Train the TrainerSlides 2-5

S.T.E.P.

Students

Tackling

Environmental

Problems

S.T.E.P.

Goals• Train Trainers – adult and youth

volunteers• Create Awareness• Educate • Change Behavior

S.T.E.P. Purpose: Create an awareness of environmental issues and their affects while educating 4-H members on the importance of being proactive on environmental issues.

About STEP…Four Focuses

• Indoor Air Quality• Mercury• Water Quality• Lead Poisoning

Education• Lesson Plans• Supplemental Resources• Experiential Learning• Life Skills Connection

Experiential Learning Model

Do

ReflectApply

Sharing

Processing

Generalizing

Applying

Experiencing

4-H Life Skills Model

What 4-H Volunteers can do…• Volunteers teach STEP lessons at the

local club, camp, day camp, etc. • Work with communities, schools, church

groups, businesses, etc. to establish recycling and conservation programs

• Educate and train 4-H members to speak at local civic groups

• Conduct sustainable service projects

Volunteer is defined as youth and adults.

S.T.E.P.

S.T.E.P.

Use Less…

• Water• Energy• Chemicals• Disposables

Protect …

• Natural Resources• Landfill Space• Water Supplies• Our future

Make a Difference

Little changes…

Make a BIG difference

S.T.E.P.

Section 1

Indoor Air Qualityslides 12 - 17

S.T.E.P.

What is indoor air pollution?Indoor air pollution consists of chemical, physical, or biological contaminants in indoor air.

Causes: carbon monoxide, radon, common allergens, mold, insects, pet dander, combustible fuels, furniture made of certain pressed wood products, household cleaning, personal care, hobbies, heating and cooling systems, humidification devices, outdoor air pollution, etc.

Service magic – Six steps to Prevent Indoor Air Pollution - http://www.servicemagic.com/article.show.6-Steps-to-Prevent-Indoor-Air-Pollution-in-Your-

Home.10542.html

Indoor Air quality

Pollutants are generated outdoors as well as indoors.

• Ground-level ozone (one of the main ingredients in smog) is created when pollution from cars and trucks and industrial sources reacts with sunlight on hot summer days.

• Airborne particles come from various sources, including fuel burning activities such as power plants, incinerators, trucks and buses, and wood stoves and fireplaces.

Outdoor Air quality

How to improve indoor air quality: Simply use air filters in the home to drastically reduce allergens (pet dander, dust, mold) floating in the air.

Take a natural approach and use houseplants to clean the air of carbon dioxide.

Keep the home clean – vacuum with a HEPA filter, mop, floor mats at each exterior door, and maintain a healthy level of humidity.

Indoor Air Quality

Secondhand smoke comes from two sources:• Sidestream smoke – smoke that comes

from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar

• Mainstream smoke – smoke that is exhaled by a smoker

American Cancer Society – Prevention and Early Detection: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/content/ped_10_2x_secondhand_smoke-

clean_indoor_air.asp

When non-smokers are exposed to secondhand smoke it is called involuntary smoking or passive smoking. Non-smokers who breathe in secondhand smoke take in nicotine and other toxic chemicals just like smokers do. The more secondhand smoke you are exposed to, the higher the level of these harmful chemicals in your body.

Secondhand Smoke

Causes:• Lung cancer • Heart disease • Breast cancer • Chest discomfort • Asthma• Ear infections

American Cancer Society – Prevention and Early Detection: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/content/ped_10_2x_secondhand_smoke-

clean_indoor_air.asp

Secondhand Smoke

Little changes…

Make a BIG difference

S.T.E.P.

Mercury slides 19 - 25

S.T.E.P.

Mercury

• Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in air, water and soil.

• Mercury is an element in the earth's crust. Humans cannot create or destroy mercury.

• Pure mercury is a liquid metal, sometimes referred to as quicksilver that volatizes readily.

• Traditionally been used to make products like thermometers, switches, and some light bulbs.

Mercury Poisoning

• When coal is burned, mercury is released into the environment.

• Burning hazardous wastes, producing chlorine, breaking mercury products, spilling mercury and improper disposal of products or wastes.

• Mercury in the air eventually settles into water or onto land where it can be washed into water consumed by people, animals and plants.

• CFC light bulbs

Effects of Mercury Exposure

• High levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system of people of all ages.

Fishing and Mercury

• Become mercury safe - Find out if the water in your favorite fishing spot is polluted

• Clean your catch• Cooking your catch• Choose the right fish

EPA - Live, Learn, Playpage 14

Mercury Spills

• Do NOT touch mercury• Keep people and pets out of the area and

ventilate the room• Never vacuume or sweep the spill• Contact health department or fire

department for proper disposal

EPA - Live, Learn, Playpage 17

Mercury Spills

EPA - Live, Learn, Playpage 17

• NEVER use a vacuume cleaner • NEVER sweep with a broom• NEVER pour down the drain or put in the

trash• NEVER wash mercury-contaminated items

in the washing machine• NEVER walk around if clothes and shoes

might be contaminated it will spread the mercury

Little changes…

Make a BIG difference

S.T.E.P.

S.T.E.P.

Water Qualityslides 27-34

The average American consumes 1 to 2 liters of drinking water per day, including water used to make coffee, tea, and

other beverages.

Home Water Use

Bathing20%

Cooking2%

Lawns35%

Cleaning4%

Toilet25%

Drinking2%

Laundry10%

Other2%

Water is aNon-renewable ResourceEach nation’s water resources have immeasurable value

Includes: lakes, streams, ground water, coastal waters, wetlands, and other waters; their associated ecosystems; and the human uses they support

The extent of water resources and their condition are critical to ecosystems, human uses, and the overall function and sustainability of the water cycle.

Use Less Water…

If we continue to use water at the current rate, 36 states should expect local, regional or statewide water shortages in the next five years

US Faces Era of Water Scarcity

Circle of Blue

Use Less Water

Indoors• Be sure your home is leak-free• Fix leaky toilets• Repair/replace dripping faucets• Turn off water while brushing teeth or

shaving• Take a short shower, instead of a bath

Outdoors• Avoid over-watering/over-fertilizing• Use drought tolerant plants• Water early in the morning

Avoid Contaminating Water

Indoors• Do not flush chemicals down the sink• Do not flush old medications into the

sewer or septic system• Use less water• Use earth friendly soaps, detergents and

cleaning supplies

Outdoors• Limit chemical contaminants – pesticides,

fertilizers• Human waste• Animal waste

EPA 832-F-08-054 May 2008

Little changes…

Make a BIG difference

S.T.E.P.

Lead Poisoning slides 36- 41

S.T.E.P.

Lead is a highly toxic metal found in small amounts in the earth’s crust.

Because of its abundance, low cost, and physical properties, lead and lead compounds have been used in a wide variety of products including paint, ceramics, pipes, solders, gasoline, batteries, and cosmetics.

Washington State Department of Health - http://www.doh.wa.gov/topics/lead.htm

The California Department of Health Services - http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/CLPPB/Pages/default.aspx

Lead

Lead poisoning can be found in:• Older Homes• Contaminated Soil • Ceramics and lead-glazed pottery• Household dust• Drinking Water• Lead Crystal• Paint - wood windows and doors• Imported Toys• Outdoor pollutants and bacteria

Sources of Lead Poisoning

Prolonged Exposure in Children: • learning difficulties• delayed physical and mental

development and behavioral problems Prolonged Exposure in Adults:

• effects on their nervous system• vision and hearing impairment• loss of muscle coordination• lower performance on mental tests.

Symptom of Lead Poisoning

Lead Poisoning damages or causes…

• Blood• Kidneys• Heart• reproductive systems.• increased blood pressure• cataracts,• muscle and joint pain

• Improving indoor air quality• Take off shoes before entering the

house• Change out of work clothes• Never sand, burn, or scrap paint• Test painted surfaces for lead• Wash hands often • Clean furniture often

Methods of Prevention

Little changes…

Make a BIG difference

S.T.E.P.

Going Green additional

supplements

S.T.E.P.

Use Fewer Resources

• Reduce packaging• Do NOT use disposable

products• Reuse bags, containers, etc.• Choose recyclable products

(and recycle them)• Reduce junk mail• Share newspapers,

magazines, etc. • Look for the ENERGY STAR

label

Leave a smaller “footprint”

• Compost• Improve your soil• Reduce material sent to landfills by 25%

• Recycle• Recycling aluminum is 95% more efficient than

mining and refining new aluminum• Every ton of paper recycled saves 60% of the

energy, 17 trees, 7000 gallons of water and 60 pounds of air pollution

• One ton of scrap from discarded computers contains more gold than can be produced from 17 tons of gold ore

Leave a smaller “footprint”

• Choose Reusable Washing dishes and dishtowels has a smaller

impact than putting disposable products in a landfill

Use a refillable water bottle Re-chargeable batteries save money and keep

chemicals out of landfills Make reusable shopping bags

• Buy Recycled• Plant Trees• Use fewer chemicals• Reduce Use

Leave a smaller “footprint”

Be an eco-friendly traveler• Take only the maps/brochures you need• Participate in hotel conservation programs –

hang up your towels and make your bed• Invest in refillable bottles for shampoo and

other toiletries• Leave unopened bottles of complementary

products for the next traveler• Electronic check-out reduces paperwork – and

uses less paper• If the nearest trash can at the rest stop is full,

hold onto your trash until you can dispose of it properly