EARTHSC 2GG3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Genetically Modified Food, Nuclear Meltdown, Radon
24 Dec 2016
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They can vary from a single toxic chemical accident to an entire industry (e. g. nuclear energy). Other examples may include exposure to pollutants or hazardous waste. Ex: an earthquake that causes an oil or chemical spill from a pipeline. Technological disasters involving the environment are included in this category as well. Ex: sinking of the titanic explosions of the challenger and columbia space shuttles. Typically, the death tolls from environmental hazards are relatively low. Vulnerability is greatest for those involved in industry or transportation systems. Workers in resource industries in hinterlands are at higher risk(e. g. miners) Long term(nuclear accidents) - hazards leading to cumulative effects. Airplane crashes - mine collapse - shipwreck common. These are conditions that worsen slowly over time as exposure to a concentration increases(e. g. exposure to asbestos leading to lung cancer) Eventually, the concentration reaches a threshold critical to human health. Examples include exposure to toxic chemicals, acid, precipitation, groundwater contamination, and ozone depletion.
