Urban Environmental Quality and Human Health: Conceiving a Sustainable Future

Introduction

In 2006, the United States was responsible for 21.3% of all cars registered in the world, with a total of 135,047,000 cars. It was also responsible for 42.7% of all the trucks registered in the world, with 108,975,000 trucks registered.¹ These vehicles combine with off-road vehicles to produce millions of short tons of air pollutants a year in America alone. When asked about emissions, my students are aware that the emissions tested are some form of gas that cars put out of their exhaust. They are also aware that the catalytic converter was invented in order to reduce those emissions. But none of the students asked could tell what the specific makeups of the gases being emitted were; nor why those gases need to be monitored and reduced. In addition, when asked if "emissions" could have something to do with the interior of the car, the students unanimously stated that it could not; emissions dealt only with an exterior condition. I teach mainstream and inclusion ninth through twelfth grade high school science students in the public schools in Pittsburgh, Pa. This curriculum is designed to appeal to upper classmen repeating a course as well as under classmen just starting out, students whose study skills range from non-existent to self-sufficient, upper level honors students to inclusion student, and learning styles that range from kinesthetic to logical/analytical, while building study skills and basic knowledge of human health issues. This curriculum will focus most specifically on the pollutants emitted by the exhausts of small combustion engine vehicles and their effects on human health.

This topic can be used in several ways by the high school teacher. It is easily incorporated into a chemistry classroom, as each of the chemicals listed can be discussed using the periodic table of elements, and Lewis Dot Structures and bonding can be demonstrated. It can be used in a biology or health class, or within a medical magnet, because specific health hazards are mentioned and can be researched. It can be used in an ethics course, in that the results of technology and its negative impacts on humans can be discussed and debated. It can be used in a mathematics classroom in determining parts per million, and practicing the equations used in determining the hazard and the emissions factors. It can also be used in a government classroom through discussion of the laws and regulations relating to not only vehicular emissions but standards of air quality. It can further be used in an English classroom through research and development of an informative or persuasive paper. The lesson plans attached are useful specifically in either a science or English classroom, but can easily be adapted to other curricula. In addition, several extension lesson plans are offered.