"Chemical Nutrients Threaten Canadian
Waters"
A recent
report produced by five government departments states that
fertilizer based chemicals or chemical nutrients such as
ammonia, nitrates, acid sulphates and phosphates, are once again
threatening Canadian waters and air (link to article). These
pollutants can kill fish and frogs and make well water unfit to
drink. The government report does not make recommendations to
reduce the production of chemical nutrients but cautions that as
the population grows; the quality of water will suffer without
better pollution controls.
Students, like all concerned citizens, can
become caretakers of their regional ecosystems. Caring for the
environment results in a sustainable society since without clean
air, water and soil, we cannot exist. By taking on the role of
an environmental task force, students can discover where these
chemicals come from, how they are detected, and how they can be
removed from the air and the water. They will then be able to
make an informed report on what high school students can do to
improve the water quality in their municipality.
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