Group: ECO Mode

Team Members: C. K., K. L., G. A., C. H. T., M. M.

Tell me about your Subject.

● Why did you choose it?

Our chosen subject is on environmental justice, specifically focused in the United States
on how we are damaging our environments through pollutants, and overuse. We knew
immediately that we wanted to focus our information on the United States, since we live
in the United States, and have a stronger understanding of what is happening here
compared to internationally. However, deciding on what part of environmental justice to
focus on took longer. We could not decide between pollution by companies, water
pollution/or lack of access to clean water, or destruction of land and resources for the
future. We took some time to look into articles on our own and see what came together on
its own. We noticed a trend in our finding articles on overuse age (in fishing, water, or
other resources), and pollutants. With the sources we were all gathering, we settled our
topic on humans damaging our environment through pollution and overuse.

● How is it related to your fields?

C.H.T-As I am a biology major interested in the health of communities both large and
small, animal and human, these articles are relevant to me because I care about our
future. With exposure to knowledge of what is going on in the United States, we can
change how people interact with the environment and save our futures.

K.L: I am studying biology with a concentration in ecology and evolution. Environmental

justice is especially relevant to me because humans, plants, and animals alike can be
victims of poor environmental decisions, so it is in our best interest to be educated and
conscious and considerate of our citizens and the world around us.

C.K: I am a biology student studying plant biology. Plants have been used to clean up
polluted sites and scientists believe plants are our best solution to mitigate the effects of
climate change. Aside from my field of study, I have long been fascinated by
environmental issues, both in the past and present, and how we may solve them.
 M.M: I am studying biology with a concentration in cell and developmental, however the
topic of ecology has been an intriguing topic for me. Furthermore, as my knowledge is
limited, what I find interesting about the topic is how I am able to witness the positive
and/or beneficial impact of human actions and see the domino-effect. Especially now
with climate change, pollution, etc, and how it has impacted people’s lives.

G.A: I am also a biology student with a concentration in ecology. Although many may
not care so much for the plants and animals that live in a damaged environment, their
losses can impact human lives in some way, whether directly such as fisheries, or
indirectly such as the loss of trees to absorb carbon dioxide from a warming world. To
me, environmental justice is relevant since there are a variety of ramifications to us and
our world, whether of large or small effects.

● Why should anyone care about it?

When it comes to our immediate environment (the United States), everyone should care
about the damage we cause from pollutants and overuse. What we do may seem
beneficial in the immediate future, but if it is not sustainable, then we will lack that
resource or benefit in the long run. For example, the Anza Borrego desert has homes, golf
courses, and citrus farms that all rely on an underground water reservoir. The current
water use, with no recovery by rain or outside sources, especially by farms and golf
courses that have no place in a water poor environment, mean all water will be gone in
under 20 years, leaving no future for living at all in Anza Borrego past 2040. If the water
table was able to recover, the land may be used past 2040, but no one cares about 2040,
they only care about 2021. Unsustainable practices and polluted environments now,
means destroying the future of the United States, our future.

● What is its history?

Pollution became a serious issue during the late 18th century when the industrial
revolution began. The effect that waste from industrial plants would have on the
environment was unknown, but these pollutants were released and left untreated. Soot
made the air difficult to breathe, and a concoction of chemicals made the water toxic, just
to name a few impacts. Since the industrial revolution, efforts have been made by the
United States to reduce pollution. However, it is challenging to eliminate pollution
entirely. Some land has been left polluted for many years unknowingly until families and
communities live on top of it, and the atmosphere continues to collect more greenhouse
gasses. Additionally, as the human population grows and more trash is produced, it
becomes more difficult to dispose of it properly. Overexploitation is another product of
the growing human population. More people means more building materials are required
for more houses, and more food is required for more mouths. This can lead to
deforestation and overfishing, among many other problems. Nevertheless, as society
 continues to progress, we now have become more knowledgeable about our carbon
footprint. In doing so, society now begins to advocate for more sustainable
options/methods to counteract the damage that has accumulated over the last three
centuries. Certain ways society has shown solidarity towards combating this issue is seen
through advocacy of sustainable and multi-use materials, solar, electric vehicles, and
development/study of bacteria that break down micro-plastics and oil.

How Will You Organize?

Potential Graphics:

● Land
○ Overused agricultural land
○ Graphic on deforestation
● Water
○ Drained Sierra Nevada Mountain Lakes
○ Great Pacific Garbage Patch
○ Graphic on fish and mercury
● Air
○ Graphics about how methane, carbon dioxide, or CFCs affect the atmosphere
● Ecology
○ graphic on overfishing, ocean acidification, or biomagnification
○ Marshlands or mangroves
● Social Impacts
 ○ Love Canal or other polluted town
○ Graphic on noise pollution

Practice:
Student #1 (Name: K.L):

Collins, T. W., Grineski, S. E., & Nadybal, S. (2019). Social disparities in exposure to noise at

public schools in the contiguous United States. Environmental Research, 175, 257–265.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.05.024

Recognizing the lack of research on environmental hazards concerning American

schoolchildren, the authors sought to investigate the inequalities in noise pollution exposure

across the United States. They found that schools with the youngest students and high attendance

in Black, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic students were associated with high noise

exposure. Furthermore, students attending highly exposed schools were more likely to be

economically disadvantaged. The authors concluded by urging immediate action to mitigate and

prevent further impact to children’s health and development. Collins and Grineski are professors

at the University of Utah in the Department of Geography and Sociology, respectively, and are

co-directors of the Center for Natural and Technological Hazards, while Nadybal is a graduate

teaching assistant. The intended audience of this research is parents, voters, and those involved

in state and federal government, as these groups have the interest and power in addressing these

significant socioeconomic disparities. (K.L)

Student #2 (Name: C.H.T):

Johnston, J., Razafy, M., Lugo,. H., Olmedo, L., Farzan, S. (2019). The disappearing Salton Sea:

A critical reflection on the emerging environmental threat of disappearing saline lakes

and potential impacts on children's health. Science of the Total Environment, 663,

804-817. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.365

Drought combined with large water use demands are causing lakes in California to dry

up. These dry lake beds are a possible health hazard for adults and children living in nearby

communities and researchers from the University of Southern California and the non-profit

Comite Civico del Valle look into the disappearing Salton Sea in this paper. Dust exposed from

dry lake beds is blown into the air and breathed in by the local community, causing significant

lung damage. This article is relevant to audiences interested in the research on overuse of

resources, drought changes in California, lack of groundwater, lakes, economic problems, and

respiratory health damage in children and adults living nearby. More information on respiratory

damage similar to this can be found in the Legot, C. et al article on industrial toxins exposure and

respiratory health damage. (C.H.T)

Student #3 (Name: C.K):

Bawa, R., & Dwivedi, P. (2019). Impact of land cover on groundwater quality in the Upper

Floridan Aquifer in Florida, United States. Environmental Pollution, 252, 1828-1840.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.06.054

Bawa and Dwivedi studied what landscape indicators affect levels of nitrate-nitrogen

(NO3-N) and potassium (K) pollutants in the Upper Floridan Aquifer (UFA) by testing for

pollutant concentrations in semi-circle regions around groundwater well stations. Greater

concentrations of NO3­-N and K were found at lower elevations and near agricultural sites along

the river valley, leading the authors to conclude that excessive fertilizer use caused the pollution.

Bawa and Dwivedi are professors at the University of Wyoming and Georgia, where they both

teach about economics in relation to the environment. The authors wrote this article for other

scientists studying similar environmental issues and the individuals who get their water from the

UFA to warn them of the potential problems that could arise in the future. Bachmann et al.’s

article describes the results if similar pollutants reached natural lakes. (C.K)
Student #4 (Name: M.M):

Legot, C., London, B., Rosofsky, A., & Shandra, J. (2012). Proximity to industrial toxins and

childhood respiratory, developmental, and neurological diseases: environmental

ascription in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. Population and Environment, 33(4),

333-346. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11111-011-0147-z

Legot and colleagues examined the intersectionality of race, socioeconomic status, and

the environmental disparity people face in the East Baton Rouge Parish located in “Cancer

Alley'' of Louisiana. High-volume polluters, such as industrial plants, expel neurotoxins and

chemicals that contaminate areas of low-income and minority-filled populations due to

proximity. This study focused on health data of children in different zip codes, in-tandem with

chemical emission reports. Examined emissions reports and children’s health data found higher

rates of asthma and diseases in children closer to these industrial plants. The authors are

professors with knowledge in sociology or environmental science that argue for awareness but

pose limitations to encourage further studying. Nevertheless, their intended audience could be

lobbyists or scientists that will advocate policy-makers increased regulation and conservation

efforts to combat human actions that continue to degrade the Earth and people’s lives. Oliaei et

al. discusses similar results when exposed to pollutants.(M.M)

Student #5 (Name: G.A):

Sumaila, U. R., Cisneros-Montemayor, A. M., Dyck, A., Huang, L., Cheung, W., Jacquet, J.,

Kleisner, K., Lam, V., McCrea-Strub, A., Swartz, W., Watson, R., Zeller, D., & Pauly, D.

(2012). Impact of the Deepwater Horizon well blowout on the economics of US Gulf

fisheries. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 69(3): 499-510.

https://doi.org/10.1139/f2011-171

Sumaila and his team were interested in the economic damage that the 2010 Deepwater

Horizon oil spill would have cost the United States on industries that rely on the Gulf of Mexico.

Since they recognized that oil spills cause environmental damage to local ecosystems and to the

native creatures, these fishery researchers wanted to investigate the ramifications that would

impact commercial and recreational fishing, plus the mariculture of invertebrates like oysters.

They used models and equations to calculate losses accounting for revenue, profits, work wages,

number of jobs, and broader economic impacts to the country. With the published paper in 2012,

the researchers inform the American public and possibly the American government, that even

with their conservative estimates, the United States could see the total economic impact to be

$8.2 billion. The industries hit hardest were both commercial and recreational fisheries, which

would suffer $4.9 and $3.5 billion in total economic losses, respectively. (G.A)