HEALTH PROBLEMS AND OZONE SHIELD BREAKDOWN

 

Joseph Mahabir

 

 

Living Environment Class

 

 

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/skin-cancer/skin2a.gif

 

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/select.html

 

http://alep.unibase.com/sunconf/papers/saunders/saunders.html

 

 

Introduction:

 

            “Oh! What a great tan you have! You look wonderful!”  In our society, many people expose their bodies to large amounts of sunlight as they try to get a good “tan” and associate it with good health. This is a myth, because as people age and the amount of exposure to the sun increases, they can develop very harmful health problems such as skin cancer. Why does this happen? It is because of the breakdown of the ozone shield.

            The Ozone shield is a layer of the substance Ozone, (chemical formula O3), that is found in the second layer of the atmosphere called the stratosphere. It is made up of three oxygen atoms in the molecule and it prevents too much of the ultraviolet radiation of the sun from getting to the earth. These UV rays are harmful and exposure to large amounts can result in health problems such as skin cancer. The ozone shield is being broken down due to the increase of Chloro-Floro-Carbons (CFC’s) in the atmosphere. As a result, larger amounts of ultraviolet radiation in sunlight get to the earth and cause harm to people in various ways. How can we arrive at a solution to this problem?

 

Imagine you have been selected by the Federal Government as a Public Policy Analyst (PPA) to investigate this social problem and develop effective and feasible solutions. How will you carry out this very important study? 

The work as a public policy analyst is explained below. You can access the various parts of the article to find out further information.

 

 

Welcome to the Public Policy Analyst (PPA)

PPA
U.S. Contemporary
Public Policy Analyst

IPPA
International
Public Policy Analyst

AHPPA
American History
Public Policy Analyst

GHPPA
Global History
Public Policy Analyst

 

A public policy is a government action usually intended to deal with a social problem. Every day policies are enacted in your school, city, state, country and throughout the world that will affect your life.

Consider these examples:

  • Central High School requires drug-testing for student athletes
  • Your state enacts tougher graduation requirements
  • The federal government enacts a tax cut
  • The United Nations authorizes military intervention involving U.S. troops

Policy decisions play a very large part in shaping our American and global history, as well as a member of today’s global community, it is essential to have the skills related to analyzing historical and current public policy issues. The four versions of the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) in the left column will guide you through the problem solving skills necessary to study historical and current American and global public policy issues. Since public policy affects all aspects of life, these skills can be used not only in social studies courses, but also in subjects such as science and language arts.

In addition to policy skills, you will also be learning how to effectively use the Internet to research and gather information, engage in collaborative problem solving, and communicate with knowledgeable people regarding your public policy issue. These technology skills will help you now as a student and after you graduate.

Project TIPS     CompuLEGAL    Ask A LEGAL Eagle    CRITICAL Lessons    Public Policy Analyst

 

 

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/gather.html

 

Define the Problem

 

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/identify.html

 

 

YOUR TASK:

 

You will use the six steps of the PPA to produce a research paper of at least three typewritten pages (of not less than 10 point typing) and a power point presentation of at least six slides to describe the following:

 

1.      How the ozone shield is broken down due to CFC’s

2.      How exposure to the sun can cause tanning as well as skin cancer and other health problems.

3.      Quote at least three pieces of supporting evidence to show the relationship between ozone shield breakdown and the health problems you described.

4.      Explain and evaluate the existing Public Policies on how ozone breakdown can be reduced.

5.      Select and evaluate three other recommendations on how people can protect themselves against the risk of skin cancer and the other health problems.

6.      Create a Power Point presentation of at least six frames to support your written report.

7.      Answer the questions in the worksheets given below:

8.      Present your power point slides and research to the rest of your class.

9.      Identify the New York State ELA, SS, Science and Math. Standards you used during your project.

 

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet4.doc

 

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet5.doc

 

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/worksheet6.doc

 

 

PROCESS:

 

            You will work in groups of three-four to carry out a research project on this problem. Each partner will be responsible for performing a particular task as a Public Policy Analyst as you follow the six steps of the PPA. You will then discuss collaboratively in your teams the policies you would recommend to solve both the environmental and the health problems: This is how you can carry out your project:

!    Use the Internet and library to do the research of each item described in the task section.

!    Use the websites listed below to gather information and analyze the problem.

!    Collaborate with your team members to arrive at refined answers to each item in the “Task” section.

!    Describe at least three other health problems associated with the ozone shield breakdown in your research.

!    Discuss the existing public policies on health problems related to ozone shield breakdown and also your recommendations for solutions.

!     Produce a typewritten report of at least three pages describing the findings of your research.

!    Produce at least six slides in a power point presentation to highlight the main parts of your report and analysis.

!    Briefly identify the NY State Standards that you used during your research.

!    Allow at least five minutes for questions and answers from the audience.

 

 

RESOURCES:  Here are some useful websites for your project:

 

http://www.atm.ch.cam.ac.uk/tour/part3.html

 

http://alep.unibase.com/sunconf/papers/saunders/saunders.html

 

http://www.pepa.com.hk/problems/air_pollution/problems_e.html

 

http://images.google.com/images?q=skin+cancer&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search

 

http://www.isn.net/~network/ozone.html

 

http://alep.unibase.com/sunconf/papers/intro.html

 

Your can also use your Holt Environmental Science and Living Environment texts and other reference books, journals and magazines.

 

 

EVALUATION:

 

            Your group will be evaluated based on your level of performance in the following areas:

 

Ø      Evidence of research using the Internet and other reference materials (5 pts).

Ø       Description and analysis of the web articles (10 pts).

Ø      Evidence of teamwork (5 pts).

Ø      Description of the health problems associated with ozone depletion (5 pts)

Ø      Analysis of the existing Public Policies on this problem situation (5 pts).

Ø      Recommendations for possible solutions to this problem (5 pts).

Ø      The written research paper (20 pts).

Ø      The six slides of the Power Point presentation (20 pts).

Ø      The oral presentation of your Power Point and research paper (20 pts).

Ø      Identification of the New York State standards in

(a) ELA,     (b) SS,      (c) Science,        (d) Math       that were covered during this activity (5 pts).

 

 

http://www.odyssey.on.ca/~elaine.coxon/rubrics.htm       (Rubrics)

 

http://webquest.sdsu.edu/designsteps/index.html