Cahaba School                                                              Email: dhminor@bellsouth.net or cahabaschool@bellsouth.net Environmental Science   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   ES Unit 2:  Renewable & Non Renewable Energy How Energy Affects the Environment Energy has been a part of human existence for thousands of years, ever since people first used fires to cook and stay warm. Energy is fundamental to modern life. Energy turns on your lights, heats water for your shower, keeps you warm in the winter, and powers your family’s car and television. Currently, most of our energy is obtained by burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) —formed over millions of years from the remains of plants and animals. It took the Earth about one million years to produce the fossil fuels we consume in a single year, and we are using fossil fuels at faster and faster rates. Even if supplies were unlimited (which they are not), the environmental problems caused by our use of fossil fuels would still require us to develop alternative sources of energy and increase the efficiency of our energy use.   Energy and the Earth Energy production and use account for nearly 80% of all air pollution.l The availability of “cheap” fossil fuels has powered huge changes since the onset of the Industrial Era. However, this has come at a high price. Pollution caused by fossil fuels at every stage of use (extraction, transport, refinement, burning, and waste disposal)has caused or worsened environmental and health problems.             Human Health: Air pollution from fossil fuels causes adverse environmental effects by contaminating the food chain, our water supply, and our air. Some of the health symptoms of pollution are headaches, asthma, lung disease, skin damage, cancer, eye irritation and heart disease.             Environmental Impacts:             Acid Rain and Mercury Pollution from coal power plants damage vegetation, wildlife, and human health. Oil Spills and Energy-Related Toxic Wastes have devastated marine ecosystems and contaminated soil. Global Warming and Climate Change are caused primarily by fossil fuel use. Rising concentrations of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases are warming the Earth.Carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas released when fossil fuels are burned, is the number one contributor to global warming. In the 21st century, the amount of warming and the severity of its impacts will depend on how much, and how soon, we reduce our fossil fuel use.  In recent decades, remarkable progress has been made in developing sustainable energy production methods that are far less polluting. In the 21st century we will move away from fossil fuels and nuclear power and make the switch to clean energy technologies. This transition is already underway. The U.S. Department of Energy has estimated that America could potentially produce up to 70% of its total energy from sun, wind, water, geothermal, and biomass resources within the next 40 years. By tapping the limitless potential of renewable sources such as the sun and wind, we can produce the energy we need in environmentally sustainable ways. Switching to clean, renewable energy sources will create tremendous benefits to society, including huge reductions in pollution, improved human health, and greater energy security.   The United States, with less than 5% of the world’s population, uses 25% of all energy consumed worldwide. Over the course of a lifetime, the energy used by the average American is the equivalent of 4,800 barrels of oil. The average person in the United Kingdom and Japan each consumes half as much energy as the average American. Coal: 52% Nuclear Power: 19% Natural Gas & Petroleum: 18% Hydroelectric & Renewable Energy: 11% Coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, is the source of over 50% of the total electricity produced in the U.S.   Fossil-fuel Dependency With the growing concerns over the high use of fossil-fuels, such as gas, oil, and coal, people, businesses, and governments are wondering what alternatives are available. The prices of oil and gasoline have reached sky-high levels. There is also the knowledge that oil supplies will not last forever, especially when worldwide consumption is increasing. As consumptions increases, supplies dwindle and become more and more expensive to extract. Supplies of Coal are more abundant, yet this still presents the problem of pollution and as these supplies decrease we are forced to use less pure and more polluting supplies.. The burning fossil-fuels releases greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that were previously trapped in the fuel. These gases contribute to the atmospheric greenhouse effect, causing more of the suns energy to be trapped and increasing the planet’s overall temperature. This climate change through our heavy use of fossil fuels in turn melt the polar ice caps, consequently affecting our ocean levels which then impacts weather patterns, agriculture, health, and our environment. While nuclear energy is often presented as an environmentally-friendly approach to energy, there are still risks from the disposal of radioactive waste. Furthermore, scientists believe that the world’s uranium fuel will run out in fifty years. The infrastructures for hydrogen fuel cells, which could be used in cars, for example, have not become a reality yet. It is therefore time to examine some of the developing sources that will create clean, sustainable energy for the future. The chart above shows the economic cost of energy prices (by U.S. Cents per kilowatt-hour), for new power plants coming online in 2013. While solar energy seems the most expensive, industry experts say the price will drop with time as more investment is made into improving the technology. Solar Energy Solar energy can warm our houses, heat bath water, and generate electricity. Solar energy uses special panels to harness the energy of the sun’s rays. There are no emissions from solar-powered systems. While at one time this form of clean energy was considered prohibitively expensive, the price has been dropping consistently for years, and is expected to continue to do so. Perhaps the major drawback to solar energy is collecting energy when the sun isn’t shining or in areas where there is a lack of sunlight. Solar panels have batteries to store energy for overcast days and night time. Many people are using solar energy for their homes and businesses. By installing solar panels the roof of one’s home, for example, one could power an entire household without using other forms of energy. As the panels are lightweight and can be used on existing structures it would be possible to create power in very crowded areas and cities without having to disrupt the existing infrastructure and buildings.   Biomass Energy Biomass energy, or bioenergy, is humanity’s oldest source of renewable energy. It is a form of solar energy produced by plants through photosynthesis. It is stored in organic matter such as wood, agricultural wastes, and animal wastes. Biomass can be converted into liquid or gaseous fuels, or it can be burned to generate electricity.  Recent advances are making it economical to draw energy from plant materials. They can be converted into liquid or gaseous fuels, or they can be burned to generate electricity.   Wind Energy Like solar power, wind power has many applications for “distributed energy.” This term means that power can be made on a small scale near the consumer. Wind power uses turbines to created energy from moving air currents. No emissions are created, and like solar energy, batteries store energy for calm days without wind. Europe, in particular, has made a huge use of wind power. Denmark, for example, currently gets 20 percent of its total energy needs from large wind turbines all across the countryside. The drawbacks to wind power are that the turbines needed to harness it can be considered ugly, and can create noise pollution. Wind is the fastest growing energy source. Denmark already gets about 10% of its electricity from wind power   Hydro Energy While relatively a new concept, the tidal process of the ocean utilizes the natural motion of the tides to fill reservoirs, which are then slowly discharged through electricity-producing turbines. Another method includes using buoy-like devices that created energy from the bobbing motion caused by the waves and tides. Hydro energy has been used in countries such as The Netherlands to great effect. In good locations, wave energy density can average 65 megawatts per mile of coastline. According to the Department of Energy’s “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy" website, thermal heat from the oceans can also produce energy, while creating desalinated water in the process. Hydropower is the largest share of nonfossil fuel energy currently in use. (Note: Although it does not produce greenhouse gas emissions, hydropower affects the  environment by flooding valuable habitat and by blocking fish from reaching their spawning grounds.)   Most renewable energy systems have no fuel costs once they are built.   What You Can Do When you use less energy, you are reducing your share of the pollution that fouls the air and water, damages human health, harms wildlife, and contributes to global warming. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency are key solutions to global warming and its impacts. Along with their environmental pluses, their economic benefits include: Greater energy security and protection from potential instabilities of the international oil market. More energy dollars circulating in the U.S. economy Stronger U.S. competitiveness in the changing global energy market   Be Energy-Smart! Wasting energy is pointless and hurts the earth. Energy efficiency does not mean “doing  without,” or shivering in the dark. It simply means being smart about our energy use. Conserving energy and using energy-efficient products help reduce environmental problems, create new jobs, and save money. When less energy is used, less energy generation is needed. By extending the supply of nonrenewable resources, energy efficiency gives us more time to develop other energy sources that will free us from our dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels. According to a recent study by the Union of Concerned Scientists5, the three areas of greatest consumer impact on the environment are how we go from place to place, what we eat, and how we operate our homes (heating, cooling and lighting). These three arenas account for about three-quarters of our consumer impacts on global warming, air pollution, water pollution, and habitat destruction. Environmental action is the sum of all the little things we do each day. Day-to-day choices can have an enormous impact when we all act together.   For the individual, you can help conserve energy by switching to alternative energy sources, and by using energy efficient electrical appliances. By visiting the website of Energy Star, a government program that works for energy efficiency, you can find out ways to save energy and money. According to Energy Star, Americans have “saved enough energy to power 24 million homes and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 20 million cars - all while saving $10 billion.”  Try buying appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators that have the “Energy Star” seal of energy efficiency. Use energy-efficient light sources such as compact fluorescent light bulbs that use less energy than standard light bulbs. Insulation helps use less energy heating and cooling the home and buildings. If available in your area, try switching to “green energy” made from clean sources.   Suggestions 1. The average family spends $1,500 a year on energy bills, with nearly half of that spent on heating and cooling. Basic home improvement as well as more efficient equipment, can definitely help you save on energy costs. Also, don’t underestimate the simple things. For example, shades and drapes around your home can help you conserve energy and reduce costs. During winter, open window shades or drapes to let in the natural warmth of the sun, and close them at night to insulate windows against heat loss. In hot climates, closed shades or blinds help keep rooms cool. Finally, many local utilities and contractors offer home energy audit and home improvement services, which help you identify and fix areas in your home where you may be wasting energy. Many utilities also offer low-income assistance for winter heating bills. Check your utility bill stuffers for services they may offer. www.energystar.gov 2. Common household problems such as hot, cold, or drafty rooms, and the growth of mold and mildew are often the result of inefficient heating/cooling systems and inadequate insulation. Addressing this issue can be as simple as sealing air leaks, adding insulation and replacing windows. For cost-effective solutions, visit ENERGY STAR’s Home Improvement site at www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement. 3. Sealing up your home is one of the most cost effective ways to improve your home’s comfort and reduce energy costs. Hidden gaps and cracks in a home can add up to as much airflow as an open window and cause your heating and cooling system to work harder, use more energy, and cost more. Seal these leaks with caulk, spray foam, and weather stripping. Next, inspect your attic, to be sure it’s properly insulated — it’s the easiest place to add insulation and make a big impact on energy bills. Together, sealing air leaks and adding insulation can reduce your annual energy bill by 10 percent and improve comfort. Many of these steps are easy to do yourself, or you can hire a professional contractor to help. For details on how to do it yourself, get the ENERGY STAR Home Sealing DIY Guide. Finally, keep your fireplace damper closed, unless a fire is going. 4. To keep your home’s heating and/or cooling system running at peak performance, have a licensed and insured contractor check your equipment seasonally. Have your heating system checked in the Fall, and your cooling system checked in the Spring. If your cooling or heating system is more than 10 – 15 years old, it could be considerably less efficient than newer models. Changing out old equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified models can cut your annual energy costs by 20 percent. To find a qualified contractor to have new equipment installed, or to perform any home improvements such as home sealing or duct work, plan ahead.Schedule home energy audits during the spring or fall, since contractors tend to get busy around summer and winter months. 5. ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostats automatically adjust your home’s temperature setting to help save energy when you’re asleep or not at home. When used properly, a programmable thermostat with 4 temperature settings can save you up to $100 on annual energy costs. 6. Making your home more energy-efficient helps to reduce air pollution and prevent global warming. The average house is responsible for twice the greenhouse gas emissions as the average car, annually (22,000 lbs. vs. 11,500 lbs.). That’s because every time you flip on a light switch, run your dishwasher or turn on your air conditioner or furnace, you use energy, which means more pollution from power plants. The more energy we save at home, the more we can help protect the environment. 7. There are many different actions you can take on your own. Regardless of what kind of heating or air conditioning system you own, routine maintenance will improve your comfort and save energy around the home. By regularly changing and cleaning air filters in your home’s heating and cooling system, you will help them perform more efficiently. 8. Ceiling fans improve comfort in both winter and summer. During winter, run them clockwise (upward motion) at a low speed, to circulate heat that gathers near the ceiling. In summer, or in hot climates, run them counterclockwise (or downward) to cool. Most fans have a switch to reverse the spin. When cooling, always turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room, just as you do your lights (a fan only cools you, not a room, by creating a “wind-chill effect”). 9. Lighting can account for as much as 20 percent of your household energy use. Don’t sit in the dark, but whenever possible, keep lights off if they’re not in use, and replace high-use, standard incandescent bulbs with efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (look for the ENERGY STAR label). These bulbs use 2/3 less energy and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing 5 of your home’s most frequently used lights will save $60 each year on energy costs. 10. Almost all home improvement projects can incorporate energy savings. In winter, sealing and insulation can make a big difference. For kitchen, bathroom, home office and other remodeling projects, don’t forget to incorporate energy-saving appliances, lighting, window or skylights, ventilation fans, and other products. Look for the government’s ENERGY STAR to save energy, money, and help the environment. Other recommendations are available at  www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement. 11.  Practice the “Three R’s”: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Did you know...along with reducing waste in landfills and conserving material resources, recycling saves energy and reduces pollution. By recycling a one-foot tall stack of newspapers, you save enough energy to power a hot shower every day for a week. For every soft drink bottle you recycle, you save enough energy to run a television set for an hour and a half. Making aluminum from recycled material uses only a tenth as much electricity as making the same aluminum from bauxite ore. When you throw away an aluminum can, you waste as much energy as if you filled the can half full of gasoline and poured it onto the ground.  Also, see if you can create your own energy, such as solar of wind, for your home. Look into energy-efficient vehicles and vehicles that use green energy. Check buying guides as well for more information. U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy A Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy   Your Vehicle Your fuel costs. Pollution. Our country's dependence on foreign oil. The vehicle you choose to drive and how you drive it affect all of these issues. To minimize these effects, here you can learn about advanced vehicle technologies, alternative fuels, and ways to improve your vehicle's fuel efficiency. RESEARCH THE LINKS BELOW Alternative Fuel Vehicles  Power a vehicle with alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, natural gas, or propane. Electric Bicycles  Help extend your bicycling trips without fatigue. Electric Vehicles  Drive a vehicle that produces no exhaust or emissions. Fuel Cell Vehicles  Learn about hydrogen-powered vehicles with the potential to significantly reduce energy use and emissions. Fuel Efficiency  Compare the fuel economy of different vehicles and learn tips for improving your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Hybrid Electric Vehicles  Drive a vehicle that combines the internal combustion engine with an electric vehicle's battery and motor for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Neighborhood Electric Vehicles  Consider a vehicle for traveling short distances where traffic, parking, and air pollution may be concerns. Learn More Product Information Alternative Fueling Station Locator DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center Find a Car fueleconomy.gov GreenerCars.com American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Department of Energy Resources FreedomCar and Vehicle Technologies Program   Conclusion So if we know how to get energy in non-polluting ways, why aren’t we making the switch faster? We have relied on fossil fuels for over a hundred years and nuclear power for over thirty years. It has taken time to realize how much these fuels are damaging our environment. Now the environmental impacts are well known and new technologies that do not pollute the earth are available. However, many companies and governments have invested massive resources in fossil fuels and nuclear power, building energy and transportation systems that rely almost exclusively on these fuels. Governments fear that their economies will be hurt in the transition; the fossil fuel and nuclear industries fear that they will lose money; consumers fear that they will have to do without; those who work in fossil-fuel industries fear that they will lose their livelihood. Change of this magnitude is daunting. Similar concerns have arisen in the past during fundamental societal transitions (consider the concerns of the manufacturers of horse-driven buggies). Yet the reality is that a transition to clean, renewable energy sources is inevitable. The good news is that this change presents tremendous potential to transform our society in positive ways. Changing to clean energy and installing energy efficiency retrofits will create millions of new jobs. Cleaner air and water will result in billions of dollars in avoided health care costs. Preventing runaway escalation in heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions is the best insurance policy we can buy against the potentially devastating worldwide impacts of global warming and climate change. If we mobilize our financial and human resources to make this essential transition sooner rather than later, we can gain the benefits sooner while minimizing economic disruption and ensuring a livable planet for future generations.   Assignment: Research renewable and non-renewable energy sources and the uses for each. Make a list of each, their availability, and the disadvantages of each. What activities do we use energy for at home? What is energy used for in school? What steps could our school take to conserve energy? Which of your activities depend on electricity? What choices you we have about our energy use? What is the current status of our energy supply? What problems might we encounter in the future if we rely too heavily on these resources? What are the advantages/disadvantages for a society to switch from non renewable to renewable sources of energy Is switching to renewable energy sources an easy process? Is it a necessary process? How long will it take? Why don’t companies manufacture more products that use renewable energy? Does U.S. government policy affect these decisions? Compare 20th century inventions with demand for energy. Create a timeline of 20th Century, inserting inventions which require increased energy use (automobile, airplane, air conditioner, home electricity, heater, computer…..) Note western society’s increased dependence on energy to operate increasingly demanding modern innovations. When fossil fuels become scarce, what sources will supply our energy needs? Write about the future.   DAILY CHOICES MAKE A DIFFERENCE: HOW TO REDUCE POLLUTION THROUGH ENERGY CHOICES AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL   i World Energy Consumption, Selected Countries, 19972 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   ES UNIT 3: Sustainability of Food Sources Table of Contents Introduction 1.       Animal Welfare 2.       Additives & Food Irradiation 3.       Antibiotics & Hormones 4.       Biodiversity 5.       Economics 6.       Environment 7.       Fossil Fuel & Energy Use 8.       Genetic Engineering 9.       Health 10.   Orgainic 11.   Pesticiles  INTRODUCTION:    Hormones in milk, food poisoning, mad cow disease, antibiotic resistant bacteria in meat – what’s happened to our food? And to make matters worse, the United States is now the fattest nation in the world. Sustainable agriculture is a way of raising food that is healthy for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane for workers and animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer, and supports and enhances rural communities. Characteristics of this type of agriculture include: Conservation and preservation. What is taken out of the environment is put back in, so land and resources such as water, soil and air can be replenished and are available to future generations. The waste from sustainable farming stays within the farm’s ecosystem and cannot cause buildup or pollution. In addition, sustainable agriculture seeks to minimize transportation costs and fossil fuel use, and is as locally-based as possible. Biodiversity. Farms raise different types of plants and animals, which are rotated around the fields to enrich the soil and help prevent disease and pest outbreaks. Chemical pesticides are used minimally and only when necessary; many sustainable farms do not use any form of chemicals. Animal welfare. Animals are treated humanely and with respect, and are well cared for. They are permitted to carry out their natural behaviors, such as grazing, rooting or pecking, and are fed a natural diet appropriate for their species. Economically viable. Farmers are paid a fair wage and are not dependent on subsidies from the government. Sustainable farmers help strengthen rural communities. Socially just. Workers are treated fairly and paid competitive wages and benefits. They work in a safe environment and are offered proper living conditions and food. In 1990, the US government defined sustainable agriculture in Public Law 101-624, Title XVI, Subtitle A, Section 1683, as “an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term, satisfy human food and fiber needs; enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends; make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.” The confusion with sustainable agriculture is that the definition is more a philosophy or way of life than a strict set of rules, and farmers can interpret the meaning differently. In addition, there is no legal obligation to follow any of the criteria for sustainability, so food can be labeled sustainable when in actuality it isn’t. Many terms that describe this type of food, such as natural or cage free, do not have a legal or clear definition (though the USDA is currently working on this). For example, cage-free chickens might not be raised in cages, but they could be raised in overcrowded conditions in indoor barns, which is still inhumane. See Understanding Terms section for an explanation of these confusing labels.  Factory Farming         Meat production in the United States has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Many of today's farms are actually large industrial facilities. These factory farms emphasize high volume and profit with little to no regard for human health, safe food, the environment, humane treatment of animals, and the rural economy. In other words, factory farms are not sustainable. What exactly is a factory farm? There is not yet a formal definition of a factory farm, but they tend to have certain characteristics, including: Hundreds to thousands of animals (cows, pigs, chickens or turkeys mainly) confined together, using as little space as possible, with little or no access to sunlight, fresh air or natural movement. In some facilities, the number of animals produced yearly is in the millions. The use of antibiotics, chemicals and/or hormones to promote faster growth and ward off disease that would otherwise run rampant in factory farm conditions. The unnecessary use of antibiotics is contributing to today's problems with antibiotic resistance. The use of "lagoons" to store massive amounts of raw manure. These lagoons can be as large as seven-and-a-half acres and hold up to 45 million gallons of waste.1 Metal buildings that confine animals indoors. Click here for a photo of a hog facility in Missouri. The use of cages to restrict the natural behavior of animals. Mutilation of animals such as the painful practice of cutting off the beaks of chickens and turkeys (debeaking), clipping pigs' tails and teeth, and amputating cows' tails (docking), which is considered "standard" procedure. The corporation that owns/controls the CAFO also owns the feed company, slaughterhouse, and final stages of production (also referred to as vertical integration). Separation of the ownership, management, and labor of the operation, meaning different people own, manage and work at the factory farm. Industrial agriculture is also moving toward contract growing, where family farmers sign away ownership of their animals through a contract with a major corporation. The corporation controls all aspects of raising the animals, and the farmer is left with the risk, overhead, waste and any dead animals. The owner receives price premiums and preferential access to markets or credits because of the size of the facility or the contract signed with one particular corporation. The facility has the capacity to negatively impact neighboring property values. Emphasizes high volume and profit with little or no regard for environmental quality, human health, safe food, humane treatment of animals, and the rural economy. The main impacts of industrial agriculture are on health, animal welfare, the environment, rural communities and workers. Visit the other pages in the Issues section for more information on how factory farming and industrial agriculture affects you, your family and the communities around you. Names they go by Factory farms are also known as: • Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) • Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)• Conventional Farming • Industrial Agricultural Operation • Industrial Livestock Operation (ILO) Factory Farming is also referred to as Industrial Agriculture Production. Did you know? The largest 2% of U.S. livestock farms now produce 40% of all animals in the U.S.2 3% of U.S. farms generate 62% of all agricultural production.3 Between 1982 and 1997, the number of chicken raised per poultry confinement units increased by 52 percent.4 In 2002, half of all hogs in the U.S. were raised on large-scale farms that managed more than 5,000 hogs.5 When asked which type of farm is more likely to care more about food safety and protecting the environment, 71% of Americans chose smaller scale family farms; only 15% chose large-scale industrial farms.6 Assignment: 1.     Define sustainable 2.     List & describe (in your own words) the 5 characteristics of sustainable agriculture. 3.     How does the US government define sustainable agriculture? 4.     Give 5 characteristics of a factory farm. Essay: Type one page minimum on each question. 1.     What is happening to our food today?  2.     Which type of farm (family or factory) is more likely to care more about food safety and protecting the environment? Why? The following chapters contain the Issues surrounding sustainable meat and factory farming.     Chapter 1: Animal Welfare   Assignment: Read and take notes on chapter 1 & 2 (minimum 1 typed page). There will be a test on chapters 1 & 2 combined.    As farms have become more industrialized, animals have become more of a commodity. They are considered units of production, rather than living, breathing beings. But increasingly, more and more consumers are demanding better treatment of animals. On factory farms, hogs and chickens often spend their entire lives indoors, crammed together in unsanitary conditions. They live in wire cages or on slatted cement floors where their feet never touch the ground, and they never see sunlight until the day they are shipped off to slaughter. On sustainable farms, animals are free to carry out their natural behaviors, such as rooting, pecking and grazing. They are raised outdoors and are given adequate shelter when the weather is bad. On sustainable farms, the animals are part of the farming cycle. When they graze from pasture to pasture, their manure fertilizes the soil, thus putting nutrients back into the ground. They are fed leftover food scraps and remnants of crops, which lowers the amount of waste generated by the farm. And the animals provide food and income to the farmer. Animal welfare is about compassion and respect for animals, but there are also human health issues related to how animals are raised. Sustainable farmers know that treating animals humanely and offering them a quality of life makes them healthier, which makes the meat safer, more nutritious and even taste better. Stressed animals get sick faster, and conditions on factory farms are highly stressful. These animals run a much higher risk of being given large doses of antibiotics, and they have a much greater probability of being slaughtered while sick. More and more people are starting to believe that stress and illness affects the quality and nutritional content of meat, and that humans are affected by eating meat from sick or diseased animals. Scientists are now researching these possibilities. Did you know? Due to genetic manipulation, 90% of broiler chickens have trouble walking.1 Industry spokespeople estimate that as many as 20% of breeding sows die prematurely from exhaustion and stress due to impacts of restrictive confinement and accelerated breeding schedules on factory farms.2 Ammonia and other gases from manure irritate animals' lungs, to the point where over 80% of US pigs have pneumonia upon slaughter.3 Assignment: Compare the treatment of animals in factory vs family farms. (1 page)     Chapter 2  Additives &  Food Irradiation Much of the food we find at today's supermarkets is highly processed and contains numerous food additives. These substances are used to change the way food tastes (affecting the flavor, texture, consistency, and aroma), to change the way food looks (altering the color and texture), to improve the nutritional quality of foods (adding vitamins and minerals), and to increase the food's shelf life to prevent spoilage.     What is a Food Additive? According to the FDA, food additives are substances “the intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected to result, directly or indirectly, either in their becoming a component of food or otherwise affecting the characteristics of food." 1 In other words, a food additive is anything present in food other than the basic foodstuff. Additives can be put into foods during production, during processing, or through food packaging.   More than 2,800 food additives have been approved for use in the U.S. by the FDA. 2 Currently, U.S. citizens consume approximately 140 to 150 pounds of food additives every year.3 Although all additives must be approved by the FDA before being included in foods, there is concern that many additives are unsafe, or have not been adequately tested for safety. Indeed, a number of food additives initially approved by the FDA were later proven to be harmful and had to be banned. Furthermore, while certain food additives may be safe for some people, they can cause others to experience harmful side effects. For instance, sulfites, a type of additive used to prevent discoloration in dried fruits, are known to cause sensitive individuals (particularly asthmatics) to experience severe reactions.4 Those who suffer from the rare disease phenylketonuria (PKU) are unable to metablolize the artificial sweetener aspartame; this food additive could cause such individuals to develop serious brain damage.5 MSG has also been shown to be harmful to certain people; studies indicate that this food additive can cause sensitive individuals to experience headache, nausea, weakness, and difficulty breathing. 6 Animal Feed Additives:        Most people recognize the importance of eating a healthy diet – but what about the food given to the animals we eat? At one time, most farm animals were raised on a natural diet; animals were able to obtain all necessary nutrients by grazing in fields. However, on today's factory farms, hundreds (sometimes thousands) of animals are raised in confinement without any access to the outdoors. Unfortunately, in order to boost growth rates, supply nutrients ordinarily obtained during grazing, and compensate for unsanitary conditions, factory farms include harmful additives in animal feed that can damage the health of the animals and the health of humans who eat their meat. Feed additives: Antibiotics: On factory farms, huge quantities of antibiotics are added to animal feed in order to promote rapid growth and to compensate for the unsanitary, crowded conditions in which animals are raised. In fact, the Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that 70% of all antibiotics used in the U.S. are fed to farm animals.7  Unfortunately, this practice stimulates the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria, which threatens human health by causing antibiotics to become less effective. Antibiotic resistant bacteria cause health care costs to increase by $4 billion every year!8 Heavy Metals: In order to promote rapid growth, factory farms often add heavy metals such as arsenic, copper, selenium, and zinc to animal feed.9 Since traces of these substances are excreted in animal manure, these heavy metals can accumulate in soils, groundwater, and surface water.10 The risk of accumulation is dramatically increased by factory farms, which store enormous quantities of manure in open-air lagoons, and apply untreated animal waste to surrounding land. In high concentrations, heavy metals are toxic to plants and can damage the health of humans and animals. Studies indicate that consumption of heavy metals causes a host of human health problems including cancer, liver dysfunction, and copper deficiency anemia.11 Heavy metal pollution is a particularly serious problem since these toxins remain in the environment for long periods of time. Meat/Animal Products: In order to reduce overhead costs, factory farms routinely include animal byproducts in their animals' feed. This practice dramatically increases the risk of spreading mad cow disease, which is contracted by cattle when they eat the blood or meat of infected cows. Although the 1997 Feed Ban was supposed to prohibit ruminant protein from being fed to other ruminants, it contained several significant loopholes. For instance, cattle feed can still contain “plate waste” from restaurants which can include beef. Cows can also be fed poultry, despite the fact that poultry feed can include cow remains. Furthermore, cows can be fed poultry litter, a mix of feces, feathers and uneaten poultry feed, which can include cow remains. Despite the discovery of a case of mad cow disease in the U.S. in December 2003, the FDA has yet to eliminate the loopholes in the Feed Ban. As a result, factory farms continue to jeopardize human health by including animal byproducts in cattle feed. Pesticides: Although pesticides aren't added directly to animal feed, since pesticides are used to produce the crops fed to factory farmed animals, pesticide residues are often found in animal feed. As a result, pesticide residues can accumulate in the fatty tissue of factory farmed animals; when consumed by humans, these pesticide residues can damage health.  Sustainable Solutions Fortunately, many sustainable farmers strive to protect the health of livestock and humans by raising animals using natural feed without harmful additives. Unlike factory farms, which fatten their animals on corn and grains, small-scale sustainable farmers often allow their animals to graze, enabling the animals to obtain all necessary nutrients without feed supplements. This is better for the animals' health and better for consumers as well – studies have shown that meat from pasture-raised animals is lower in calories and “bad” omega-6 fats, and higher in the “good” omega-3 and CLA fats that promote good health.13 USDA certified organic meats are also a good option since the feed give to certified organic animals must not contain antibiotics, or protein derived from poultry or mammals. Did you know? More than 2,800 food additives have been approved for use in the U.S. by the FDA.14 Sugar, corn sweeteners, salt, citric acid, pepper, vegetable colors, mustard, yeast, and baking soda account for 98% of the total amount of food additives consumed in the U.S. 15 In 2000, U.S. farmers purchased 119 million tons of animal feed.16  Food Irradiation Large food corporations want to raise their meat in countries with cheap labor and few environmental laws. In order to do that, they need to irradiate the meat. This increases the shelf life of the food, so it can travel longer distances and stay on store shelves longer. Irradiation has not been properly tested for safety, depletes vitamin content, increases the amount of toxic waste in the world, and reportedly doesn't taste good. Food irradiation is a process where food is exposed to very high doses of radiation or electronic particles. This kills off nearly all the bacteria, both good and bad, but does not kill mad cow disease, foot and mouth disease or viruses like hepatitis.1 The long-term health consequences of eating irradiated food are unknown. Irradiation creates a complex series of reactions that literally rip apart the molecular structure of the food. This process creates known carcinogens like benzene and formaldehyde, as well as new and unidentified chemicals that have not been tested for safety.2 Irradiated food is also depleted of its nutritional content.3 For example, vitamin B complex can be up to 96% lower than is typically found in the same non-treated foods.4 For consumers, the risks involved with food irradiation far outweigh any benefits. And even though the process might kill some harmful bacteria, the food can be re-infected between the time it is irradiated, shipped, sold and prepared by the consumer. For the agriculture industry, food irradiation has many benefits. Irradiation extends the shelf life of food, so food lasts longer and can be shipped longer distances. This means industry can raise food in other countries, where labor is cheap and environmental and regulatory laws are not strict. The food can then be shipped into the United States and sold for less money than American-raised food. This puts US farmers out of business. By transporting food long distances and becoming reliant on food from other countries, we could be creating opportunities for sabotage. In addition, the fuel used to transport food such long distances increases our reliance on foreign oil. The agriculture industry is trying to use food irradiation as a quick fix to a much larger problem. The overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on factory farms make animals more prone to disease and sickness, and can increase the levels of pathogens in their bodies. Slaughterhouses operate under filthy conditions where animals are killed at an extremely fast, unsafe pace. What foods are being irradiated?5 Foods approved for irradiation Foods currently being irradiated and sold (2004): Foods pending approval for irradiation: Beef (and beef byproducts) Eggs Enzymes (dry and hydrated) Fruit (domestic and imported) Fruit juice Garlic powder Herbs (dried) Horsemeat (and horsemeat byproducts) Lamb (and lamb byproducts) Onion powder Pork (and pork byproducts such as bacon) Potatoes Poultry Sprouting seeds Spices (dried) Vegetables (domestic and imported) Vegetable juice Vegetable seasoning (dried) Wheat flour   Apples Beef Chicken Eggs Garlic Grapefruit Herbs Mangoes Onions Oranges Papayas Potatoes Spices Strawberries Tomatoes   Beef (unrefrigerated) Clams Crabs Crustacean shellfish Deli meats Frozen foods Lamb (unrefrigerated) Lobster Oysters Molluskan shellfish Mussels Pork (unrefrigerated) Ready-to-eat foods Salads (packaged) Shrimp   Did you know? In a study conducted by Consumer Reports, professional taste testers noticed that most samples of cooked irradiated beef and chicken had “a slight but distinct off-taste and smell” similar to that of singed hair.6 Proper cooking destroys more bacteria than irradiation.7 Since irradiation fails to eliminate all bacteria from foods, and since foods can become contaminated after having been irradiated, the process does not prevent foodborne illness. The FDA recommends the same food-handling practices for irradiated foods as for any other foods.8 Look for the radura symbol on packages of food. This is the symbol for irradiation.