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ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, NEW YORK. An Environmental health Diagnosis. By Katie Yang. 10 th grade Guilderland High School. Abstract.
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ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, NEW YORK
An Environmental health Diagnosis By Katie Yang 10th grade Guilderland High School
Abstract • This research paper includes an assessment of Saint Lawrence County in upstate New York. It identifies numerous environmental health problems in the county, stakeholders who play a part in these problems, and ways to prevent or help solve these problems. The research comes from a number of different sources from the media to government websites.
Background • St. Lawrence County is located in upstate New York • Surrounded by the Adirondack Mountains to the east, St. Lawrence River to the NW, • Population: 111,944 • Geographic Size: 2685 sq miles • Largest county in New York State
Rationale & Methods • It is important to study counties because they have jurisdiction over many of the laws and rules set to protect the environment within the county. The environment in the county affects the health of its residents; living in an area with poor water and poor air quality will can negatively affect your heath. • Counties play an important role, however there is limited data for counties.
About EcoEd and Mentors • Krista Glanville, 5th year student at RPI • EcoEd is a secondary program for upper elementary grades
Superfunds Energy • Superfund site- a hazardous waste site that poses as a threat to the health of the environment and humans that the government has put onto a list to remediate. • Massena, New York- 1984 • This Area of Concern around the river has been contaminated by numerous companies who have dumped chemicals and hazardous waste into the St. Lawrence River. • Lisbon, New York- 1990 • This superfund site was originally a disposal site for hazardous wastes such as petroleum. Enviroindicators Continued
Watershed Health Air Quality • St. Lawrence County is located in the St. Lawrence River Watershed. • Major Problems in this county include: • Acid Rain • Atmospheric deposition of Mercury • Agricultural Activities and Associated Runoff • Hazardous Wastes in the Massena Area of Concern • St. Lawrence County did not have recent data available for the quality of air in the county. • This indicates that the county government has not spent resources or does not have not the resources to monitor the air quality. • Included is data from surrounding counties of St. Lawrence County. County Health Indicators Cont. St. Lawrence River Watershed
Climate Smart Communities Envirothon Competitions • Climate smart community- a place that the state and local government have partnered up in to change it economically, socially, and environmentally. • Climate smart communities in St. Lawrence County include: • the city of Ogdensburg • the village of Norwood • Climate Smart Communities: • reduce greenhouse gas emissions • clean up local air pollution • improving infrastructure • increases economic growth The Envirothoncompetition is an annual competition for high school students where the students compete for scholarships and recognition by showing their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource managements. Environmental Education helps the community by making more people aware about problems in their surrounding environment in their community. Enviroindicators Continued
Case Study #1: Lead Poisoning • Caused when an object that contains lead is consumed or when lead dust is inhaled. • Affects the nervous system, organs and other systems in the body. • 47.1% of houses in St. Lawrence County were built before 1950.
Case Study #1: Lead Poisoning • In New York State it is mandatory to test all children for lead poisoning • Between the years of 2004 and 2007, 1% of children tested positive for lead poisoning • Between 2001 and 2004, only 43.7 percent of 1 yr. olds were tested. Only 20.5% of children at 2 yrs. old were tested.
Case Study #2: Agriculture • 200+ types of Soil, 3 most uniqure are: • St. Lawrence River- Heavy clays & wet soils • Uplands- Mix of clays • Adirondack Mountains- Glacial till • Challenges in keeping the soil healthy: • Nutrient management • Drainage of Water in places with low elevation
Case Study #3: St. Lawrence River • Industries built factories along the river side and dumped their hazardous waste into the river. • Chemicals dumped in the river include: • PCB’s • Mercury • DDE • Mirex • Nutrients • Metals
Case Study #3: St. Lawrence River • Effects of the pollution include: • Loss of fish and wildlife habitat • Contaminated sediments • Deformities in birds, fish, other animals • Solutions in restoring the river include: • Remedial Action Plan between 3 governments • Large area remedial projects by private companies like General Motors