Research Poster 36 x 48 - F

1
Anthropogenic Factors And Human Health 7
Marc DesJardin Western Oregon University
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
CONSEQUENCES OF THE POLLUTANTS
Anthropogenic factors are man made changes to the
environment. These changes can be building a road
in the mountains, paving over a forest or field
for urban expansion, digging a mine shaft or
strip mining. The changes can also producing a
new chemical that nature can not deal with. The
changes that mankind is making to the
environment are not without their consequences.
Anthropogenic releases of chemical contaminants
into the geologic environment can cause
significant health effects in humans and degrade
ecosystems as a whole. The destruction of our
natural resources for the expansion of
urbanization and the pollution that urbanization
creates could eventually be the fatal blow for
mankind. Toxic releases have been associated with
cardiovascular disease, malignant tumors, trauma
and genetic anomalies. Polluting agents such as
pesticides, heavy metals, petroleum compounds and
industrial residues stimulate negative health
feedbacks in the environment. Mankind is
poisoning itself through environmental
manipulation that leads to toxic releases that
eventually work their way through the food chain
back to mankind. This project examines the range
of human-induced health risks including
radiation, chemical releases, electromagnetic
fields, soil contamination, agricultural
degradation, and pollution.

• Due to Mankind's ignorance here are some of the
  courses the environment is taking
• Mechanisms of Toxic Action-when chemicals enter
  an organism but poisoning does not occur until
  the chemical has reached a harmful amount.
• Ecotoxic action-when a chemical causes damage to
  an ecosystem by killing organ
• Combined Action of Pollutants-the environment
  houses many types of chemicals the problem comes
  when these chemicals combine to become toxic
• Basic Mechanisms of Mutagenis-genetic mutations
  are increasing at an alarming rate in humans.
  These mutations have been know to lead to
  malignant tumors, which are responsible for the
  deaths of a fifth of the worlds population
• Threat to the survival of individual species and
  the organisms dependant on them

WATER POLLUTION

• Mankind is deteriorating the quality and quantity
  of fresh water due pollution by
• Chemical components
• Heat
• Bacteria
• Industrial Waste
• Pesticides
• Fertilizers
• Heavy Metals
• Petroleum products
• Most of the pollution caused by petroleum
  products comes from oil wells and refineries.
  About 2 of all the oil produced is lost usually
  during becoming a serious threat to ground and
  surface water.

Figure 3. Ground Pollution
GROUND POLLUTION

• Mankind is poisoning the flora and fuana that it
  eats through the use of
• Pesticides
• DDT-was used worldwide especially during WWII as
  an insecticide. DDT was heavily used until the
  1960s its toxicity was discovered and it was
  taken off the shelves. What made DDT so good at
  killing bugs is also what makes it so bad. DDT is
  a very stable compound and moves very well
  through out the environment.
• Fertilizers
• Heavy Metals
• Elements such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium, lead,
  chromium, nickel, zinc, antimony, fluorine and
  uranium all are deadly is large amounts.
• Mining
• Changes to morphological properties of the
  terrain
• Changes in the rate of exogenous processes
• Landslides, rockfalls and gulley erosion
• Destruction of flora and fauna habitats through
  strip mining
• Changes to the hydrological properties of the
  terrain
• Patterns of drainage, pollution of streams and
  surface water

Figure 4. Air Pollution From Smoke Stacks
REFERENCES
Figure 2. Health Risks Associated With Pollution

• Komatina, 2004, Chapter 4-Anthropogenic
  (man-made) Factors
• Figure 1 http//www.guardian.co.uk/environment/20
  10/may/26/bp-top-kill-mud-gulf-of-mexico-deepwater
  -horizon
• Figure 2 http//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/FileH
  ealth_effects_of_pollution.svg
• Figure 3 http//www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/tb
  w/wc.notes/13.air.pollution/smoke_stacks.htm
• Figure 4 //www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/tbw/wc.
  notes/13.air.pollution/smoke_stacks.htm

AIR POLLUTION
Figure 1. BP Oil Spill In Gulf Coast Leaking
5,000-25,000 Barrels Per Day
CONTACT

• Air pollutants are associated with areas the
  burning of combustibles
• Coal-the main fuel of the Industrial Revolution
• Oil
• Oil Derivatives-such as gas and diesel used to
  fuel transportation

Name Marc DesJardin Organization
Environmental Geology Email
mdesjardin06_at_wou.edu