What you didn't know about Hexavalent Chromium

Image taken from http://en.wikipedia.org

Most people have heard of hexavalent chromium [chromium (VI)] because they are familiar with the popular film Erin Brockovich, based on a true story. Click on the links below to learn some interesting facts about chromium (VI)!

Hexavalent Chromium Fact Sheet

Hexavalent Chromium Brochure

Impacts on Global Environmental Health

As the relationship between human health and the environment continue to rapidly evolve, through this course, I hoped to gather a better understanding of how major determinants of health are impacted by environmental issues in the global health community. Our research and discussions on global warming (Kyoto Agreement) and on strategies to help deal with public health issues on a global level have helped me to grasp a better understanding of environmental health on a larger scale. Speaking more generally, safe water, proper sanitation, and good hygiene are all important contributors in maintaining healthy communities, contributing to reducing the global impact of disease through the prevention and control of disease, injury, and disability. By working together, government and private organizations can continue to improve public health through sustainable practices and interventions and providing technical assistance to support the development and implementation of such interventions globally. 

Silent Spring

Image from mieukprevenir.blogspot.com

Rachel Carson, author, biologist, and ecologist, played a pivotal role in the environmental movement. After grabbing the public’s attention with her book Silent Spring, published in 1962, Carson brought awareness to the public of the dangers associated with synthetic pesticides and the damage they can cause to the environment and ultimately the health of the public. Despite the chemical industry’s attempts to spitefully slander and discredit her, Carson boldly expressed her concerns and challenged the practices of agricultural scientists and the government. Carson insisted new policies be set forth to protect human health and the environment. Following her death from breast cancer, the production of DDT was banned and Congress passed the National Environmental Policy Act, establishing the Environmental Protection Agency.

Both Carson and her book helped to expose the dangers of pesticide use and draw awareness to an important environmental issue, sparking one of many beginnings to environmental change to protect the environment and the public alike.  

Maps

Choropleth Map

This choropleth map shows the proportion of the U.S. population suffering from obesity in 2008. There are vast differences between the western and eastern states.

Proportional Symbol Map

This Proportional Symbol map displays the number of traffic fatalities in the U.S., by state, in 2009 using a circle as a symbol.

Dot Density Map

Dot Density maps are used to show the distribution of people for a particular variable. This map shows the number of deaths resulting from unintentional injuries by county in Oregon for the year 2007.

Topographic Map
This Topographic map shows varying levels of elevation throughout the United States.

Environmental Sensitivity Index Map

ESI (Environmental Sensitivity Index) maps provide a brief summary of coastal at-risk resources in the event that an oil/chemical spill occurs. They consist of three main types of information:

  Shoreline Classification:  relative exposure to wave and tidal energy; shoreline slope;  
  substrate type; and biological productivity and sensitivity.

  Biological Resources: oil-sensitive animals and habitats

  Human-Use Resources: high-use recreational and shoreline access locations;   
  management areas; resource extraction locations; and archaeological, historical, and
  cultural resource sites

Aerotropolis Atlanta

Aerotropolis Atlanta

About Aerotropolis Atlanta: 

Moving in place of what was formerly the Ford Atlanta Assembly Plant, Aerotropolis Atlanta is a planned mixed–use development in Hapeville, Georgia. The former Ford Plant opened in 1947 and ceased operations in October 2006. Soon after, the City re-zoned the property to allow for redevelopment for high-density mixed use. In June 2008, Ford announced the sale of the property to Jacoby Development, Inc. Jacoby is most recognized for successfully redeveloping the Atlanta Steel brownfield site into Atlantic Station. Plans currently are to redevelop the site into an aerotropolis—an aviation-intensive business district that is expected to include office space, hotels, retail, restaurants, a light industrial business park and a 4,000-space airport parking facility. The former Ford plant employed more than 3,000 people. Aerotropolis is expected to add more than 10,000 jobs to Hapeville through build-out. The final development cost of the project is expected to exceed $1 billion dollars, which will greatly enhance the City's tax base. I’m all for sustainable practices and brownfield redevelopments, so I think this will be good for the community as projected. This project will hopefully open up opportunities for economic revitalization, environmental improvements, transportation advances and healthier communities.

The former Ford Motor Plant is located at 340 Henry Ford II Avenue in Hapeville, Fulton County, Georgia. It runs along I-75 and is adjacent to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Using Google Earth:

I did not experience any problems using Google Earth. I am familiar with it and have used it in the past for other assignments. I have found that the tutorial aided me in getting adjusted with the program and it's features when I was first introduced to it.