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Many Faces of Pollution

Many Faces of Pollution. What is (environmental) pollution?.

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Many Faces of Pollution

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  1. Many Faces of Pollution ESPP-78

  2. What is (environmental) pollution? Presence of matter (gas, liquid, solid) or energy (heat, noise, radiation) whose nature, location, or quantity directly or indirectly alters characteristics or processes of any part of the environment, and causes (or has the potential to cause) damage to the condition, health, safety, or welfare of animals, humans, plants, or property. ESPP-78

  3. A Slippery Definition • An anthropological view • Mary Douglas:“matter out of place” • But what does “out of place” mean? • Carbon in fuel vs. in air • DDT in standing water vs. in breast milk • Chlorinated pesticides on farmland vs. in water • GM grass on golf course vs. in wild • Antibiotics in farm animals vs. in waterways ESPP-78

  4. DDT in and out of place Rachel Carson was right Rachel Carson was wrong ESPP-78

  5. Regulatory Uncertainties • Air • Airshed: cross-border effects • Whom to protect, against what harms? • Water • Watersheds: cross-state waterways • Which H2O (surface water, groundwater, drinking water)? • Land • Non-point sources and runoff • Lansdscape • “Viewsheds” • Chemicals • Dose-response ESPP-78

  6. Architecture for air pollution • Clean Air Act of 1970: federal framework with “state implementation plans” • National Ambient Air Quality Standards • Stationary and mobile sources • Old and new sources • Problems • Too clean (PSD) and not clean enough (non-attainment) • National and international boundary crossers (acid rain) • SUVs • Climate change ESPP-78

  7. Architecture for water pollution? • Clean Water Act of 1972: federal framework for interstate waterways • Water quality standards for surface water • Permits for pollutant discharges • Best available technology • Problems • Groundwater • Nonpoint sources: agriculture, stormwater • Water quantity-quality relationships ESPP-78

  8. Architecture for pesticides • FIFRA of 1972: product focus • “Old” and “new” substances • “Grandfathering” • Premarket registration • Risk-benefit approach • Problems (boundaries) • Safety: a sociotechncial product • Biotech products - legal status? • Exports and imports ESPP-78

  9. Architecture for toxic substances • Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976: product focus • “Existing” substances • Government’s responsibility to create registry • Risk-based demand for more information • “New” substances: premanufacture notification • Problems • Sheer numbers • Basis for requesting information: does EPA have it; will industry accept it? ESPP-78

  10. Regulatory Gauntlet for Pesticides • FIFRA: pesticide registration • FFDCA: pesticide residues • SDWA: maximum contaminant levels • CAA: hazardous air pollutants • FWPCA: non-point source pollutants • ESA: endangered species habitats • TSCA: ingredients and intermediates • RCRA: hazardous wastes • CERCLA (Superfund): abandoned waste disposal sites ESPP-78

  11. Unanswered Questions about Pesticides • Comprehensive use patterns (national, international, global) • Multiple chemical synergies • Global transport and fate • Bioaccumulation • Childhood exposure and risk • Ecological risk (biodiversity, H2O, agriculture) • Pest resistance ESPP-78

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