Due 9/25/09. If you wish to watch this online: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters/view/

 

Name_________________________________                                September _____, 2009

Please answer the following questions about the documentary “Poisoned Waters.” Please work with a classmate/partner that you have not worked with yet this year. You will probably need to do research to adequately answer some questions. Feel free to use the links provided, or search for your own.

 

1. Manure from industrial farms helps to create “dead zones”. Explain what a dead zone is and how too many nutrients can cause them to form. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_zone_%28ecology%29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. What steps would you suggest to someone who wanted to stop contributing to the formation of “dead zones”?

 

 

 

3. What do “endocrine disruptors” do? Why do genetic mutations in fish disturb scientists so much? http://www.epa.gov/endo/pubs/edspoverview/whatare.htm

 

 

 

4. How do the products that average people use each day end up polluting the nation's and world's waterways? Also, list 5 other ways we are exposed to pollutants in our homes and how we can limit our exposure http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2006/10/toxic-people/multimedia-interactive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. How should we pay for environmental cleanup? Cleaning up toxins and pollutants is often extremely expensive and no one wants to take responsibility. Should it be the responsibility of industry? Government? Individuals? Explain your reasoning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Ms. Burtch has become worried about how the water sources in the Tyngsboro area may be impacting the health of her angelic and wonderful students at IACS. Mr. Renau is wondering what he can do so that his family and band members have access to clean water for drinking, swimming, and fishing.

Please use the link below and visit some of the sites that are recommended to get involved. Then, make a list of 5 things Mr. Renau and I can do, along with a brief explanation of how and why that action would help. Thanks!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters/involved/ The National Geographic Toxic Home website would also be helpful