MINAMATA, JAPAN

MINAMATA, JAPANApril Banayan, Eli Lloyd, Jonathan BergerMAP OF MINAMATA

Causes:Cultural:Culturally dependent eating seafood

Social:Seafood cheap and accessible to poor Japanese

Physical:Minamata citys Chisso Co. dumped toxic materials into the bayMethyl mercury chloride

Effect on Environment:Death of fish

Mercury in sludge and ocean water

Water sources ruined

Effects on Humans:Disease of central nervous system (Minimata disease)

Mercury poisoning

36.7 mortality rate

Loss of sensation and eventual death

Convulsions

How did they fix the problem?Kumamoto University began to research the diseaseFound animals with same problems realized it dealt with foodFish main diet traced back to oceanCompensation of patientsWastewater treatment

PreventionPrevention of Pollution-related Health Damage

Rules and regulations for pollution and dumping into the ocean

Companies like Chisso under more scrutiny

StatusWater and food sources have been cleaned

Now facing pollution from other sources like nuclear reactors

Regulations placed on fishing industry

The London FogBy:Ashley Aviram, Paul Park, Daniella Shoenburg

The Great Smog of 52Big Smoke

Why did this occur?!?!?A mass of stagnant air had collected above the sky of London, trapping all the pollutants in the airThe cold weather present during that time meant millions of Londoners would be burning more coal than usualVehicle exhaust also contributed to the pollution, especially the diesel-fueled buses

Environmental Effects :(Poor visibility people could not see past a few yards

I cant see!!!!Effects on Humans :( An estimated 12,000 people diedMost of the victims were young, old, or had had respiratory problemsAbout 25,000 people became ill

Solutions?!?!?!?!Luckily, a change of weather removed the stagnant air and the Big Smoke dispersed

YAYYYYYYY!!!!!Prevention!!New regulations were created to restrict the use of dirty fuels and black smokeClean Air Act of 1956 and 58 banned emissions of black smoke residents of urban areas and operators of factories must convert to smokeless fuels

Currently?The London Fog lasted only from 12/5/52 to 12/9/52, so it does not exist today Smog is also less prominent due to the new laws

Bibliographyhttp://www.environmentaltrends.org/single/article/flashback-air-quality-trends-before-1970.htmlhttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=873954http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/great_smog.htmlhttp://www.nickelinthemachine.com/2008/11/a-proper-pea-souper-the-terrible-london-smog-of-1952/

By: Shawn HakakianJonny LalezariDavid HakakianTHREE MILE ISLANDMap of three mile island

Sequence of Certain Events1) EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS2) DESIGN-RELATED PROBLEMS3) WORKER ERRORSALL LED TO MELTDOWN

CausesFIRST FAILURES ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1979 AT 4A.M.WATER PUMPS STOPPED WORKING.TURBINE AND REACTOR SHUT DOWN.PRESSURE INCREASE, PRESSURE VALVE OPENEDCOOLANT WATER POURS OUT , REACTOR OVERHEATS

ENIVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS-Most radiation contained

-Some radioactive gas released

-Low radiation levels released

-Water/plants cleaned

EFFECT ON HUMANSDEATH TOLL: 02 MILLION PEOPLE, AFFECTED W/ ONLY 1 MILLIREM (RADIOACTIVITY)(A CHEST X-RAY IS 6 MILLIREMS)INCREASE IN PUBLIC FEAR AND DISTRESSNRC REGULATIONS BECAME BROADENED5-mile radius cleared10-mile radius, stay at home, windows closed.

Problem Fixed-60 workers

-Cooled it down, shut it off

-High pressure water injection

-Restarted one reactor coolant pump

Prevention-Better operator training/ instruction.

-Emergency preparedness

-NRC public report requirement

-Additional monitoring equipment

-High standards by INPO

Current Environmental Status- TMI-2 Reactor Permanently shut down

-Radioactive water decontaminated

-Waste/Debris shipped off-site.

-Long term monitored storage

-TMI-2 will run once TMI-1 plant operating license expires

Bibliography-"Three Mile Island | TMI 2 |Three Mile Island Accident." World Nuclear Association | Nuclear Power - a Sustainable Energy Resource. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. .

-"Three Mile Island: The Rest of the Story..." Potassium Iodide Pills Anti-Radiation Pill & Nuclear Emergency FAQ. Radiation Detectors, Meters, Geiger Counters & Potassium Iodine Iodate Pills. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. .

-"NRC: Backgrounder on the Three Mile Island Accident." NRC: Home Page. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. .

-"A Nuclear Nightmare -- Printout -- TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. .

Chernobyl, Ukraine Nuclear Disaster

Mapshi

Chernobyl nuclear power plant is located in Ukraine, 20km south of the border with Belarus.Causes Of Disaster26 April 1986 Caused by inexperienced staff working at the Chernobyl Power PlantThe staff wanted to test reactor 4 but another power plant went downThe Chernobyl plant had to produce more power than it was supposed to so it could compensateThe night staff who were less experienced thought they could test the reactor, but did not know that you couldnt test while it was producing double the powerThe emergency shutdown mechanism couldnt stop the plant, and their Geiger counters werent advanced enough to tell them how high the radiation levels wereThe crew stayed 3 days after the explosion not knowing the high radiation levels, as they were attempting to pump water into the reactor to control it

Effect Of Disaster On The EnvironmentLargest uncontrolled radioactive release in environment residentially and large amounts of radioactive substances released into the air Deposited in the urban areas near the power plant The deposition of radioactive iodine contaminated agricultural plants, grazing animalsParticularly contaminated mushrooms and berries Radioactive materials from Chernobyl deposited on rivers, lakes and some water reservoirsThe radioactive materials released by the accident had immediate harmful effects on plants and animals living within 20 to 30 km of the Chernobyl power plant

Effect Of Disaster On HumansThe current death toll =1 million peopleAround 1800 children ages 0 to 14 were diagnosed with Thyroid CancerUp to 2.4 million Ukrainians had negative effects on their healthExplosion effected all of EuropeHigher rates of Birth defects have been linked to disaster

What Is Being Done To Fix This Problem?During the first years, settlements in contaminated regions of the USSR were cleaned up at a very high costIn order to reduce long term contamination of milk and meat with radioactive cesium, the animals were fed crops that would trap the radioactive chemicalsBetween May and November 1986, a Shelter was built to contain the damaged reactor to prevent further release The overall plan for the long term development of the Exclusion Zone is to make the less affected areas available for use by the public.

Prevention Of Future DisastersThe Soviet Union and, later, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) spent large amounts of money to deal with clean-up and repair. To prevent the release of more radiation a Shelter was quickly built to contain the damaged reactor. (Problems become apparent with the first shelter and a new more durable shelter is being built.)New Safe Confinement (NSC) should provide more than 100 years of service life and is planned to cover over the existing Shelter.

Current Environmental Status Of AreaLarge amounts of radioactive waste was generated and placed in temporary near-surface waste storage and disposal facilities.An exclusion Zone was created extending up to 30 km in all directions around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.Restrictions have been placed on fresh water, hunting, and forest products (berries, mushrooms, and firewood) in the areas surrounding Chernobyl. Since the disaster, the radiation levels have reduced significantly, but are still very high. Although some animals have returned, very few people go there.

Sources"Causes of the Chernobyl Disaster | Chernobyl-Disaster.com." The Chernobyl Disaster | Chernobyl-Disaster.com. Http://www.chernobyl-disaster.com/. Web. 04 Oct. 2011. .

"Chernobyl Global Radiation Patterns." Web. 04 Oct. 2011. .

Fernandez, Marisa. "Scientific Facts on the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident." Green Facts - Facts on Health and the Environment. Green Facts' Scientific Board, 12 Apr. 2006. Web. 04 Oct. 2011. .

Preuss, Simone. "Chernobyl 1984-2009: Then and Now | Environmental Graffiti." Popular | Environmental Graffiti. Environmentalgraffiti. Web. 04 Oct. 2011. .

"WHO | Health Effects of the Chernobyl Accident: an Overview." Www.who.int. World Health Organization, Apr. 2006. Web. 04 Oct. 2011. .

Hiroshima, JapanBy:Natan Dorenbaum, Andrew Loewy, Jacob Roeder, Jack WagnerMap and General AreaCapital of Hiroshima PrefectureFirst city destroyed by nuclear bomb

Causes (Why Hiroshima?)Was a major army depot and port in an urban industrial areaUS believed that the bomb would save more lives than destroy than if their was a full invasionLarge part of city would be effected

Effects On The EnvironmentAir pollution from radioactive debrisWater sources were polluted by radioactive particlesAgricultural production was damagedSoil polluted and ruinedDead stalks of rice could be found up to 7 miles from ground zero

Effects On HumansWiped out 90% of Hiroshima100,000 people immediately killed Between 100,000-200,000 people died in all from both immediate death and radiation sickness later onHair loss, nose bleeds, fever, nausea, death, etc.Feelings of fear, confusion, and hatred

What is Being Done to Fix the problem?Hiroshima was rebuilt after the warProclaimed a city of peaceHiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction law was passed and provided financial assistance for reconstructionAtomic Dome is the closest building to ground zero that survived and became the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Atomic DomePreventionInternational Atomic Energy Agency established to encourage peaceful applications of nuclear techComprehensive Test Ban Treaty prohibits all testing of nuclear weapons

International Atomic Energy Agency SymbolEnvironmental StatusBackground radiation now at normal levelsPopulation today-about 1.12 millionCity was rebuilt and is a major urban centerNow one of Japans largest supplier of nuclear power how ironic

BibliographyWorks Cited"Environmental Effects of War." Water Treatment and Purification - Lenntech. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. ."Hiroshima, 64 Years Ago - The Big Picture - Boston.com." Boston.com - Boston, MA News, Breaking News, Sports, Video. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. ."Hiroshima Plant | Environmental Conservation | Elpida Memory." Elpida Memory, Inc. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. ."Nuclear Files: Timeline of the Nuclear Age: 1945." Nuclear Files - From Nuclear Proliferation to Nuclear Testing, from Hiroshima to North Korea, Nuclear Files Offers the A to Z on Nuclear Issues. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. .

Kill a Sparrow CampaignPresented by: Rebecca Nourafshan, Ariella Mahgerefteh, and Ashley Emrani

Map of ChinaChina was the country which was affected by the Kill a Sparrow CampaignInitiated in 1958 as a hygiene campaign by Mao ZedongZedong identified the need to exterminate mosquitoes, flies, rats, and sparrowsTried increasing rice yieldsCulturally influenced by TVB drama series Rosy Business -peasant came up with idea of killing sparrows to improve agricultural output

Causes of Disaster

meant to be a prank used to trick the peasant owners into starvation and poverty

49Increase in insects and worms since their predators (sparrows) died offOne of Chinas greatest locus invasions of historyCrops died from being eaten by an abundant amount of pesticidesEffects of Disaster on Environment

Famine30-43 million deaths resulted from starvation

Effect of Disaster on Humans

Mao ordered end to campaign against sparrows replacing them with bed bugsToo lateLocust population increasesIncreases ecological problemscaused byGreatLeap Forward -widespread deforestation -misuse of poisons and pesticidesGreat Chinese Famine -more than 30 million died of starvation

Whats being done to Fix the Problem?

How to Prevent Future DisastersThis disaster was easily preventableHumans shouldnt get involved with natureIn the future, humans should allow natural regulation to take its course

STILL did not stop: in 1998 had campaign to kill cockroaches instead of sparrowsJune 19, 1998: poster at Southwest Agricultural University in ChongqingCockroaches instead of sparrowsSimilar campaign in the spring of 1998 inBeijingCurrent Environmental Status of China

Liker, Andrs. "Site of Sparrows - Dark Era of Sparrows." Sparrows. Web. 04 Oct. 2011. .Summers-Smith, J. Denis (1992). In Search of Sparrows. London: Poyser. pp. 122124. ISBN 0-85661-073-9. McCarthy, Michael (2 August 2006). "The secret life of sparrows". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/the-secret-life-of-sparrows-410252.html. Retrieved 30 January 2009.Shapiro, Judith Rae (2001). Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China. Cambridge University Press. ISBN0521786800.Dikotter, Frank (2010). Mao's Great Famine. New York: Walker & Co.. p.188.

BibliographyLove CanalMix 82 ChemicalsPlace in Canal for 25 YearsYield: Sickness + Death

Background InformationLove Canal neighborhood in Niagara Falls, NYUsed as Toxic Waste Dump by Niagara Falls & US Army in WWII1942 - Hooker Electrochemical Company dumped waste in the canal

CausesGrowing population - over 85000City needed land for new schoolsHooker Chemical Company sold the land for $1City of Niagara Falls warned of toxicity, but still bought land

Effects on EnvironmentVegetation diedWater contaminatedCanal began to crack

Effects on HumanityChemicals seeped into homesMiscarriagesBirth Defects: Physical & MentalContaminated Breast MilkHigh rate of cancer

Whats Being Done in Response?Government relocated > 800 familiesComprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act passedOccidental Petroleum (H.E.C) fined $129 MillionMost toxic areas reburied + fence built

Current Status of Love CanalToday less than 90 of the original 900 families remain.Most of the toxins in soil remainToxic rain

64BibliographyDean, Cornelia. "Superfund News - The New York Times." Times Topics - The New York Times. 06 Oct. 2011. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. .

"Love Canal Follow-up Health Study - April 2002." New York State Department of Health. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. .

"Love Canal Superfund Site | Region 2 | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 06 Oct. 2011. .Gulf Of Mexico (Oil Spill)By: Brian Aminpour Chanel Taghdis

65

Map of Region Affected66Loss of control over the pressure in the wellFailure of wells blowout preventerBlowout preventers emergency functions failed to seal the well causing leak

Social cause: Huge amounts of oil found underwaterPractice underwater drilling, has since been haltedWanted oil for technological advances Causes of Disaster

67Oil gushing for 3 months into the gulfFire burned for 36 hours and hydrocarbons leaked into gulfInfects the food chainAffects life forms in the oceanKills turtles, fishes, and other endangered speciesLayering areas of ocean floor with deposits Effect of Disaster on Environment

68Effect of Disaster on HumansOil spills take a toll on human communitiesEleven people died and others were injuredDamage caused to livelihoods of those living in the communities that were affectedFisheries closed

69Fixing the Problem$17.7 billion for response activitiesCleaning up and restoring the gulfs beaches with new technologiesWildlife groups developed rescue programs for wildlifeCompensating individuals, businesses, and other agenciesThe conservancy is expanding our work project to restore ecological infrastructure

70Prevention of Future Disasters Companies like earth justice try to stop the expansion of offshore drillingForce federal agencies to do their jobs instead of depending on BP Oil companyNational institute of health conducting studies on health effects and educating people New technology which monitor for the presence of oil in water

71Current Status of AreaThe oil has stopped flowing Large scale restoration is needed for: marshes, oyster beds, and coastal forestsThe fisheries have now re-openedDemand for oil grows

72Bibliography http://earthjustice.org/features/preventing-more-bp-type-oil-disasters?gclid=CMTa__Ob0KsCFQdzgwod4TwMVQhttp://www.bp.com/sectionbodycopy.do?categoryId=41&contentId=7067505http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/areas/gulfofmexico/gulf-of-mexico-1-year-after-the-oil-spill.xml73