Soil Pollution From Recycling Centers: Case Study Analysis from the Campus of Michigan State University
By
2014, Vol. 6 No. 03 | pg. 4/4 | « ConclusionsIt is crucial that we conduct more studies of this nature so that we can continue to make advancements in areas such as recycling, in terms of reducing the negative anthropogenic impact on the environment. Future studies may compare the environmental effects of recycling facilities that are not LEED certified to those that are. Potentially, facilities that are not LEED certified would have a greater effect on the local environment than those facilities that are LEED certified. Results from a study like this could be instrumental in raising the national environmental standards of recycling centers. Whereas our study involved soil analysis, future studies could also investigate effects of recycling facilities on local plant and animal life. This study pertains to an ongoing ecological topic; as our knowledge grows of how anthropogenic processes affect the environment, we are better able to limit the negative consequences such processes. Soil is increasingly being recognized as a reliable cue of overall ecosystem well-being. Thus, being able to quantify soil health will be a useful tool in regulating the entire ecosystem. Having a comprehensive depiction of what healthy soil should look like will allow scientists to isolate variables that cause deviations from ideal soil condition. Being equipped with this knowledge will allow scientists to more effectively prevent such deviations from occurring, thus preserving ecosystem health. AcknowledgementsSpecial thanks to Jameel Al-Haddad of Michigan State University for guidance in developing this experiment, providing resources associated with this project—including access to the soil analysis kit and the laboratory—and for editing this article. Special thanks to Dr. Matthew Morra of Idaho University for editing this paper, as well.ReferencesAll-recycling-facts.com. (n.d.) History of Recycling. Interesting Recycling Facts. Retrieved from http://www.all-recycling-facts.com/history-of-recycling.html Bauer, M. (2011, March 31). The Negative Effects of Recycling Paper. Living Well. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/159591-the-negative-effects-of-recycling-paper/ Bell, J., Honour, S., & Power, S. (2011). Effects of vehicle exhaust emissions on urban wild plant species. Environmental Pollution, 159(8), 1984-1990. Boto, K. (1983). Nutrient status and other soil factors affecting mangrove productivity in North-East Australia. Wetlands (Australia), 3(1), 45-50. Doran, J. & Zeiss, M. (2000) Soil health and sustainability: managing the biotic component of soil quality. Applied Soil Ecology, 15, 3-11. Illinois Department of Public Health. (n.d.). Landfill Gas. Environmental Health Fact Sheet. Retrieved on 1 Oct 2011 from http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/landfillgas.htm LePree, J. (2010). SCR: New and Improved. Chemical Engineering, 117, 22-24. Michigan State University Campus Planning & Administration. (n.d.) Sanford Natural Area. Michigan State University Natural Areas. Retrieved from http://www.cpa.msu.edu/nat_area/sanford.html Mitchell, M. (2011). Nitrate dynamics of forested watersheds: spatial and temporal patterns in North America, Europe and Japan. Journal of Forest Research, 16(5), 333-340. MSU Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. (n.d.) History of Baker Woodlot. Rachana Rajendra Bird Sanctuary. Retrieved from http://www.fw.msu.edu/Rajendra/history.htm MSU Surplus Store & Recycling Center. (n.d.). Facility: Green building features. Michigan State University Recycling. Retrieved from http://recycle.msu.edu/about/facility/ Olivieri, G., Romani, A., & Neri, P. (2006). Environmental and economic analysis of aluminum recycling through life cycle assessment. International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 13, 269-276. Papastergios, G., Filippidis, A., Fernandez-Turiel J. L., Gimeno, D., & Sikalidis, C. (2010). Natural and anthropogenic effects on the soil geochemistry of Kavala Area, Northern Greece. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece, 43(5), 2373-2382. Rousk, J., Baath, E., Brookes, P. C., Lauber, C. L., Lozupone, C., Caporaso, J. G., Knight, R., & Fierer, N. (2010). Soil bacterial and fungal communities across a pH gradient in an arable soil. The ISME Journal, 4, 1340-1351. Spencer, H, & Port, G. (1988). Effects of roadside conditions on plants and insects. Journal of Applied Ecology, 25, 709-715. Stevenson, B, Parfitt, R., Schipper, L., Baisden, W., & Mudge, P. (2010). Relationship between soil 15N, C/N and N losses across land uses in New Zealand. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 139, 736-741. Thomas, S., Scheele, C., Trouilloud, W., & Rollins, S. (editors). (2008, Summer). Ecology Laboratory Manual, Michigan State University. 184, 196, 197, 200-202. Twigg, M. V. (2007). Progress and future challenges in controlling automotive exhaust gas emissions. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 70, 2-15. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, July 26). Recycling Basics. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/rrr/recycle.html Vitousek, P. M., Gosz, J. R., Grier, C. C., Melillo, J. M., Reiners, W. A., & Todd, R. L. (1979). Nitrate Losses from Disturbed Ecosystems. Science, 204(4392), 469-474. Suggested Reading from Inquiries JournalInquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. Representing the work of students from hundreds of institutions around the globe, Inquiries Journal's large database of academic articles is completely free. Learn more | Blog | Submit Latest in Environmental Studies |