Incredibly Disgusting Environments

In 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck Japan near one of the country's nuclear power plants. In the days that followed, radioactive material leaked into the air and water, contaminating those who came in contact with it. This is not the first time in history that this type of event has occurred. Reader's take an in-depth look at the incredibly disgusting issue of radioactive contamination and more importantly, how further damage can be avoided.

On a spring day in 1935, a cloud of black, suffocating dust covered much of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. It wasn't the first of many such dust storms. The simple answer to how this happened is soil erosion. Your readers will explore the incredibly disgusting issue of soil erosion and contamination. They'll learn what can be done in the future to keep our valuable soil safe and intact.

The human body is over 65% water. We drink it. We bathe in it. We water our crops with it. Water is a foundation of human life. And yet, more and more chemicals are getting into our ground water. People are getting sick, and even dying from it. How this happened and what we can do to prevent these issues in the future are a few of the topics readers will discuss as they take a look at the incredibly disgusting issue of water pollution and contamination-and what impact it is having on human life and the environment.

Readers learn that the ozone layer prevents the sun's harmful rays from reaching the Earth's surface and how it is already thin in certain places. Readers investigate the causes of the thinning of the ozone layer, and some of the consequences-skin cancer, destruction of crops, and harm to marine life. They also learn about the link between the ozone layer and increased global warming that could lead to climate change. The book provides a solid background on the specific environmental factors of exposure to excess UV radiation and the physical and mental effects on people. The final chapter explains what readers can do to protect the ozone layer, including preventing the release of more chemicals that harm it.

In many parts of the world, people can not only smell the air around them, but also see it and even feel it. Air is so thick with pollutants in certain areas that astronauts in space have seen and photographed it without magnification. Smoke does not simply disappear; it lingers in the atmosphere until natural processes eliminate it. One method of natural process is that trees and other plants are structured so that they absorb pollutants. The bad news is that companies are reducing plant habitats for their timber and land area. Readers learn that new pollutants are entering the atmosphere, both natural and man-made. Natural air pollutants include volcanic eruptions as well as wildfires. Hospitals have been overwhelmed by thousands of patients with respiratory problems. This graphic account explores the causes of pollution and its effects on the lungs. It looks at what is being done to address the pollution problem and ways in which readers can contribute to solutions.

Pesticides are used everywhere: in schools, homes, parks, and playgrounds, and especially in agriculture––the fruits and vegetables we eat carry the residue of one or more pesticides. In this riveting narrative, readers learn how pesticides became so popular in the United States and the many ways they can damage human health-both in the short term and long term. Asthma and cancer are linked to pesticides, as are developmental problems such as ADHD, autism, and lowered IQ. Pesticides can affect a woman's fertility and the ability to carry a pregnancy to term. Readers can take steps to protect themselves and their communities from these dangerous chemicals by dealing with pests in a safer, more environmentally friendly way. The book examines integrated pest management, government regulation of pesticides, and ways teens can contribute to a healthier future, for example, by starting a garden club at school or in the neighborhood.