Water Quality and Future Generations: Deb Swackhamer at TEDxUMN

Summary

This script addresses the preciousness of freshwater, highlighting that only 1% of Earth's water is accessible surface freshwater. It discusses the alarming issue of water scarcity and the contamination of our environment with chemicals, many of which are unregulated and pose unknown risks. The speaker calls for consumer education, green chemistry, and societal action to reduce chemical waste and toxicity, urging individuals to contribute to a sustainable water future.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Earth is predominantly covered in water, with 330 million cubic miles of it, which would form a lake 90 miles deep if spread over the United States.
• 💧 Freshwater is a scarce resource, making up only 3% of the total water on Earth, with just 1% being surface water accessible to terrestrial life.
• 🚰 One in six people globally lack access to clean drinking water, highlighting the urgent need for water security.
• 🌐 Water scarcity is a pressing issue, with certain regions experiencing it more severely, as indicated by a map showing areas of concern.
• 🚨 Chemical pollution is widespread, affecting ecosystems from the North to the South Pole, due to industrial chemicals used over the past century.
• 🔬 The United Nations has banned certain harmful chemicals, but many more are in use, with around 60,000 chemicals having the potential to cause harm.
• ♻️ The US regulates approximately 370 chemicals, but this is a small fraction of the total, leaving a significant number unregulated and potentially hazardous.
• 🔍 Advances in analytical chemistry and toxicology have allowed for the detection of new, unregulated chemicals in the environment.
• 🐟 Chemical contaminants can have transgenerational effects, causing diseases in offspring and subsequent generations, even if the exposed individual shows no symptoms.
• 🌱 To mitigate the impact of chemicals, it's crucial to adopt green chemistry practices, reduce waste, and educate consumers to demand safer products.

Q & A

What percentage of Earth's water is considered freshwater?

Only 3% of the water on Earth is freshwater.

How much freshwater is available as surface water?

Of the 3% freshwater on Earth, only 1% is surface water, with the rest being frozen or underground.

What proportion of the global population lacks access to clean drinking water?

One in six people on the planet do not have access to clean drinking water.

What are the regions experiencing water scarcity indicated by on the map mentioned in the script?

The regions experiencing water scarcity are indicated by yellow, orange, and red areas on the map.

How many chemicals are registered for use in the United States, and what is the distinction between registered and regulated chemicals?

There are about 40,000 polymers registered for use in the United States, which are not considered harmful due to their large size. However, there are approximately 42,000 industrial chemicals and 12,000 chemicals used in pharmaceuticals, pesticides, cosmetics, and food additives that have the potential to cause harm and are thus of concern.

How many chemicals does the United States regulate, and what does this imply about the rest?

The United States regulates about 370 chemicals. The fact that there are many more unregulated chemicals implies that there is insufficient information to determine if they pose a hazard or not.

What are 'chemicals of emerging concern' and how many are there?

'Chemicals of emerging concern' are unregulated chemicals that potentially can cause harm and can get into the environment. It is estimated that there are about 500 to a thousand such chemicals.

What are some of the adverse effects that chemicals can have on human health and the environment?

Chemicals can cause reproductive problems, affect growth and development, harm organ health such as kidneys and liver, contribute to diseases like obesity, affect behavior, and even cause transgenerational effects where diseases appear in subsequent generations.

How do chemicals from everyday products end up in our water supply?

Chemicals from everyday products like beauty products, household cleaning agents, drugs, food and water containers, and industrial effluents end up in our waste streams and then in sewage treatment plants, which do not remove these chemicals, allowing them to enter our lakes, rivers, and streams.

What actions can individuals take to contribute to a sustainable water future?

Individuals can learn about their water sources, vote for environmentally conscious legislators, join watershed associations, participate in volunteer monitoring programs, advocate for green chemistry, teach others about water literacy, clean up local watersheds, safely dispose of medicine, and contribute to creating a safe and healthy community.