEA, many people with disabilities were denied access to public education and many were relegated to institutions. The IDEA guarantees individuals with disabilities a free and appropriate education (FAPE) in a least restrictive environment (LRE). 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According to both IDEA and Section 504, all special education students must be educated in the least restrictive environment. The two provisions also mandate that that all children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education, which is referred to as FAPE. This essay will answer theRead MoreHistory of Special Education1367 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract This paper will discuss the history of special education including a timeline of the significant events that happens in the history of special education. It would further discuss the laws associated with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Furthermore, this paper will address the current and future challenges the laws have on special education. All children are created differently with different talents and abilities. Some are tall, others are short. Some are big, othersRead MoreSupport Services Available For People Living With Disabilities809 Words   |  4 Pagesliving with disabilities. It is important these services are in place to ensure disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else. The Equality Act was put into place in 2010 to ‘support the rights of disabled students by giving greater legal protection against discrimination’. (Disability Rights UK, 2012) The act emphasises the legal duty on education providers, employers and service providers to make appropriate changes in order for disabled people to take part in education, use servicesRead MoreIndividuals With Disabilities Education Act787 Words   |  4 PagesSebrena Pierce CD 115 Jones 4/1/16 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act The law or act that I chose to do my research paper on was the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. As a student with a disability this act helped out tremendously throughout my educational journey. There are 6.5 million individuals who receive some type of special education services. The IDEA act created a positive stigmatism on individuals with disabilities. IDEA should be able to continue to create a positiveRead MoreSpecial Education For Students With Disabilities1466 Words   |  6 PagesSpecial Education in early childhood classrooms are a privilege for students. Parents or guardians need to be educated on the special education laws, referrals, and evaluation process. As educators we need to advocate to parents or guardians that special education is not a location, but a service to help children reach their full potential in the classroom and as a citizen of society. The earlier the intervention for a child the greater the chance the child will succeed. The United States hasRead MoreThe Foundations Of Counseling And Guidance Essay1340 Words   |  6 Pages(Krumboltz Kolplin, n.d.). Counselors only began playing a role in special education in the late 1970’s to early 1980’s. This was a time of strict evaluation of education and counseling programs in particular. In order for schools to provide adequate educational opportunities for individuals with disabilities, school counselors were trained to adapt the educational environment to the students’ needs. This was a new concept in education. The duties and roles of many counselors changed significantly. CounselorsRead MoreEducation Industry Laws and Regulations941 Words   |  4 PagesThe education industry has many laws and regulations that protects the teachers and students. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was established in 2004. This is a federal law that governs how public agencies and states serve children with disabilities from birth to age 21. This act consists of different parts and the second part addresses the education of school age children with disabilities . This is to ensure that every child with a disability has a free public education availableRead MoreThe Education For All Handicapped Children Act (Eha) Had957 Words   |  4 PagesThe Education for all Handicapped Children Act (EHA) had an overall goal of desegregating disabled children in schools, as well as work on integrating them in classrooms with their non-disabled peers. Until the Civil Rights Movement, not much attention was brought to the fact that children with disabilities had very little rights and were kept isolated and not given a proper education, if any at all. Because of the attention brought to the poor and unjust treatment of children with disabilities and