Research and analyze local environmental radioisotopes and toxicology risks, determinetheir sources, determine environmental and potential health impacts, then examine potential solutions and find out about personal protection.
Go to the website: http://scorecard.org
1:Type in your zip code
2: Under the “toxics” category– click on the link, “See how your county stacks up”.
List the 6 categories and relative percentile rankingfor Coconino County.
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Did the results surprise you at all, why or why not?
3: Click on the “other chemical release and waste management attributes” link. List the categories for which Coconino is in the Dirtiest/Worst counties in the United States (80-100%). How do you account for these levels being so high?
3:List the categories for which Coconino County scores less than 40% in terms of environmental pollutants. Why do you think the levels of these pollutants are so much better here in Coconino County? Explain.
4:Click the back button on your browser to get back to the pollution report card for your zip code. Click on the link “the top polluters” in your county. List the top 3 polluters in Coconino County. What do you know about these companies? What do they manufacture?
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5: Go back to the report card page and click on the “top chemicals released” link, and list the top 10 chemicals released in Coconino County.
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6:How many of these do you have in your house/room?
7: Click on the hazardous materials pollution prevention link: http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?nid=2894 Click on Safer alternatives on the left; In your opinion, what threepieces of prevention advice are the best/most relevant? Why?
8:Go to http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?nid=2894 Then FAQ How and where should sharps be disposed of? What are some dangers sharps present?
9: Go to http://www.earth911.com/. Look around the page and do a little research on electronics and battery hazardous waste. What are some of the problems with these types of waste? What are the recycling/disposal options?
10: Go to the EPA’s website for Radiation- source reduction management web site:
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/source-reduction-management/radionuclides.html
From the list, choose 3 radioisotopes with facts sheet to do further research:
For each radioisotope chosen, answer following:
1) What is it used for?
2) How do people come in contact with it?
3) How can it affect people’s health?
4) What is the medical test to determine exposure to this radioisotope?
5) How can we protect ourselves from it?
Conclusion:Write a paragraph about your reaction to the information you found out for this assignment. Were yousurprised? What bothers you most? What are some potential solutions?
