"Environmental Consequences of Having a Baby..., The"

by Charles A.S. Hall, SUNY College of Env. Science & Forestry
and R. Gil Pontius

Published in Wild Earth (periodical), 1995-06-01.

MLA:

Hall, Charles A.S.. and R. Gil Pontius.Environmental Consequences of Having a Baby..., The. Wild Earth1 June 1995: .

APA:(APA style citations are not yet implemented.)

Quotes from this Article:

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78 full title: The Environmental Consequences of Having a Baby in the United States
79 Although we report only detrimental environmental impacts, we do not wish to imply that humans create exclusively detrimental impacts, for obviously people do many good things toward other humans. To the contrary, we wish to protect the quality of life for all humans present and future, for we believe that everyone's quality of life is threatened by continued population growth.
79 Some environmental groups have argued that humans should reduce affluence, but their perspective has had little or no noticeable effect at the national level.
79 It is immoral to call for reduced consumption in those societies or sectors where per capita incomes are at or below poverty level.
79 An American born in the 1990s will produce in a lifetime about one million kilograms of atmospheric wastes, 10 million kilograms of liquid wastes, and one million kilograms of solid wastes. An American will consume 700,000 kilograms of minerals, and 24 billion BTUs of energy, which is equivalent to 4000 barrels of oil. In a lifetime, an average American will eat 25,000 kilograms of animal products, provided in part by slaughtering 2000 animals. environmental impact United States population
80 Kilograms of waste generated by the average American
in a 75-year lifetime:

AIR POLLUTANTS:
CO2: 1,417,647
CO: 18,878
SOx: 6,272
Volatile Organic Compounds: 6,026
NOx: 5,995
Particulates: 2,152
CFCs: 61
Lead: 2

LIQUID WASTES:
Waste Water: 10,354,837
Sewage Sludge: 2,683
Waste Oil: 1,581
Waste Solvents: 978

SOLID MUNICIPAL WASTE:
Paper: 13,152
Yard Wastes: 7,426
Metals: 3,288
Food Wastes: 3,288
Glass: 3,103
Plastics: 2,697
Wood: 1,515
Rubber and Leather: 1,034
Textiles: 739
Other: 665

WASTE FROM MANUFACTURING:
Agriculture: 438,818
Mining (not coal): 419,319
Industrial: 196,841
Hazardous Waste: 83,062
Demolition: 30,705
Energy Production: 22,785
Concentrated Acid: 858
Uranium Discharge: 0.5		 environmental impact United States population
81 Kilograms of minerals consumed by the average American
in a 75-year lifetime:

Stone: 334,985
Sand & Gravel: 257,362
Cement: 26,187
Pig Iron: 13,946
Clays: 13,946
Salt: 11,622
Phosphate Rock: 10,971
Gypsum: 7,376
Lime: 4,434
Nitrogen (ammonia): 4,238
Sulfur: 3,481
Soda Ash: 1,911
Aluminum: 1,681
Potash: 1,564
Bauxite: 1,096
Copper: 675
Lead: 370
Zinc: 311
Feldspar: 199
Fluorspar: 198
Manganese: 193
Magnesium: 187
Silicon: 156
Nickel: 53
Mica: 36
Tin: 18
Titanium: 6
Cobalt: 2
Tungsten: 2		 environmental impact United States population
82 Millions of BTUs of energy consumed by the average American
in a 75-year lifetime:

Petroleum: 10,100
Coal: 5,500
Natural Gas: 5,400
Nuclear: 1,500
Hydroelectric: 900
Geothermal and Other: 90
Total: 23,610		 environmental impact United States population
83 An amount of fertilizer equal to an average American's weight is used per person per year. environmental impact United States agriculture population
83 Kilograms of food consumed by the average American
in a 75-year lifetime:

Vegetables: 5,797
Sweeteners: 5,151
Wheat Flour: 4,355
Fresh Fruit: 3,354
Potatoes: 2,586
Citrus Juice: 1,582
Milled Rice: 456
Coffee: 347
Canned Fruit: 296
Beans: 269
Peanuts: 214
Cocoa: 169
Dried Fruit: 105
Milk: 20,351
Beef: 2,497
Chicken: 2,133
Pork: 2,014
Fish: 524
Turkey: 514
Offals: 293
Veal: 51
Lamb and Mutton: 44		 environmental impact United States agriculture population
83 Head of livestock consumed by the average American
in a 75-year lifetime:

Chicken: 1,654
Turkey: 74
Pork: 25
Beef: 11
Lamb and Mutton: 2
Veal: 1

Number of eggs: 18,675		 environmental impact United States agriculture population
86 Many Americans are looking for ways they can help protect the environment. The success of such aspirations will be influenced by American economic processes, government regulations, cultural attitudes, educational orientations, and technological advances and limitations, which are outside the control of most individuals. But the decision to create a child is within the control of an individual. We would like all potential parents to be aware that, of all the decisions they will ever make, their decision on whether or not to create a child will have the largest impact on our global environment. The most effective way an individual can protect the global environment, and hence protect the well-being of all living people, is to abstain from creating another human. environmental impact United States population