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Understanding Environmental Issues: A Quantitative Perspective on Contemporary Practices

This course aims to provide an in-depth exploration of essential environmental issues, illustrating how mathematical models help analyze these challenges and contextualizing them within our daily lives. We will examine historical practices, such as waste disposal and chemical management, their implications, and current relevance. By analyzing disasters and increased public awareness, the course will reveal how individuals, businesses, and governments are evolving to address and mitigate environmental problems effectively.

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Understanding Environmental Issues: A Quantitative Perspective on Contemporary Practices

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  1. HONR 297Environmental Models Chapter 1: Introduction

  2. Objectives • This course has three objectives. • Provide an in-depth introduction to several very important environmental issues. • Show how mathematical models are used routinely to help analyze these issues. • Interpret these issues (to the extent possible) in the context of our own lives!

  3. Key Idea (Theme) in the Course • Every environmental issue has quantitative aspects. • By trying to make precise quantitative statements about environmental problems, we are led to a more precise and refined understanding of the underlying problems themselves!

  4. Environmental Practices • Here are some examples of practices that until “recently” (1980’s – present) were routinely accepted and widely practiced. • Disposal of garbage and other wastes in landfills. • Use of buried underground storage tanks (often made of steel) for fuel oil and other chemicals. • Allowing untreated sewage to enter lakes, rivers, etc. • Disposal of byproducts from power plants (nuclear, coal, etc.) via tall smoke stacks, cooling towers, etc. • Natural resource consumption – food, water, fuel, etc. • Use of chemicals – industrial, personal, etc. • Are they still practiced? …

  5. Questions! • What are examples of each of the above environmental practices? • Are they still relevant today?

  6. My answers – ones I thought of! • Coke plant demolition – south side of Indianapolis (June 2013) • Pleasant Run Creek – raw sewage runoff – Indianapolis • Pittsburgh sewage in water (July 2012) • I-69 extension • IN coal plants – air near worst in nation (August 2012)

  7. My answers – ones I thought of! • Chinese cities air quality (August 2013) • Northwest IN steel mills • Muncie – battery plants, abandoned factories • BSU power plant • BP oil leak – Gulf of Mexico (April 2010) • CA refinery fire (August 2012) • WI oil spill (July 2012) • Quebec Train Derailment (July 2013)

  8. My answers – ones I thought of! • Fish kills in White River • VX nerve gas disposal – Newport IN • Japan – earthquake, tsunami, and resulting Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (March 2011) • Volcanic eruptions, disruption of air travel • Tornados, resulting devastation and cleanup • Exhaust from cars, trucks, planes, trains, homes, factories, etc. • Erin Brockovich – PG&E California case

  9. Contributing Factors • In the 1950’s – 1970’s, when many or most of the above practices were standard and unchecked, what were some of the contributing factors? • Industrial development • International competitiveness • Living standard increases • Rebuilding (especially after WW II and the Korean war) • Cold war – arms race between US and Soviet Union • Vietnam War • Others? …

  10. Increased Awareness • What caused people to become more concerned with environmental issues? • Major disasters, including: • Amoco Caditz (Oil Spill) (1978) • Exxon Valdez (Oil Spill) (1989) • Love Canal (Chemicals) (1978) Part 1Part 2 • Three Mile Island (Nuclear) (1979) • Bhopal India (Chemicals) (1984) • Chernobyl (Nuclear) (1986) • Rhine River (Chemicals) (1986) • More recent disasters …

  11. What has happened as a Result? • Heightened public awareness and concern • Changes in how individuals and business interact with the environment • Government regulatory agencies have improved their systems of regulations to protect the environment • Businesses have changed their practices significantly, due to • New regulations • Potential liability and cleanup costs • Financial impacts, both direct and indirect, which concern boards and CEO’s • Makes good business sense – people view environmentally friendly companies and products in a more positive light – more recent development

  12. Dealing with Environmental Problems • Today, we are more aware of environmental issues caused by both past and present practice. • However, we still need to find ways to “fix” those problems that exist or prevent future problems from occurring. • This is not an easy task – what do we do with the byproducts of fixing an environmental problem?

  13. Some Examples

  14. Bottom Line • Environmental issues are • Very complex • Hard to solve • Solutions involve tradeoffs • Involve many people • Engineers • Consultants • Scientists • Civic leaders • Citizens • Lawyers • Journalists • Etc. …

  15. Examples of Environmental Issues

  16. Course Focus • In this course we will focus on “everyday” environmental issues that are likely to arise where we live (city, town, nearby urban center, etc.). • In particular, we will look at issues related to ground water, air quality, and hazardous materials management!

  17. Homework • Read Hadlock – Chapter 1

  18. References • News Articles and Wikipedia Web Pages • http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/triathletes-concerned-about-pittsburgh-water-conditions-and-health-697372/ • http://www.wibc.com/news/story.aspx?ID=1753848 • http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/air-pollution-takes-toll-chinas-tourism-19943515 • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill

  19. References • News Articles and Wikipedia Web Pages • http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/08/05/chevron-2m-fire/2620303/ • http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/29/nation/la-na-nn-enbridge-wisconsin-oil-spill-20120729 • http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/27/victims-of-quebec-train-derailment-honored-at-mass/2592767/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Daiichi_nuclear_disaster

  20. References • YouTube and Animal Planet Videos • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RawzI4txpQ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKUyOLXtUsQ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZFw2qd8szQ • http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/monsters-inside-me/videos/cryptosporidium-outbreak.htm • Charles Hadlock, Mathematical Modeling in the Environment, Chapter 1

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