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Presence of matter (gas, liquid, solid) or energy (heat, noise, radiation) whose nature, location, or quantity directly or indirectly alters characteristics or processes of any part of the environment, and causes (or has the potential to cause) damage to the condition, health, safety, or welfare of animals, humans, plants, or property.

An anthropological view Mary Douglas: “matter out of place”

But what does “out of place” mean? Carbon in fuel vs. in air DDT in standing water vs. in breast milk Chlorinated pesticides on farmland vs. in

water GM grass on golf course vs. in wild Antibiotics in farm animals vs. in waterways

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Rachel Carson was right Rachel Carson was wrong

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Air Airshed: cross-border effects Whom to protect, against what harms?

Water Watersheds: cross-state waterways Which H2O (surface water, groundwater, drinking

water)? Land

Non-point sources and runoff Lansdscape

“Viewsheds” Chemicals

Dose-response

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Clean Air Act of 1970: federal framework with “state implementation plans”

National Ambient Air Quality Standards Stationary and mobile sources Old and new sources Problems

Too clean (PSD) and not clean enough (non-attainment)

National and international boundary crossers (acid rain)

SUVs Climate change

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Clean Water Act of 1972: federal framework for interstate waterways

Water quality standards for surface water

Permits for pollutant discharges Best available technologyProblems

Groundwater Nonpoint sources: agriculture, stormwater Water quantity-quality relationships

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FIFRA of 1972: product focus “Old” and “new” substances

“Grandfathering” Premarket registration Risk-benefit approach Problems (boundaries)

Safety: a sociotechncial product Biotech products - legal status? Exports and imports

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Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976: product focus

“Existing” substances Government’s responsibility to create registry Risk-based demand for more information

“New” substances: premanufacture notification

Problems Sheer numbers Basis for requesting information: does EPA

have it; will industry accept it?

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FIFRA: pesticide registration FFDCA: pesticide residues SDWA: maximum contaminant levels CAA: hazardous air pollutants FWPCA: non-point source pollutants ESA: endangered species habitats TSCA: ingredients and intermediates RCRA: hazardous wastes CERCLA (Superfund): abandoned

waste disposal sites

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Comprehensive use patterns (national,

international, global) Multiple chemical synergies Global transport and fate Bioaccumulation Childhood exposure and risk Ecological risk (biodiversity, H2O, agriculture)

Pest resistance

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