• Personal Choices
Overview
Write a 3 page report in which you examine ways to reduce your environmental impact.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
Context
As you consider your own impact on the environment, it is helpful to look more closely at the environmental issues that plague our natural resources. The Assessment 4 Context document provides a brief overview of some of these issues. You may wish to review this document for key concepts and ideas related to pollution, contaminants, and resource quality.
Questions to Consider
To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.
• What do you see as the biggest pros and cons of the new plastic (PLA) technology?
• What alternatives do you see for reducing plastic consumption?
• Do you think bisphenol A (BPA) should be banned in baby bottles, formula cans, and infant and toddler toys?
• How do you feel about the issue of BPA being used in the production of certain plastics?
• What should individuals do to reduce air pollution? What is the responsibility of industry and government, with respect to air pollution?
• What is the quality of air in your area?
• What are the automobile emissions laws in your state?
• What are the causes and effects of asthma?
• Define what is meant by greenhouse gases and describe how they contribute to the greenhouse effect and climate change.
• What specific examples illustrate the global nature of water pollution?
• Which areas of the world have adequate supplies, and which are facing a chronic shortage?
• How is the majority of water used in the average U.S. household? What are some ways in which households might conserve water and prevent waste of water?
Resources
Required Resources
The following resources are required to complete the assessment.
Capella Resources
• APA Paper Template.
Suggested Resources
The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom.
Capella Resources
• Assessment 4 Context.
Capella Multimedia
• Paper or Plastic? | Transcript.
• Why Recycle? | Transcript.
• Pollution and the Ozone Layer | Transcript.
Library Resources
The following e-books or articles from the Capella University Library are linked directly in this course:
• Friis, R. H. (2012). The Praeger handbook of environmental health. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.
o Volume 1: Foundations of the Field.
o Chapter 10, "Solutions to the Growing Solid Waste Problem."
o Volume 2: Agents of Disease.
o Chapter 5, "Food Contamination and Poisoning."
o Chapter 13, "Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Health Effects, Surveillance and Epidemiology."
o Chapter 25, "Keeping Your Home Environment Clean, Safe and Healthy."
o Volume 3: Water, Air and Solid Waste.
o Chapter 14, "Indoor Air Pollution and Health."
o Chapter 24, "Assessment of Municipal and Agricultural Waste Residuals."
o Volume 4: Current Issues and Emerging Debates.
o Chapter 23, "Modern-Day Agricultural Practices and Their Impact on Human Health and the Environment."
• BelseyPriebe, M. (n.d.). An overview of the 100-Mile Diet.
o The 100 Mile Diet can help you understand the impact of our current agricultural and shipping system, and how to begin implementing a local diet.
• Brooks, M., Foster, C., Holmes, M., & Wiltshire, J. (2011, December). Does consuming seasonal foods benefit the environment? Insights from recent research. Nutrition Bulletin, 36(4), 449-453.
• Clavin, A. A. (2011, November). Realising ecological sustainability in community gardens: A capability approach. Local Environment, 16(10), 945-962.
• Clemmitt, M. (2008, June 27). Global food crisis: What's causing the rising prices? CQ Researcher, 18(24), 553-576.
• O'Brien, K. (2013, August). Global environmental change III: Closing the gap between knowledge and action. Progress in Human Geography, 37(4), 587-596.
• O'Donnel, K. (2014). Become a flexitarian. Mother Earth News, (264), 42-48.
• Shea, S. B. (2008, June). Explore with a localvore. New York State Conservationist, 62(6), 2-6.
Course Library Guide
A Capella University library guide has been created specifically for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the resources in the BIO-FP2000 - Environmental Health Library Guide to help direct your research.
Internet Resources
Access the following resources by clicking the links provided. Please note that URLs change frequently. Permissions for the following links have been either granted or deemed appropriate for educational use at the time of course publication.
• Buzby, J. C., Wells, H. F., & Hyman, J. (2014, February). The estimated amount, value, and calories of postharvest food losses at the retail and consumer levels in the United States. Economic Information Bulletin (No. EIB-21). Retrieved from http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib-economic-information-bulletin/eib121.aspx#.VADkmbGZh61
• Carillo, P. (2014). Inside the garbage of the world documentary [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtoGdrkt9EY
• Gunders, D. (2012, August). Wasted: How America is losing up to 40 percent of its food from farm to fork to landfill (NRDC IP: 12-06-B). Retrieved from http://www.nrdc.org/food/files/wasted-food-ip.pdf
o This NRDC issue paper examines the issues surrounding food waste in the United States.
Bookstore Resources
The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and assessments in this course and are not required. Unless noted otherwise, these materials are available for purchase from the Capella University Bookstore. When searching the bookstore, be sure to look for the Course ID with the specific -FP (FlexPath) course designation.
• Hilgenkamp, K. (2006). Environmental health: Ecological perspectives. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
o Chapter 7, "Pests and Pesticides." This chapter looks at how pests are involved in disease transmission; the risks of pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides to humans and wildlife; and the importance of sanitation and natural means of controlling pests.
o Chapter 13, "Food Safety Concerns." This chapter discusses concerns around food-borne illnesses, ways to assure food quality, what the term organic means, and ways to lower exposure to harmful substances. Issues relating to use of hormones and antibiotics in livestock and pros and cons of genetically engineered food are also examined.
o Chapter 14, "Waste Management." This chapter covers the terminology associated with waste management; management of human waste through sewers and alternatives technologies; laws associated with hazardous waste disposal, transportation, and clean-ups; and ways individuals can lessen their impact on the environment.
o Chapter 15, "Housing and Indoor Environments." This chapter addresses indoor air quality, what affects it, and changes you can make to improve indoor air quality at home or at work.
Assessment Instructions
in a 2 page report, make a case for eating locally. Address the following in your report:
• Identify the benefits of implementing a local diet.
o What are the benefits to the environment?
o How does a local diet conserve natural resources?
o What are the potential benefits to human health?
• Discuss specific ways in which you could implement a local diet. How could you (or do you) integrate a local diet into your lifestyle?
o Identify several examples of local food sources you have access to. Are there farmers' markets in your area?
o What is community supported agriculture (CSA)? What is the history of the CSA movement? Where is your nearest community supported agriculture farm (CSA)?
• Identify sustainable methods for dealing with food waste in your home. How do you currently handle your family's food waste?
• Describe ways you could encourage others to eat locally.
Additional Requirements
Your report should follow a logical structure and be evidence based. Use the APA Paper Template (linked in the Resources under the Required Resources heading) as a resource for citations and formatting.
• Written Communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• Length: The report should be 2-3 pages in content length. Include a separate title page and a separate references page.
• Font and Font Size: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced. Use Microsoft Word.
• APA Formatting: Resources and in-text citations should be formatted according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.
• Number of Resources: You are required to cite a minimum of 2 scholarly resources. You may conduct independent research for resources and references to support your report. Provide a reference list and in-text citations for all of your resources, using APA format. You may cite texts and authors from the Resources.
Attachment:- Personal_Choices.rar