Environmental Science

Part 1. Chemical “Hide and Seek”
Every day we are exposed to chemicals in the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. Keep in mind not all chemicals are harmful and harmful effects depend on the dose or how much you are exposed to.

Chemical “Hide and Seek”: Use the textbook and the internet to find the information on the chemicals in the table. Fill in the table using your own words and be sure to cite your sources of information.

Chemical name

Where is the chemical found?

How can you be exposed?

How does this chemical affect human health?

Bisphenol A (BPA)

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Lead

Mercury

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Arsenic

Benzene

Part 2: Pollution and the role of Government
During his inaugural address in 1801, Thomas Jefferson said:

What more is necessary to make us a happy and prosperous people? Still one thing more, fellow citizens—a wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvements and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.

Answer the following questions and provide support for your answer using the text or your own research:

1. What do you think that Jefferson meant by the phrase “shall restrain men from injuring one another?”

2. Was Thomas Jefferson solely referring to thugs who physically brutalize fellow citizens or could he have been referring to citizens who sought to poison others? Could pollution be considered a poison? Is restraining “poisoners” a role of government? Explain.

3. If a company or individual releases a pollutant into the air or water, should the government restrain that company or individual? Are regulations needed to restrain companies and individuals from releasing pollutants into the environment? Explain.

Assignment Submission Instructions:

After completing the reading assignment for this session, complete the Session 3 Activity

Instructions:

1. Click on the “Session 3 Activity” link above. The activity will download directly to your computer as a Word document.

2. Complete all parts of this activity by directly typing your answers onto the Word document (i.e., fill in the table and answer the questions).

3. Save the completed Word document to your computer.

4. Click the Session 3 Activity link to submit your assignment as an attachment by the posted due date.

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