2010 Q1 Deadly Pollutants Kill Children in India & China

(a)(i) Describe one specific source, other than the local chemical plants, for the toxic

pollutant you chose.

(a)(i) paint is a source of lead - especially older paint in homes or on toys.

(ii) Describe how the pollutant you chose enters the human body and one specific effect

it can have on human health.

(ii) Ingesting lead-based paint AND Birth defects

(iii) Describe TWO specific steps, other than an outright ban, that a city or nation can

take to reduce the threat posed by this pollutant.

(iii) Educate people about how to

avoid lead AND Substitute safer alternatives

for lead

(b) Give one reason why Dr. Egguen is correct in asserting that children are particularly

susceptible to toxic pollutants.

(iii) Children have less developed immune systems.

(c) An important contributor to global climate change is the release of CO2 from the rapidly

increasing number of coal-burning power plants in China. Assume that the coal burned

at these plants to provide the power to manufacture a single MP3 player releases 40 kg

of CO2 and that it costs $0.75 to capture 1 kg of CO2 and keep it from entering the

atmosphere. Determine the cost, in dollars, to capture the total amount of CO2 released

from manufacturing one MP3 player.

(c) 40 kg CO2 x $0.75/1 kg CO2 = $30

(d) (d) Coal-burning power plants also release other pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx),

sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulates. Select one of these pollutants and identify one

technology that can be used to remove it from the waste stream of coal-burning power

plants.

SOx = scrubber or coal gasification

(e) Discuss TWO reasons why a multinational company would choose to build a

manufacturing facility in India and/or China rather than in the United States or Europe.

(e) Less expensive labor AND Less expensive property