Environmental Issues of Latin America

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Environmental Issues of Latin America
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WTK - GPS Standard SS6G2

• You will discuss environmental issues in Latin
  America. Explain the major environmental
  concerns of Latin America regarding the issues of
  air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico, the
  destruction of the rain forest in Brazil, and
  oil-related pollution in Venezuela.
• The standard is asking you to take a broad
  approach to the environmental issues in Latin
  America. You should be able to provide some
  background information on the environmental
  issues listed in the element and the consequences
  (effect on the economies and populations) of
  Latin America.
• In this element the you are being asked to
  explain the impact of three significant issues
  air pollution, destruction of the rain forest,
  and oil-related pollution.

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Air Pollution inMexico City, Mexico

• What causes air pollution
• Air pollution is mainly emitted though the
  exhaust of motor vehicles, the combustion of
  fossil fuels, the burning of coal and oil
• Most of the pollution from coal burning on Earth
  comes from the production of electricity
• Main sources of air pollution factories and
  cars
• What geographic feature adds to the air pollution
  issue in Mexico City
• Mexico City, with 20 million residents, sits at
  2,255 meters (7,400 feet) and is largely
  surrounded by mountains, creating a basin (bowl
  shape) where inversions of colder air can be
  trapped by warmer air
• Pollution from human activities collects in the
  air
• Explain the major environmental concerns
  surrounding air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico
• The air is so bad that children are more likely
  to have breathing problems and develop lung
  disease when they grow up
• Older adults must stay indoors and limit activity
• On most days, the hazy, polluted sky blocks the
  view to the mountains
• Over 19 million people live in Mexico City, more
  than double the population of the entire state of
  Georgia
• Factories and cars send pollution such as lead,
  sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide into the air
• Many of the cars are older models which produce
  more pollution than new cars

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Air Pollution inMexico City, Mexico (cont.)

• Describe the connection between air pollution and
  acid rain
• Acid rain is formed when air pollution meets rain
• Discuss the damage caused by this acid rain
• Harmful to surface waters (lakes and streams) and
  aquatic animals
• Harmful to forests
• Damages automotive coatings
• Damages buildings, monuments and other materials
• Creates poor visibility
• Effects human health
• Explain the reasons driving restrictions have
  been placed on people in Mexico City
• Because the population continues to grow, Mexico
  City must continue to find ways to clean its air
• Drivers must leave the cars home once a week
• Mexico is trying to increase the number of cars
  that produce little or no air pollution

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Destruction of the Rain Forest in Brazil

• Describe factors causing destruction of the rain
  forest
• Cutting of trees or logging
• Mining
• Cattle ranching largest form of deforestation
• Farming
• Explain the concerns regarding the destruction of
  the rain forest in Brazil
• Environmental campaignists feel there will be no
  Amazon Rain Forest in 40 years
• Causes of deforestation are still in place
  which creates less forest to produce goods that
  humans need
• Global warming could lead to melting ice sheets,
  rising sea levels, and worldwide flooding
• The forest holds large amounts of water remove
  the trees and the water will have to go
  somewhere the Basin will be come drier and land
  surfaces hotter, stronger storms, no canopy to
  intercept rain all of this leads to soil erosion
• Estimates say 20 of worlds oxygen is produced
  in the Amazon region
• Describe the consequences associated with this
  destruction
• Mining has left an ugly scar on the landscape
• Parts of forests being destroyed to the point of
  no repair
• Climate and Greenhouse effect (energy/heat being
  trapped by carbon dioxide in atmosphere)
• Trees help maintain balance of gases in the
  atmosphere rainforest is the main storehouse of
  carbon, cut the trees down, they release the
  carbon, forming carbon dioxide when it hits the
  air

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Oil Related Pollutionin Venezuela

• The issue is
• Venezuela is one of the largest producers of oil
  and natural gas in the world
• The country is the fifth-largest producer of oil
  in the world
• It has been producing oil for about a hundred
  years
• It is now one of the top four sources of oil for
  the United States
• In fact, about 15 percent of the oil sold in the
  United States comes from Venezuela
• The money from oil sales accounts for about half
  the money received by the government of Venezuela
• The consequences of this oil-pollution in
  Venezuela are
• Oil spills and tanker leaks have damaged the
  environment in the region.
• Lake Maracaibo is the largest lake in South
  America.
• Due to the large amount of oil removed from the
  nearby areas, the land in the area is changing.
• The eastern shore of the lake is dropping about
  three inches a year
• The government built a dike to keep the water in
  the lake from flooding the nearby homes, towns,
  and farms
• The impact on surrounding areas is
• Along the Caribbean Sea, Venezuelas coast has
  become polluted with oil
• They have also hurt the ability of fishermen to
  earn a living
• The country leads South America in the production
  of the gas carbon dioxide, which is a by-product
  of burning fossil fuels like natural gas and oil
• High levels of carbon dioxide in the air can
  cause breathing problems for children and the
  elderly
• Other health problems can occur in healthy adults
  after long exposure to high levels of carbon
  dioxide

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Sources

• Place and People Amazonia Exploiting the
  Forest. Channel 4.(1991). Retrieved February 3,
  2010, fromDiscovery Education
  http//streaming.discoveryeducation.com/
• http//www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/1997-09/PNN
  L-BTAP-090997.php
• http//www.keepbanderabeautiful.org/keepearthpollu
  tion.html?gclidCOeX-8Xo4Z8CFQLHsgodYGOvGg
• http//www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/index.html