Student name:___________________________

ss#:___________________________

TA name:___________________________

This is news media research project. First, look over the following questions, and choose a news article that addresses these issues on a pollutant or other hazardous material in the environment. Such articles, on everything from the county spraying of pesticide for mosquitoes to plutonium in the soil at Rocky Flats, frequently appear in the local papers (but you can also surf any newspaper web sites for recent archives). Then:

(1) What material is involved? How can it affect human health? How can it affect ecological health?

(2) Why is it in the news? (An intentional release of the toxic material? An accidental release of the material? A new policy or regulatory action?)

(3) Where is the problem? What geographical area might be affected? What government jurisdictions are responsible (e.g., a federal or state or local issue)?

(4) What earth system(s) is involved (atmosphere, soils, oceans, fresh water, etc.), and how does the material disperse geographically?

(5) Did someone argue that it was safe, or not such a big problem? What is the basis for their argument?