Scientific literature makes it clear that small particles suspended in the air, especially those in the 1um to 2.5um diameter range, can have harmful effects on cardiovascular and respiratory health, especially when individuals are exposed at high levels or for Continue reading →

We tend to take for granted the clean air that has been provided to us due to strict standards set by the EPA. A component of the pollution that must be controlled is called particulate matter (PM), small particles that Continue reading →

What is particulate matter? Particulate matter (PM) is an air pollutant that is made of very small solid or liquid particles that are temporarily suspended in the air (Baird and Cann 119). To begin, it is important to recognize the Continue reading →

If you work or live near the Mississippi River watershed you may be inadvertently contributing to the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone, an area where fish and other marine life cannot survive. This section of the Gulf, which was measured Continue reading →

Why should you care? For many people in California, smog checks are a mandatory thing every other year. This is to reduce the hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxides that are released by the engine. Nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons, also Continue reading →

Feedback loops can be used to describe many systems. Negative feedback loops happen when the effects of the system don’t add to the causes of it. The effects of the system can weaken over time if the feedback loop interferes Continue reading →

Cadmium in batteries Cadmium (Cd) is a metal used in almost every day of our lives. Cadmium joined with nickel creates a rechargeable battery called nicad. Nicad is used in rechargeable devices such as  calculators as well as aviation batteries. Continue reading →

After the Flint, Michigan water crisis in 2014, water quality has been a big concern for many Americans. The water supply for Flint had changed to using the Flint River as its source, but due to insufficient water treatment, lead Continue reading →

What are Furans and PCBs? PCB stands for polychlorinated biphenyls and PCBs had started to become an environmental concern in the 1980s and 1990s. PCBs are persistent in the environment and have the ability to bioaccumulate in living organisms. In high Continue reading →

If you are a California native, you would have heard of The Salton Sea. The Sea is actually a lake located in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys that was accidentally made (Fig. 1). A massive flood from the Colorado River Continue reading →