Sustainability Exam

Goal of Sustainability

To balance economic, social, and environmental well-being

Laws of Sustainability (3)

The rate of use can be no greater than:

1. The rate of regeneration of a renewable resource 2. 2. The rate at which a renewable resource, used sustainably, can be substituted for a nonrenewable resource
2. The rate at which a pollutant can be recycled, absorbed, or rendered harmless (neutralized) in its sink

Sustainable Development

Meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

Renewable Resources

Natural resources that can be replaced (ex: solar, wind, water)

Non-Renewable Resources

Resources that cannot be replaced (ex: fossil fuels, oil, coal)

Human Development Index

Considers life expectancy, education, and standard of living. Measured by GDP

Human Well-Being Index

Considers health, wealth, knowledge, equity, etc.

Ecosystem Well-Being Index

Considers land, water, air, resource use

Weak Sustainability

Compensate for a reduction in one type of capital with an increase in another type of capital

Strong Sustainability

Substitution is not always plausible, must maintain social, economic, and natural capital stock independently

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population size that an environment can support

Dematerialization

Reduction in the quantity of materials and energy used while creating a product

Kaya Identity

Used to quantify carbon dioxide emissions and the underlying driving factors (carbon footprint analysis)

Biocapacity

Area of biologically productive land and sea available

Ecological Footprint (EF)

The amount of biologically productive land and water needed to support a person or population

B - EF ≥ 0

Sustainable

Resource

Substance in the environment that is useful to people

Reserve

Known quantity of a resource that can be economically recovered

Toxicology

Study of poisonous substances and their effects

Pollution

Contamination that harms animal or human health

Waste

Discarded materials that have no value to humans

Biodiversity

Variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem

Carbon Footprint

The total carbon dioxide emissions produced by an individual or group

Biological Vectors

Actively participate in a pathogen's life cycle

Cradle-to-Grave

You are responsible for hazardous from its creation until its proper disaposal

Three Pillars of Sustainability (3 P's)

1. People
2. Prosperity
3. Planet

Environmental Renewal

Inflow > Outflow

Environmental Equilibrium (Steady-State, Net Zero)

Inflow = Outflow

Environmental Degradation

Inflow < Outflow

ImPACT Identity Method

Adds up the impacts of all individuals to get the total environmental impact of society

ImPACT Calculation

I = population * affluence * consumption * resource use inefficiency

Environmental Kuznet Curve

States that environmental degradation increases as wealth increases, but reaches a turning point after incomes reach a certain level

5 Env problems that can contribute to the fall of any society

1. Deforestation
2. Population Growth
3. Water Management issues
4. Climate Change (caused by humans)
5. Overhunting/fishing

Which of the following components may affect the most environmental impacts; overpopulation, overconsumption & waste generation, or inefficient technology? Defend your opinion.

Overconsumption & Waste Generation - drives pollution, deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, etc. and high resource demand generates much more waste

Why is resilience required to keep a system sustainable?

Allows the system to withstand shocks and to adapt to changes with collapsing from stress, without resilience, an ecosystem may be pushed past its limits, leading to long-term damage

Materialism

Belief that buying and having things is the key to being happy and comfortable (caused by insecurity, jealousy)

Green Technology

Intended to mitigate or reverse the effects of human activity on the environment (sustainable)

What is env. risk? How can you minimize it?

The chance that human activities or natural events may harm the environment, or human health. Minimize risk with prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery (reporting and correction)

Ecological Overshoot

Using resources faster than they can regenerate in that year (Overshoot Day: 7/24/25)

Dose-Response Relationship

Demonstrates the effect on an organism at different levels of exposure

Dose-Response Curve

As the dose of a toxicant increases, so does the response

NOAEL

No Observed Adverse Effect Level

Maximum Response

Highest level of response that can be achieved, no further response observed

What defines a hazardous waste?

Waste that poses substantial threats to public health or the environment

Hazardous Waste Characteristics

Ignitability, Corrosivity, Reactivity, Toxicity

Name several categories of hazardous chemicals.

Physical, Health, Reactive, Target Organ, Explosive

Bioavailability

Proportion of a substance that enters the bloodstream and is able to have an active effect

Exposure Pathways in Response Order

1. Intravenous (IV)
2. Inhalation
3. Intraperitoneal (IP)
4. Intramuscular (IM)
5. Ingestion
6. Dermal

What makes a poison a poison?

The dose

Name some policies that could be used to reduce waste and minimize pollution

Superfund, bans/restrictions, garbage pick up based on quantity, extended producer responsibility (EPR), dematerialization

Environmental Management System (EMS)

Framework for managing environmental aspects and their impacts, must be in compliance with the ISO 14001 standard

Steps of an EMS

Plan, Do, Check, Act

When would you use an EMS?

Helps companies to identify harmful activities and works to minimize its environmental impacts

Effective Dose (ED)

Lowest dose which results in an effective response

LD50

Dose at which 50% of the population will die

What can affect the toxicity of a substance?

Duration/Frequency of exposure, route, gender, environmental factors, age, weight, etc.

Acute Exposure

High levels of exposure over a short period

Chronic Exposure

Repeated exposures, generally to lower levels, over a long time

Local Exposure

Affects the organ or tissues at the site of contact

Systemic Exposure

Absorbed into the bloodstream, transported through the body

Cumulative Exposure

Chemical is partially excreted, remainder builds up in the body

Poisoning

Distributed into the bloodstream and impacts bodily functions

Environmental Sinks

Natural systems that absorb waste (oceans, forests, atmosphere)

Risk

Severity * Frequency

Positive Feedback Loop

Causes a system to change further in the same direction (ex: sun melting glacier)

Negative Feedback Loop

Causes a system to change in the opposite direction from which it is moving (ex: sweating to maintain temp)