Human Population and Pollution

Investigate technologies and processes used for mitigating and managing resource use, waste generation and pollution associated with a growing human population.

Indicators
a. Identify factors that have contributed to historical and contemporary trends in human population growth and that may influence future growth.

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rstb.2009.0137 one factor in increasing population growth is increased life expectancy.-EB

https://www.life.illinois.edu/bio100/lectures/s10lects/04s10-population.html - There are many factors that affect human population growth in the future and the present. The four fundamental factors that affect population growth are birth rate, death rate, immigration, and emigration. Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals an environment can support. This means that there are also environmental limits to population growth. These environmental limits include food, water, and shelter. Other forms of environmental limits include predators, infectious diseases, and parasites. SR

b. Investigate the environmental impact of human population changes over the last century on a specific region or area with respect to resource use, waste generation and pollution.

https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/global-change-an-overview-13255365/ This article describes the different impacts humans have on the environment such as population growth, energy use, land use changes, and pollution. Each issue is talked about under its subtitle and has the problem, the impacts it has, and a potential solution to the issue. The website provides pictures and a brief explanation or fact that associates with specific issues that are talked about. I thought this was an appropriate link to put under this indicator because it does not only talk about the impact of the human population but also discusses many more issues that are associated with the human population and looks at the issue on a deeper level. -TC

c. Research First Nations and Métis beliefs and practices that demonstrate a sustainable perspective on using resources wisely and minimizing waste.

https://www.afn.ca/honoring-earth/ This website discusses how Indigenous peoples are caretakers of Mother Earth and realize and respect her gifts of water, air and fire. First Nations peoples have a special relationship with the earth and all living things in it. Everything they hunt or gather is taken and used with the understanding that we take only what we need, and we must use great care and be aware of how we take and how much of it so that future generations will not be put in peril. They do not waste anything that they hunt or gather. First Nations peoples can demonstrate how economic initiatives can be both profitable and sustainable for future generations. First Nation traditional knowledge has provided our people with the tools to care for Mother Earth and our sacred sites, which can be shared with industry for the betterment and survival of all peoples. -KTMP

d. Discuss the strengths and limitations of models (e.g., I=PAT) that scientists use to quantify the impact of population, consumption, technology and stewardship on the environment. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2792934/

this website has an introduction to the environment, and human population and pollution. This website contains information on how the human population affects pollution. The continuation of human population only makes the pollution worse as time goes on. ZB

e. Assess the impact of factors such as advances in food security and access to medicine that support a growing human population.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6678521/ - this website describes the Climate change impacts on the Canadian food system pose risks to human health, its a good website for if you want to learn about human health- WDP

f. Analyze benefits and challenges associated with the use and production of fertilizer for food crops necessary to sustain a growing human population.

https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2020.00063 - This website gives an amazing understanding of different types of fertilizer, the advantages, disadvantages, where it comes from, and what it is made with. This is a perfect beginner website if you want to learn the basics of fertilization. KDP

https://ourworldindata.org/reducing-fertilizer-use - This article explainse that fertilizer is very important in order to increase the crop yields. But if it used in enormous emounts it can become an environmental pollutant. It explains how we managed to decrease the amount of fertilizer used but still increase the amount of crops. This article plunges into history a little. It explains that in modern era we know how to reduce amoun of fertilizer without sacriphising production of food. - AZ

g. Describe technologies and processes that have been developed to minimize the impacts of mining, forestry and/or agricultural operations on air, water and soil quality and quantity.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/technology-could-help-trump-keep-his-clean-coal-promise/article/2641338 - I've attached a news article link above titled "Technology Could Help Trump Keep his "Clean Coal" Promise". This article discusses new technology that could trap the pollutants from coal facries and store them underground instead. Interesting way to deal with a problem, because obviously it will have negative affects to the ground in some way. BS

h. Investigate the waste generated throughout the life cycle of a product.

http://www.weeeman.org/html/what/lifecycle.html this acticle talks about the life cycle and waste managment the main purposes from this article is prevention, preparing for re-use, recycling, other recovery and disposal kw

https://beyondrecycling.ca/lessons/life-cycle-of-stuff/ these videos show us how products cause waste throughout their entire life cycle. Some things that we recycle are never really recycled. They are just thrown in ladnfills JK

i. Design and carry out a waste audit, and propose a plan of action for waste reduction and/or diversion based on the findings.

j. Investigate advances in technologies and processes (e.g., sewage treatment plants, incineration, composting, engineered landfills and curbside recycling) used for storing, handling and disposing of human and/or livestock waste.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuYmKCtoZAk - I have attached a youtube video called "IFAT 2018 | New Technologies in the Wastewater Industry". This video shows the IFAT (leading trade fair for environmental concerns) fair that showcases new technology that is advanced and can help be used for water treatment. It explains what each device does and how it can change the waste system. It shows many different types of technology that can be used for many other things. Many various industry companies and buyers come to invest in new tech. - RL

k. Debate the benefits and consequences of public policies (e.g., municipal,  provincial or federal) regarding the handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste.