Soil contamination

The Radiological Dispersion Device A Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD) is a combination of conventional explosives (dynamite) and radioactive components (The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2014). A RDD is any device that causes the resolute diffusion of radioactive material without a nuclear detonation (REMM, 2016).Terrorist who have utilized RDDs have labeled them as dirty bombs (Ready, 2016). However, the United States military recognizes RDDs as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)…

The purpose of this lab was to test for which soil type would be best for food production. The tests included Forest Soil, Floodplain Soil, and Garden Soil. We predicted that garden soil will have the best properties for food production because we expected it to have the highest value of nutrients for plants to grow in and a soil composition that is fit for food production (ex. Water Holding, etc). To test our hypothesis, we ran tests measuring Percent Water Content, Organic Material, Nitrates,…

glanced around and found myself walking through the scene one by one. First, was the dirt, the place where every good thing comes from, and the often-unsung hero of nature. I say hero because what happens in nature that does not somehow begin with the soil in that environment? New Brunswick is especially interesting because it is not like everywhere else. The dirt here always has a reddish tint to it and while I am not exactly sure why, I know it has something to do with…

When the organic matter is destroyed it causes the soil structure to break down. The loss of soil structure as well as of protective plant cover leaves the soils vulnerable to erosion. Silt is the most damaging pollutant after a wildfire, silt being carried to nearby rivers, streams and lakes after a heavy rain causes. The water quality is often critically…

The use of biochar on a widespread and large-scale has thus been shown to be greatly beneficial in the fight against climate change, as well as for sustainable soil management. But before this can be seriously implemented and developed into policy, scientific evidence must be expanded to fully cover implication of its use on soil properties, processes and functions (Verheijen et al 2012). Until this has been comprehensively quantified, regulations have a higher likelihood of unsuccessfully…

very dangerous for the environment, and it affects very much. “Nuclear waste affects the environment primarily because it 's extremely difficult to dispose of properly. If it isn 't disposed of properly, it can cause extensive groundwater and soil contamination” (Diane, 2010). That means waste is highly radioactive, and it has a chemical, the waste is still for many years on the plant, and that effect the environment very much. For example, if one of reactors throw the waste, the waste doesn’t…

The barrel cactus is easily distinguished from other cacti because of its cylinder-shaped body. It is one of the largest cacti in North America reaching a staggering eleven feet tall. Running down the spines are 3-4 inch spines and on top are rings of yellow-green or red blossoms. Native Americans used to boil them into cabbage-like stews. They would also grind up the pulp and extract the water. Another plant native to deserts is the brittle bush. IT is a small deciduous shrub which grows as a…

In terms of TMDLs, sedimentation and inorganic nutrients are two of the most common stressors in Virginia streams. Sedimentation is the most common problem in Virginia streams with 39% stream miles. Mostly rainwaters carry sediments and soil particles into streams, lakes, and rivers, and then these particles are transported by flowing water. In other words, this stressor is one of the main forms of nonpoint source pollution, also do not have any water quality criteria. VDEQ uses benthic…

What is biodiversity? Introduction Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life on Earth at all its levels and includes genes to ecosystems, as well as the ecological and evolutionary processes that sustain it (Cardinale, 2012). The Earth’s biodiversity has long been a source of wonderment and scientific curiosity, but is increasingly becoming a source of concern. The sheer diversity of life is of inestimable value. Biodiversity has a number of functions on Earth, from providing a foundation…

Fukushima Nuclear Disaster The Fukushima nuclear disaster was caused by chain of events early March of 2011. On the morning of the 11th there was a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the Pacific coast of Japan. The Tohoku earthquake caused a 128 meter tsunami which hit the eastern coast of Japan. During the events of the earthquake and tsunami the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant suffered heavy equipment failures. These equipment failures lead to three of six reactors melting down and another…