The following is a list of the statements that we make in the Watercology video and what the sources are for this information. The statements from the video are in quotes. The statements not in quotes are our explanation of where we got the information.
- “The human race is poisoning itself. Do you realize how fast it’s happening?” This statement is an opinion based on observation.
- “For thousands of years the human race lived in a chemical-free world. Synthetic chemicals simply didn’t exist.” This statement refers to human exposure to synthetic petrochemicals, which are a new discovery (see next point). The fact that humans have been around for thousands of years is common knowledge.
- “The first chemical from petroleum was created only 140 years ago. The world was still pristine.” The first chemical created was carbon black in 1872. Source: http://thomko.squarespace.com/history-of-petrochemicals/ . The reference to the world being pristine refers to the environment being free of synthetic petrochemicals.
- “Only 90 years ago, the modern petrochemical industry was born. Most of our environment was still untouched by chemicals. Your grandparents probably drank water that was still untouched by chemicals.” Source:http://thomko.squarespace.com/history-of-petrochemicals/ . The point about most of our environment being untouched by these chemicals 90 years ago is based on the source data that gives the date of the modern petrochemical industry being created, which spurred large scale production of chemicals. The point about your grandparents drinking water that was still untouched by chemicals is an extension of this point.
- “In the last century, the human population grew from 1.7 billion to 6.8 billion.” Sources:http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/worldhis.html and http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/worldpop.php.
- “This 500% growth drove massive increases in chemical production.” See previous point about population growth. The point that refers to massive increases in chemical production is obvious since virtually all chemical production happened during this period.
- “Over 84,000 different chemicals are in use today.” Source: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/newchems/pubs/invntory.htm
- “Over 5 billion pounds of chemicals are used every year.” Source:http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/pestsales/01pestsales/usage2001.htm
- “‘cides’ are chemicals intentionally designed to kill…” Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/-cide andhttp://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/-cidal
- “Do you want them in your body? Your child’s body? Your grandchild’s body? Your spouse’s body?” This statement is just a question.
- “A study of 178 streams showed… Every single stream contained at least one pesticide. 2,000 streams contained more than TEN pesticides.” Source: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3028/pdf/fs2006-3028.pdf
- “Chemicals are now everywhere in our environment.” This statement refers to chemicals being thoroughly integrated throughout the environment, which is an extension of the previous point and is an observation.
- “In the next 25 years the population will increase by another 2 billion people.” Source:http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/worldpop.php
- “World chemical production will increase even faster.” Source:http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/167388728.html
- Chemicals in landfills flow into our streams, rivers, groundwater. Source:http://www.groundwater.org/gi/sourcesofgwcontam.html
- Air pollution falls as rain and flows into our streams, rivers, groundwater.
- Pesticides sprayed on farms ends up in our streams, rivers, groundwater. Source:http://www.nrdc.org/health/atrazine/files/atrazine10.pdf
- Medicine passes through you into our streams, rivers, groundwater. Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23503485
- “We drink water from our streams, rivers, groundwater.” Source:http://www.epa.gov/safewater/wot/pdfs/book_waterontap_full.pdf
- “But the government keeps us safe, right?” This statement is just a question.
- “Local water supplies only have to meet standards on 98 contaminants…out of 84,000.” Source:http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/index.cfm
- “Your water can be “legally safe,” yet still contain dangerous chemicals.” Source:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/us/17water.html?_r=2
- Of the 830 most common contaminants, many are associated with cancer or other diseases. Source:http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/us/17water.html?_r=2&pagewanted=3
- Some petrochemicals are dangerous in extremely small quantities. Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorinated_dibenzodioxins
- “Would you agree…you need to ensure that your family is consuming pure water. Not just water that is a little bit pure (filters). Not just water that is sometimes pure (reverse osmosis). You need consistently pure water.” This statement is an opinion.