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    Environmental Studies

    Environmental studies is a multi-dimensional subject which analyzes the ecological, economic and social facets present in the environment and their influence upon the natural world. This field of study is very interdisciplinary and often overlaps with other scientific disciplines such as biology, ecology and geography.

    A major focus in the field of environmental studies is on the local and global environmental problems which are plaguing the Earth today. Environmental degradation is a paramount issue in the twenty-first century and the need for mitigation techniques is critical. Human civilization has and continues to have an enormous impact on the environment, and thus, subject areas such as environmental policy are important for trying to regulate human behaviour.

    Research is another large component of environmental studies and involves the participation of individuals from an array of disciplines. This includes ecologists, sociologists and mathematicians to name a few examples. Research is critical to analyzing the influence of anthropogenic factors on the environment so that human-induced degradation can be prevented. Natural processes cannot be eliminated and thus, focusing on how to reduce our human footprint is imperative.

    Environmental studies includes a multitude of subjects such as sustainability, conservation, restoration and environmental toxicology, which all aim to improve and protect the environment. In an ideal world, the living and non-living worlds would be in harmony with one another. Unfortunately, this is not the case today. However, hopefully through further research within this field, this environmental harmony will one day be achieved. 

     

     

    Title Image Credit: Pixabay. (2014). Globe, Leaves, Green, Environment, Nature. Retrieved from http://pixabay.com/p-109275/

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    BrainMass Categories within Environmental Studies

    Environmental Policy

    Solutions: 46

    Environmental policy deals with the regulations and laws which are related to various environmental issues.

    Conservation and Restoration

    Solutions: 72

    Conservation and restoration is a concept which deals with the preservation of the physical environment, along with improving facets of the natural world.

    Climate Change

    Solutions: 76

    Climate change is a term used to describe a shift in long-term weather patterns which result from both anthropogenic and natural causes.

    Environmental Assessment

    Solutions: 20

    An environmental assessment involves the evaluation of the influence which a potential or proposed project may exhibit upon the environment.

    Environmental Toxicology

    Solutions: 50

    Environmental toxicology is a type of hybrid science which studies the chemical effects that toxins can inflict upon an environment and the organisms which exist within it.

    Agriculture and Global Food Security

    Solutions: 43

    Agriculture and global food security are two interconnected topics, with agriculture focused on the science of farming and food security on the accessibility of food.

    Global Water Issues

    Solutions: 21

    Global water issues is an overarching term used to describe the availability, degradation and uses of this global resource within the world.

    Sustainability

    Solutions: 28

    Sustainability is a concept which is founded upon the existence and balance of economic, environmental and social sustainability, which are also known as the “pillars” of sustainability.

    Energy and the Environment

    Solutions: 87

    Energy and the environment is a topic which discusses the various forms of renewable and non-renewable energy sources, and the influence each entity has on one another.

    Environmental Ethics

    Solutions: 17

    Environmental ethics is a broad area of study which infringes upon the ideas of law and philosophy and applies them to the interaction between the living and nonliving worlds.

    Environmental History

    Solutions: 9

    Environmental history defines past events and documents the activities of individuals which illustrated the importance of protecting the environment from both natural and anthropogenic influences.

    BrainMass Solutions Available for Instant Download

    Noise Pollution and Health

    Discuss human health aspects of noise pollution and indicate noise control measures to achieve quiet in the community. Please provide a min of 250+words and references.

    Effects of Poor Housing on Health

    Is there any association between poor housing conditions and adverse health outcomes? Please justify your position with in-text citations and a min of 250 + words.

    Land & Water Resources

    1. Critical Relationships What are the critical relationships between geology, environment, and the future? 2. Global Warming Technologies Will new technologies be part of solution on problem in global warming? Explain. 3. Air Pollution Impact Explain how urban working and suburban dwelling impact urban air pollution

    Land and Water Environment Issues

    See the attached file. Soil Problems 1. Are the soil problems more severe in developed countries or developing countries? Water Pollution 2. Explain how soil pollution poses threats for water pollution. Erosion 3. What are things an individual citizen can do to prevent soil erosion? Does the impact of soil erosion go

    Bottled Water Safety

    As our drinking water supplies become scarce and as water resources become polluted due to human and industrial development, fears over the quality of drinking water have grown in the past few years. More and more people are turning to bottled water for their drinking water needs because they fear that drinking water from the ta

    Environmental and Risk Managements: Hurricane Katrina

    1. Define the word "Disaster" and the give examples of the three major disaster categories. 2. Define the term and identify an example from the Eagle River Flat Waterfowl Contamination Case of the following: Chemical(s) of Concern, Exposure Pathway, Contaminate Fate and Transport, and Risk Characterization/End Points. 3. What

    Land and Water Resources

    See the attachment. 1. Landslide Hazard Regions Compare and contrast landslide hazards and impact risks in the east coast vs. west coast, tropical vs.polar regions. 2. Landslide Hazard Awareness Assume you have been hired by a community to make the citizens more aware of the landslide hazard in a very steep topograph

    Environmental sustainability

    Please watch this 20-minute video about "The Story of Stuff": http://storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-stuff/. 1) Explain the different types of "obsolescence" described in the movie and 2) Find one example of sustainable practices being implemented by an organization, a company, a country, or a city that aims at reducing its

    Risk Management Strategies

    Risk Characterization 1. What two elements are required to characterize a level of risk? Please provide an example. A Lesson in Risk 2. Allegedly a pit-bull was in his backyard in Southern California recently, and came across an evasive intruder. The pit-bull in an attempt to protect his territory, he challenged the porcupi

    Waste Management and Pollution Control

    1) PCBs are regulated under which law? List PCB classifications with concentrations. 2) Describe the disposal requirements for transformers, capacitors, containers, and liquids. Is manifesting required for PCB disposal? 3) Detail the spill reporting requirements for PCB spills. 4) Which law studied this term is the most bur

    Waste Management and Pollution Controls

    1) Define a generator (40 CFR 260.10) subject to hazardous waste regulations. 2) List each category of generator based on amount of waste generated monthly. Include monthly quantities allowed per category, time limits, and storage requirements. Explain why choosing the correct generator status could be important to a company.

    Sounds, Hearing and Environmental Noise

    1. Describe differences between sound power, sound intensity, and sound pressure. 2. What range of frequencies can humans hear? What range of frequencies do humans hear best? 3. Identify the primary sources of environmental noise. 4. What reference pressure is used in determining sound pressure levels? 5. Describe th

    Fire Codes and Prevention Control Methods

    1. Evaluate why environmental concerns and fire codes must work together. Give at least two practical examples where our environment and citizens equally benefit from the cooperative interaction. 2. Identify one of the early fire prevention control methods and how we see it used extensively in today's world. In your respo

    Occupational Injury & Prevention

    Please help discuss the risks of occupational injury and disease, which are particularly high in poor countries. Identify a specific occupational health hazard in a developing nation and recommend a strategy for prevention.

    Unintentional Injury and Accident

    What is the difference between an unintentional injury and an accident? Why is it important to make the distinction? Discuss some strategies for highlighting the difference between accidents and injuries.

    Lowering Air Pollution Emmissions

    What actions can be taken to lower air pollution emissions? Consider actions that can be taken at the individual, community, and government levels.

    Shock Chlorination

    Explore the following statement: "The answer to a waterborne disease outbreak is to 'shock' chlorinate." What health risks would be mitigated with this approach? What new health risks might emerge from the application of large doses of chlorine?

    Pesticide: cost-benefit

    Unlike other toxins or contaminants with which the public can come into contact, pesticides are intentionally applied to food, living spaces, and people. What are some of the risk-benefit issues in the application of pesticides? Is the risk justified? Explain your position.

    Vector: Transmission of Disease

    Please help with the following questions: How do vectors play a role in the transmission of disease? What are some procedures for control and prevention? Provide a specific example and include references used for this solution.

    Radiation: Public Health Issues

    What types of injury of public health concern are associated with exposure to each of the different forms of radiation? How does the risk of each injury vary with the dose of the radiation in question?

    Ecological studies and air pollution

    Explain how ecologic analysis is used to study the health effects of air pollution. Provide examples of uncontrolled factors that may affect ecologic study results

    Descriptive vs analytic epidemiology

    Explain the difference between descriptive and analytic epidemiology. Provide examples of how both types of study design are utilized in the field of environmental health

    Environmental Law and Compliance

    1. What is EPCRA and what impact did EPCRA have on environmental audits? (include dates and history). 2. In your opinion, is NEPA fulfilling the function intended, and is it worth the effort? (Describe your opinion of its function and include at least one example to support your statements) 3. Describe the ways that e