Overpopulation is one of the major environmental problems that threaten the planet today. Increased fertility rates along with improved healthcare and increased longevity have lead to more people than the planet’s resources can sustain. Not only that, but we are encroaching on the land and resources of other species as well. The number of species on the endangered list is higher than ever.
“In addition to polluting the land, the air has also been polluted. Air pollutants are either naturally occurring or anthropogenic (human caused)”(Donatelle). Humans cause air pollution through sources such as cars, factories, and power plants. According to Donatelle some of the most harmful air pollutants include, “sulfur dioxide, particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ground-level ozone, and lead”. One of the simplest ways to tell if the air quality in your area is safe is to look up the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is a measure used by the EPA which goes from 0-500 and is also presented as a color scale.
Many scientists believe that indoor air pollution is 2 to 5 times worse than outdoor pollution. They state that this can cause detrimental health outcomes such as cancer, respiratory problems, decreased immune response, and allergies. The largest source of indoor pollution comes from smoking. Some others include: home heating, asbestos, formaldehyde, radon, lead, and mold. When indoor pollutants occur in a building that is poorly vented, it can lead to Sick Building Syndrome(SBS). SBS happens when multiple people who are in a building get similar symptoms without any specific diagnosis.
One type of environmental worry that we have probably all heard of is climate change and global warming. Climate change refers to atypical weather pattern. Many people believe that the apparent increase in severe weather in recent years is due to climate change. Global warming is a specific type of climate change that is identified as an increase in global temperatures. A key culprit has been identified as greenhouse gasses. They contribute to increased temperatures when heat from the earth’s surface is radiated out to the atmosphere, but is blocked by greenhouse gasses. Although some people still refute these facts; scientists have now shown numerous points of evidence supporting the need for immediate action to reduce the effects of green house gasses and global warming.
An important fact about water pollution, which I was not aware of, is that although 75% of the earth is covered in water only 1-2% is fresh water that is usable for drinking. The reading states that over half of the earths population are currently dealing with water shortages. Any pollutants that get into the soil can run off into the water supply. Some of the biggest offenders include: gasoline, organic solvents, PCBs, dioxins, and pesticides. Another concern exists regarding fracking and its potential contribution to air and water contamination as well as earthquakes.
On land, the problem involves the amount of garbage that each person creates on a daily basis. According to Donatelle, it equals up to about 4.5 lbs per person. From this trash we typically recycle only about 1/3. Over 50% goes into landfills. As landfills overflow, more and more trash ends up being dumped inappropriately adding to cross contamination.
Another topic of discussion is radiation. The two basic types of radiation include ionizing and non-ionizing. Ionizing radiation is the variety found in things like microwaves, t.v.s, and radio waves. This variety is much less dangerous than non-ionizing because it doesn’t alter molecular structures. Exposure to ionizing radiation is measured in rads. Symptoms of radiation exposure can occur at levels of 100 rads. Doses above 600 rads can be fatal.
As for my week, I’ve been spending a lot of time out in the environment. Since the weather has been so great this week I’ve been taking advantage. I have to admit I haven’t done any formal workouts. Zilch, zero, nada. I have however been doing lots of walks with the pups, playing with them in the yard, and I’ve been working on getting the yard taken care of. That means trimming shrubs, pulling weeds, and planting flowers. I feel like its a pretty good workout.
I’ve been doing fairly well on my meditation as well. The diet has been reasonably good. The no caffeine thing has been sticking really well. The other day I ordered a coffee from Starbucks and I forgot to say decaf. I decided to drink it anyway and I felt jittery all day. It definitely cemented my belief that decaf is the way to go for me. I’ve had some more sweets than usual this week. That’s probably due to stress, but I’ve been making sure I still get my veggies in. I’ve been doing really well with that part. I’ve also been making sure that I get a healthy breakfast to start the day.
I’ve noticed that the day always goes much better if I start with a healthy breakfast. Almond butter on toast is an easy way to get some healthy fat in the a.m. Add some fruit and eggs and you’ve got a great start.
Lucy 2.0 My Healthy Journey 