Abstract
During
this lesson, students are introduced to the issue of ground
water contamination by sharing prior knowledge and reading
an overview of the arsenic problem in Bangladesh and West
Bengal. Students will read different articles and then
prepare a brief summary of the situation to share with
classmates. This is the introductory lesson for the quarter
long unit of study on the relationship between geochemical
processes and toxic minerals, specifically arsenic.
Purpose –Engagement of students in the topic of geology through the effects
of arsenic in groundwater supplies.
Objectives
Students
will be able to:
1. Communicate and present findings in an oral format
2. Verbally identify regions of the world affected by arsenic contaminated
ground water
3. Verbally identify physiological effects of consuming arsenic contaminated
water
National Science
Education Standard:
Strand 3: Science in Personal
and Social Perspectives
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
• Natural ecosystems provide an array of basic processes that affect humans.
Those processes include maintenance of the quality of the atmosphere, generation
of soils, control of the hydrologic cycle, disposal of wastes, and recycling
of nutrients. Humans are changing many of these basic processes, and the changes
may be detrimental to humans.
• Many factors influence environmental quality. Factors that students might
investigate include population growth, resource use, population distribution,
over consumption, the capacity of technology to solve problems, poverty, the
role of economic, political, and religious views, and different ways humans view
the earth.
• Natural and human-induced hazards present the need for humans to assess
potential danger and risk. Many changes in the environment designed by humans
bring benefits to society, as well as cause risks. Students should understand
the costs and trade-offs of various hazards--ranging from those with minor risk
to a few people to major catastrophes with major risk to many people. The scale
of events and the accuracy with which scientists and engineers can (and cannot)
predict events are important considerations.
Teacher
Background
Arsenic
is a naturally occurring chemical, which is toxic in
certain concentrations. People can be exposed to arsenic
when they consume water, animal, or plant matter that
contains this chemical. People can also be exposed to
arsenic in the gaseous form. Exposure to contaminated
ground water is the primary exposure concern. High levels
of arsenic in groundwater is a serious concern Bangladesh,
West Bengal, and Taiwan. The issue became a concern after
tube wells were dug as a means to help combat the spread
of disease through polluted surface water. Unbeknownst
to the organizations that dug the tube wells, arsenic
was present in the bedrock and was pumped out with the
water. People there have become quite ill as a result.
Arsenic in ground water is also a concern in France,
Germany, Italy, Romania, Siberia, Chile, Argentina, Taiwan,
India, China, and some states in the U.S.
Related and Resource Websites
Arsenic,
Fluoride, and Water Quality
http://www.geocities.com/goo798_eh2/Water.html
Arsenic
Contamination in Ground Water in Bangladesh: An Overview
http://www.kfunigraz.ac.at/fwiwww/aan/newsl2/contamin.html
Arsenic
in the Water
http://www.lifewater.ca/887805655-arsenic.htm
Disaster Relief New Stories
http://web.archive.org/web/20050212203416/http://www.disasterrelief.org/Disasters/981116Arsenic/
City's
future water quality threatened by arsenic findings
http://www.watertechonline.com/news.asp?mode=4&N_ID=45481
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