POLLUTION
EPA Policy Letter
To,
Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
Date: November 5, 2023
From,
Billy Bob
Student at California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo
Subject: Neutralize Atrazine To Control Pollution
Dear Michael Regan of EPA,
I am writing this letter to streamline the importance of Atrazine affecting people's health, animals, health, and climate change through the main source, pollution. When it comes to the idea of pollution, we think of dusty air, power plants, farms, etc. Not many people know what Atrazine is, but it happens to be the most commonly detected pesticide containment of ground and surface water.
Atrazine is a dangerous chemical that can demasculinize and feminize vertebrate male gonads. What that is referencing is “Atrazine shrinks testicles, reduces sperm count, and can make males grow ovaries,” (Wetzler, NRDC). Atrazine exposure causes these reproductive effects to reduce male hormones while increasing the effect and production of estrogen (female hormones). If we cannot neutralize this highlighted problem, then animals can face the consequences, which they already have. A very common fish that people consume daily, salmon, specifically male salmon exposed to atrazine showed decreased mating behavior and sperm production. A very similar outcome affected amphibians which “resulted in a 50% decrease in epididymal sperm number and decreased sperm motility,” (Wetzler, NRDC). Laboratory rodents have also been affected by atrazine including induced abortion, impaired mammary development, the induction of reproductive and/or hormone-dependent cancers. Atrazine is quote on quote “Prevalent and persistent in the environment and can have dramatic effects on ecosystems, environmental health, and public health”. As a nation, there should be a way to neutralize this. Atrazine has become one of the most popular applied triazine herbicides in the world due to its herbicidal efficiency and low price point. The abstract factor of it all is the effect of atrazine on photosynthesis and its defensive response. “The chemical enters the chloroplasts in alga depending and directly attacks on the electron transport chain”, (PubMed NIH).
With your help Michael and your efficient team of EPA, we can deflate, or even decimate the chemical atrazine due to its insane pollutant. Your team has already took a step into this issue. Help make this world a better place.
Yours Truly,
Billy Bob
Cal Poly Student
Citations
Wetzler, Andrew. “New Study Confirms Atrazine’s Effects across a Range of Species (Including US).” Be a Force for the Future, 29 Nov. 2011, www.nrdc.org/bio/andrew-wetzler/new-study-confirms-atrazines-effects-across-range-species-including-us.
Bai X;Sun C;Xie J;Song H;Zhu Q;Su Y;Qian H;Fu Z; “Effects of Atrazine on Photosynthesis and Defense Response and the Underlying Mechanisms in Phaeodactylum Tricornutum.” Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26139402/. Accessed 5 Nov. 2023.
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Oreo Policy Letter
11/03/2023
John Doe
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
Dear Dirk Van de Put,
As a consumer who loves your product, Oreos, I am writing to urge your company to remove Palm Oil from the ingredients in Oreos. The harvesting practices used to supply your company’s enormous demand for this oil is causing unprecedented environmental damage in several countries throughout Southeast Asia. This is not only leading to a significant decrease in biodiversity, but also large outputs of carbon dioxide as a result of the “slash and burn” methods used to clear out the rainforests to replace with agricultural land.
Your company is one of the largest consumers of palm oil and as a result, over 70,000 hectares of rainforests were cleared just between 2015-17 (Greenpeace International). As a result of this huge amount of deforestation, very special and unique animals such as the Tapanuli & Bornean orangutan, Sumatran Tiger, and Sumatran Rhino are all critically endangered. The rainforest found in Indonesia are one of the most biodiverse places in the world. Even though the rainforest takes up just 1% of the world’s landmass, “10 percent of the world’s known plant species, 12 percent of mammal species, and 17 percent of all known bird species” are found there (Rainforest Action Network). Evidently, these rainforests are extremely special and without a doubt should be protected from mass deforestation.
I urge you to be a leader in the international market and to take the initiative to remove this harmful ingredient from your products. By replacing your current palm oil with either sustainably harvested palm oil or a new oil all together, your company will be making a direct impact on the health of the world. In doing so, you and your company will be proving your commitment to protecting the world’s environment and health of our ecosystems. Please let me know if you or your staff would like any additional information on this important step forward, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
John Doe
Works Cited
Greenpeace International. (n.d.). Oreo maker linked to destruction of Orangutan Habitat for palm oil in Indonesia. https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/19292/oreo-maker-linked-to-destruction-of-orangutan-habitat-for-palm-oil-in-indonesia/
Indonesia’s rainforests: Biodiversity and endangered species. Rainforest Action Network. (2020, November 24). https://www.ran.org/indonesia_s_rainforests_biodiversity_and_endangered_species/
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Biology 227 Policy Letter Ludwick Center,
SLO. Dear SLO Climate Change Coalition,
Hello, my name is Will Stevens I attend Cal Poly SLO and am a business major. I am writing to your company to receive some clarification on the state of climate change in the San Luis Obispo community.
I hope that whoever is receiving this from the SLO Climate Change Coalition business is able to answer some of my questions and provide me with any helpful information. As someone who is fairly new to the San Luis Obispo area I am writing to you to get more educated on the urgent and present issue of climate change. Before I go any further I just want to say that your service to our region is deeply appreciated and is not going unnoticed. Secondly I believe that your expertise in the topic can not only help me in addressing this conflict but can help me spread the information further.
It is scary and sad to see San Luis Obispo in trouble due to climate change. Just getting to know the area I have noticed all the natural beauty the town has to offer so its upsetting to have it facing the problem of climate change. Just doing a little digging I have found that we are experiencing rising temperatures, more frequent and severe wildfires, extended droughts, and Stevens 2 coastal erosion from sea-level rise. Furthermore, I have been able to see real life proof of these changes in the short period of time I have lived here. For example just the other week there were several wildfires spread out through the community. Issues like these not only jeopardize our environment but also the safety of the citizens in the town.
In my opinion its crucial that we as a community act fast to mitigate these threats and protect the environment for future generations in San Luis Obispo. How we go through and do all that I am not totally clear on. But through seeing climate change recently one thing has become very apparent. That is that its no longer a future issue that we can put off it is an issue happening right now that if we do not work to solve soon could severely hurt the future of San Luis Obispo. With all that being said I humbly present the following policy recommendations that I have come up with through my research.
I think that San Luis Obispo should Transition to Renewable Energy and accelerate the rate the do so. For example some solutions could be to switch to wind and solar power and expand the total amount of clean energy production. Doing this will not only reduce our carbon footprint but also stimulate job growth within our community. In addition, it would not be as expensive as some of the alternatives.
Next I believe that we must encourage sustainable agricultural practices that slow down carbon and reduce water usage. Also, supporting local farmers in implementing more green methods could rally boost our agricultural sector and could make SLO more resilient when dealing with droughts.
Given the increasing wildfire risks its very clear that we need to invest in improved wildfire preparedness and mitigation strategies in order to help the community and preserve our Stevens 3 natural habitats. By addressing this issue now I am confident that we can support public safety and stop the negative effects on our environment. Another thing is that if we were to follow through with this it would have the indirect benefit of an overall healthier ecosystem.
One solution that I am very passionate about as someone who cares about climate change as well as has the need for transportation is expanding public transportation. Improving our public transportation system will reduce car dependency, lower emissions, and provide greater mobility for the residents of SLO. Why I feel so strongly about going through with this is because it will not only improve the environment but will also enhance our community's quality of life.
For any large issue the number one thing that can be done is to spread awareness. That is why climate change education is essential and we need to implement educational programs that raise awareness and engage the uninformed public on local climate solutions that they can play a part in. On top of that empowering our community with knowledge can lead to more resources being available. Lastly, spreading the word will reduce stress on hardcore activist because more people will be pitching in for the cause.
All of these ideas have the potential to make San Luis Obispo a better place. Specifically if even one of these ideas were implemented we would already be taking great strides to a more prosperous future. I believe that with your support, knowledge, and leadership we can truly make a difference in tackling climate change no matter how small or large it may be.
In conclusion, I am hopeful that you will consider some of these policy recommendations and any feedback positive or negative would be appreciated. Also, I am totally open to further discuss these proposals further and listen to any changes or tweaks you have to offer.
Best Regards,
Will Stevens
Sources:
● San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District EPA
● California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission EPA
● California Department of Water Resources. EPA
● Central Coast Climate Hub EPA
● San Luis Obispo Tribune The Climate Coalition of San Luis Obispo EPA
● SLO Climate Coalition Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) EPA
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Cal Poly Policy Letter
Horse Valley
Andrew J. Thulin,
Dean of Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences,
athulin@calpoly.edu
November 5, 2023
Dear doctor Andrew J. Thulin,
Salutations, my name is Milly Millvid. I am a student in the liberal arts college in Cal Poly. I am formally writing to you because I’ve noticed a problem with our water waste. Specifically with how our sprinkler system is set up and how I think it causes nutrient pollution. During my time in Cal Poly I’ve noticed, especially outside the Yakitutu dorms, that the sprinklers commonly spray water on the concrete and paths. This is not only a waste of water but also makes it easier for nutrients to travel outside where they are not supposed to be. This can cause many harmful effects on our environment such as: toxic algae blooms, Eutrophication, higher CO2 emissions, and death of wildlife. The last two examples are an effect of the algae blooms, but I felt like it was still important to list them because they are such a big problem.
How algae blooms cause these problems is rather simple. The excess nutrients caused by the water runoff lets the algae grow at an exponentially fast rate. This algae then blocks the sunlights for all the other plants in the pond, lake, or river causing them to die then decay. When plants decay they release CO2, which is normally not a problem. But because these plants are dying in such huge quantities, when they normally would have survived, this is leading to huge amounts of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.
The algae blooms are also killing off the aquatic animals that live in those lakes, rivers, and ponds too. Mainly by sucking the oxygen from the water causing the animals to suffocate to death.
I think an easy solution to this problem is to adjust where our sprinklers aim their water and when the watering is happening. Perhaps we can make it so that the sprinklers water the plants before we put fertilizer or pesticides on them, this way those substances have a lower chance to get washed away. Cal Poly is known for their engineering and agricultural fields so the school could also set the task of fixing this problem onto the students as a hands-on learning experience. I believe that these costs in the grand scheme of things are fairly cheap, especially regards to how this can benefit our environment. These changes will also help the cost of water since there will be less waste.
Best Regards,
Milly Millvid
A Graphic Communication Major at Cal Poly.
Sources:
EPA, The Facts About Nutrient Pollution, United States Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-03/documents/facts_about_nutrient_pollution_what_is_hypoxia.pdf
EPA, Nutrient Pollution The Sources and Solutions, United States Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-solutions-agriculture#:~:text=Applying%20fertilizers%20in%20the%20proper,water%20and%20protects%20stream%20banks.
EPA, Nutrient Pollution The Effects: Dead Zones and Harmful Algae Blooms, United States Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/effects-dead-zones-and-harmful-algal-blooms#:~:text=The%20overgrowth%20of%20algae%20consumes,for%20aquatic%20life%20to%20survive.
National Geographic Education, Dead Zone, National Geographic Society, 2023: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/dead-zone/
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Jane Janey
(888) 888-8888 janey@gmai.com Whoeville, 94599
November 4, 2023
The Honorable Mayor Karen Bass
200 N. Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Dear Mayor Bass,
My name is Jane Janey, and I am writing this letter to ask you to help our community make changes in its plastic consumption in order to help the pollution of our oceans. I have lived in Calabasas my entire life and now attend California Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo as an Environmental Management Major. My time in Cal Poly has helped me majorly reflect on the use of consumption in the greater Los Angeles area. However, this is not exactly what brought this issue to my attention. In high school I was apart of a beach clean up club with my closet friends. Throughout our time founding and participating in this club, we would constantly go to our nearest and favorite beaches with trash bags and gloves and attempt to clean up what was left behind. What we saw was a plethora of Starbucks cups, straws, cutlery, sandwich bags, snack bags, and so much more debris that was constantly left behind and continued to accumulate the second we turned around. At this rate of waste, this plastic pollution is expected to outweigh all of the fish in the ocean by the year 2050 (Coffee, 2020). This issue has inspired me in college to go out and try to find a solution to help this. You are the first step to making a true change.
Over 400 million tons of plastic are produced annually and about 14 million of those tons end up in the ocean (LA County, 2021). Thousands of marine animals are killed each year due to the intertwinement and/or ingestion of plastic debris in the ocean (Coffee, 2020). Many of these animals that fall fatal to this issue are endangered as is and only continue to become higher risk. Not only does this effect the marine animals, but also humans. We rely on the ocean for food, health, tourism, and climate. With in an increase in pollution we threaten our very own existence along with all of those beautiful species that live alongside us.
Due to many natural factors such as solar radiation, currents in the oceans and winds, plastic gets broken down into minuscule particles that are also known as microplastics. This makes it extremely easy for marine animals to ingest and accumulate in their bodies. One example of this is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch which is a major collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. Due to the nature of the currents and different water temperatures, the convergence zone of these acts like a conveyor belt to move debris from one patch to another (National Geographic, 2023). Meaning that even a water bottle that has been thrown into the ocean in California can take the current to Mexico. The reason I am outlining this specific pollution site is to address how even the things we consume here have effects all over. While it may seem localized and simply just one city, these little things accumulate and end up harming all of us.
The main sources of the plastic waste that are found in the ocean results from littering, poor waste disposal management, construction and illegal dumping. The main issue in the Los Angeles area is that less than ten percent of single use plastics are actually being recycled. However, it seems to be that better recycling programs are not able to fix the problem at this point (Center for Biological Diversity, 2020). The main concern with plastic is more about consumption rather than the recycling. During this moment in time, the rate of consumption needs to be significantly lower for there to be a true change. According to UCLA (IUCN, 2023) the food-service ware is one of the main sources of single use plastics and is something commonly used by most people on a day to day basis.
There are many alternatives to single use plastics that people can encounter on a day to day lifestyle. Princeton University offers a pretty comprehensive list on simple swaps that can make all the difference in our plastic consumption (Ramsden, 2020). One example being switching single use plastic bags for reusable grocery bags. Most people are home before they go grocery shopping in order to see what they need to buy. Due to this, it is not an inconvenience to bring a reusable bag to the store which over time will save the costumer money.
It is my hope that this can bring a sense of importance to this issue where we can work towards a legally binding agreement that businesses can abide by. I urge you to continue to implement more simple strategies to get citizens into an environmentally friendlier life style. Not only for ourselves, but for the marine life that is suffering at our hands.
Sincerely yours,
Jane Janey
Environmental Management and Protection Student
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Citations
Coffee , D., Faigen, M., Milani, J. L., & Richardson, C. (n.d.). UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. PLASTIC WASTE PLASTIC WASTE IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY . https://innovation.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Plastic_Waste_in_LA_County.pdf
Los Angeles County. (2021, December 9). L.A. County to take big bite out of plastic pollution. https://ceo.lacounty.gov/2020/02/03/sustainability/l-a-county-to-take-big-bite-out-of-plastic-pollution/#:~:text=Less than 10% of all,blight L.A. neighborhoods and oceans.
Marine plastic pollution. IUCN. (2023, June 1). https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/marine-plastic-pollution#:~:text=Impacts on marine ecosystems,stomachs become filled with plastic.
National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-pacific-garbage-patch/
Ocean plastics pollution. Ocean Plastics Pollution. (n.d.). https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/ocean_plastics/citation.html
The Trustees of Princeton University. (n.d.). Single-use Plastic & Alternatives - PSCI. Princeton University. https://psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/3/30/single-use-plastic-amp-alternatives