Environmental Quiz

Most recent update January 26, 2010

The population of the world in 1950 was 2.6 billion. The world population is currently about:

3.4 billion 6.8 billion 9.3 billion 11.5 billion

The population of the world in 1950 was 2.6 billion. The world population is currently about:

3.4 billion 6.8 billion 9.3 billion 11.5 billion

World Population 1850-2010

8 7 6 5 Billions 4 3 2 1 0

1850

1860

1870

1880

1890

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

Year

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Programs Center, 2010.

2010

The population of the world is currently increasing at a rate of about 8,600 people per:

month week day hour

The population of the world is currently increasing at a rate of about 8,600 people per:

month week day hour

Rate of Population Increase - 2010

Time Unit
Year Month Week Day

Population Increase
75,395,378 6,282,948 1,445,941 206,563

Hour
Minute

8,607
143

Second

2.4

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Division, 2010.

The estimated world population in the year 2050 is about:

3.4 billion 6.2 billion 9.3 billion 11.5 billion

The estimated world population in the year 2050 is about:

3.4 billion 6.2 billion 9.3 billion 11.5 billion

World Population 1850-2050

(Medium Projection of Growth Assumed After 2000)
10 9 8 7 6 Billions 5 4 3 2 1 0

18 50

18 70

18 90

19 10

19 30

19 50

19 70

19 90

20 10

20 30

Year

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Programs Center, 2010.

20 50

The population of the United States in 1960 was 181 million. The U.S. population is currently about:
187 million 220 million 308 million 459 million

The population of the United States in 1960 was 181 million. The U.S. population is currently about:
187 million 220 million 308 million 459 million

True (T) or False (F): United States population growth is near zero, with the population expected to stabilize by about 2025.

True (T) or False (F): United States population growth is near zero, with the population expected to stabilize by about 2025.

Growth of U.S. Population, 1776- 2100

600 500 400 300 200
Projection

100 0

History

17 80 18 00 18 20 18 40 18 60 18 80 19 00 19 20 19 40 19 60 19 80 20 00 20 20 20 40 20 60 20 80 21 00
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (2010)

True (T) or False (F). Assuming a growth rate of 5% annually, the population of the United States would surpass the current population of China by 2040.

True (T) or False (F). Assuming a growth rate of 5% annually, the population of the United States would surpass the current population of China by 2040. At a 5% annual growth rate the U.S. population would quadruple in only 28 years, bringing the number of U.S. residents to over 1.2 billion.

If the U.S. population were to continue its current rate of growth for the next 700 years, the population would increase to over 315 billion! (The current world population is 6.8 billion).

True (T) or False (F): The United States is a net exporter of most raw materials used by industry today.

True (T) or False (F): The United States is a net exporter of most raw materials used by industry today.

Due in part to domestic environmental concerns, the U.S. is a net importer of most categories of raw materials used to support our economy and lifestyle.
Most metals

Portland and masonry cement Petroleum (the basis for plastics) Wood and wood products

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2008, and by Major Foreign Sources
Material % Imported Niobium 100 Manganese 100 Graphite 100 Strontium 100 Bauxite/Alumina 100 Fluorspar 100 Yttrium 100 Thallium 100 Rubidium 100 Asbestos 100 Quartz (crystal) 100 Thorium 100 Tantalum 100 Principal Foreign Sources (2004-07) Brazil, Canada, Estonia S. Africa, Gabon, China, Australia China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil Mexico, Germany Jamaica, Guinea, Brazil, Australia China, Mexico, S. Africa, Mongolia China, Japan, France Russia, Netherlands, Belgium Canada Canada China, Japan, Russia UK, France Australia, China, Brazil, Japan

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2008, and by Major Foreign Sources
Material % Imported Arsenic (trioxide) 100 Indium 100 Rare earth metals 100 Cesium 100 Vanadium 100 Gallium 99 Gemstones 99 Bismuth 97 Diamond (industrial) 92 Platinum Group 91 Stone (dimension) 89 Rhenium 87 Antimony 86 Principal Foreign Sources (2004-07) China, Morocco, Hong Kong, Mexico China, Japan, Canada, Belgium China, France, Japan, Russia Canada Czech Rep., Swaziland, Canada, S. Korea China, Ukraine, Germany, Canada Israel, India, Belgium, S. Africa Belgium, Mexico, UK, China Botwsana, S. Africa, Nambia, Ireland S. Africa, Germany, UK, Canada Italy, Brazil, Turkey, China Chile, Germany, Netherlands China, Mexico, Belgium

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2008, and by Major Foreign Sources
Material % Imported Mica (natural) 86 Germanium 85 Cobalt 81 Potash 81 Tin 80 Barium (Barite) 79 Titanium concentrates 77 Iodine 74 Zinc 73 Palladium 72 Tungsten 61 Silver 60 Peat 58 Principal Foreign Sources (2004-07) China, India, Belgium, Brazil Belgium, Canada, Germany, China Norway, Russia, China, Canada Canada, Belarus, Russia, Germany Peru, Bolivia, China, Indonesia China, India S. Africa, Australia, Canada, Ukraine Chile, Japan, Russia Canada, Peru, Mexico, Ireland Russia, S. Africa, UK, Belgium China, Germany, Canada, Bolivia Mexico, Canada, Peru, Chile Canada

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2008, and by Major Foreign Sources
Material Petroleum % Imported 57 56 60 54 54 52 >50 50 48 40 35 33 32 Principal Foreign Sources (2004-07) Canada, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Nigeria, Mexico China, Ireland, Russia, S. Korea China, Russia, Venezuela, Canada S. Africa, Kazakhstan, Russia, Zimbabwe Kazakhstan, Japan, Russia China, Canada, Austria, Australia Chile, Argentina Canada, Russia, Israel, China Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Russia Australia, India, China, Canada S. Africa, China Canada, Russia, Norway, Australia Chile, Canada, Peru, Mexico

Diamond (indust) Silicon Chromium Titanium (sponge) Magnesium Cpds Lithium Magnesium Metal Nitrogen (fixed) Garnet (industrial) Vermiculite Nickel Copper

Net U.S. Imports of Selected Materials as a Percent of Apparent Consumption - 2008, and by Major Foreign Sources
Material Lumber (softwood) % Imported 29
26 27 19 17 16 12 9 8 6 1 1

Sulfur Gypsum Perlite Salt Mica (scrap/flake) Cement (Portland/msry) Phosphate rock Iron and steel Pumice Lime Stone (crushed)

Principal Foreign Sources (2004-07) Canada, Germany, Chile, Brazil, New Zealand Canada, Mexico, Venezuela Canada, Mexico, Spain, Dominican Rep Greece Canada, Chile, The Bahamas, Mexico Canada, China, India, Finland Canada, China, Thailand, S. Korea Morocco Canada, EU, Mexico, Brazil Greece, Italy, Turkey, Mexico Canada, Mexico Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas

Also significant import dependency for Leather, Natural Rubber, Wool.

True (T) or False (F): The raw material that is used in the greatest quantity in the U.S. today, and which accounts for almost one-third (by weight) of the total raw materials used annually is steel.

True (T) or False (F): The raw material that is used in the greatest quantity in the U.S. today, and which accounts for almost one-third (by weight) of the total raw materials used annually is steel.

Annual U.S. Consumption of Various Raw Materials, 2007

Million Metric tons Roundwood 210 Industrial roundwood* 188 Cement 115 Steel 110 Plastics 45.7 Aluminum 5.3

Million m3 473 427 104 139 40.3 1.9

* Roundwood is the volume of all wood harvested. Industrial roundwood is the volume of wood used in making forest products; the difference is firewood.
Source: Data for wood from USFS (2008); for cement, steel, and aluminum from the U.S. Geological Survey (2008); and for plastics from the American Plastics Council (2008).

In fact, more wood is used in the U.S. every year than all metals and all plastics combined!

True (T) or False (F):

Consumption of mineral resources globally has increased sharply over the past 30years.

True (T) or False (F):

Consumption of mineral resources globally has increased sharply over the past 30years.

True (T) or False (F):

Energy consumption per capita (per person) in the United States is twice that of the European Union.

True (T) or False (F):

Energy consumption per capita (per person) in the United States is twice that of the European Union.

Per Capita Energy Consumption in the U.S. and the E.U. Countries, 2008
Energy Consumption
(kilograms of oil equivalent per person)

United States Finland (EU highest) France Germany UK E.U. Average

7885.9 6555.0 4396.8 4187.0 3894.6 3773.4

The number one cause of tropical deforestation worldwide is:

commercial logging. wildfire. clearing of lands for agricultural use. gathering of firewood. building of roads and cities.

The number one cause of tropical deforestation worldwide is:

commercial logging. wildfire. clearing of lands for agricultural use. gathering of firewood. building of roads and cities. Various estimates indicate that 60 to 85% of tropical deforestation today is due to permanent and shifting agriculture.

The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately ____ of the forested area that existed in 1600.
72 percent 50 percent 33 percent 17 percent

The area covered by forests in the U.S. today is approximately ____ of the forested area that existed in 1600.
72 percent 50 percent 33 percent 17 percent

Forests now cover 72% of the land area in the U.S. that they did at the time of European settlement

1600
Forest 1,100 million acres

2007
Forest 751 million acres

Source: USDA - Forest Service

True (T) or False (F). The geographic area that encompasses the United States today has about the same forest coverage as the same geographic area did in 1907.

True (T) or False (F). The geographic area that encompasses the United States today has about the same forest coverage as the same geographic area did in 1907.

Forest Area in the United States 1630-2007

1200 1045 1000

Thousand Acres

800 600 400 200 0 1630

759

760

756

761

744

738

747

749

751

1907

1938

1953

1963

1977

1987

1997

2002

2007

Source: USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-78. (2009).

True (T) or False (F). Growing trees capture carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen.

True (T) or False (F). Growing trees capture carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen.
CO2 O2

Carbon

Which of the following statements most accurately describes U.S. forests:

Forest harvest exceeds growth by 20 percent. Forest harvest exceeds growth by 5 percent. Forest harvest roughly equals growth. Forest growth exceeds harvest by 29 percent. Forest growth exceeds harvest by 72 percent.

Which of the following statements most accurately describes U.S. forests:

Forest harvest exceeds growth by 20 percent. Forest harvest exceeds growth by 5 percent. Forest harvest roughly equals growth. Forest growth exceeds harvest by 29 percent. Forest growth exceeds harvest by 72 percent.

Net Growth/Removals Ratios U.S., 1952-2006

2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 1952 1962 1976 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006

When net forest growth divided by removals = 1.0, timber inventories are neither expanding or declining.

Hardwoods Softwoods All Species

Source: Smith, et al., 2004; USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-78. (2009).

Growth/Removals Ratios U.S., 1952-2006

Year 1952 1962 1970 1976 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 Softwoods 1.00 1.25 1.23 1.25 1.19 1.15 1.33 1.33 1.55 Hardwoods 1.50 1.65 2.01 2.25 1.92 1.75 1.71 1.71 2.03 Total 1.17 1.55 1.48 1.54 1.42 1.33 1.47 1.47 1.72

Source: Smith, et al., 2004; USDA-Forest Service, General Technical Report WO-78. (2009).

True (T) or False (F):

As originally established, it was never intended that the National Forests of the U.S. would be periodically harvested to obtain timber that would be used in meeting the nations need for wood.

True (T) or False (F):

As originally established, it was never intended that the National Forests of the U.S. would be periodically harvested to obtain timber that would be used in meeting the nations need for wood.

True (T) or False (F). At current rates of deforestation, forty (40) percent of current forests in the U.S. will be lost by the middle of this century.

True (T) or False (F). At current rates of deforestation, forty (40) percent of current forests in the U.S. will be lost by the middle of this century. In fact, the area covered by forests in the U.S. is increasing.

True (T) or False (F): In the U.S. and globally, more species of plants and animals have been driven to extinction by logging activity than any other activity of mankind.

True (T) or False (F): In the U.S. and globally, more species of plants and animals have been driven to extinction by logging activity than any other activity of mankind.

There is no evidence that even one plant or animal species has been driven to extinction as a result of logging activity in the United States.

True (T) or False (F). Under current United States law, forest harvesting is allowed in federally designated wilderness areas.

True (T) or False (F). Under current United States law, forest harvesting is allowed in federally designated wilderness areas. No harvesting is allowed in wilderness areas

True (T) or False (F). Populations of elk, pronghorn antelope, and wild turkey have declined significantly in the U.S. over the past 60 years.

True (T) or False (F). Populations of elk, pronghorn antelope, and wild turkey have declined significantly in the U.S. over the past 60 years. In fact, populations of each of these species within the U.S. have increased by at least 800 to 1,000 percent over the past 50 years.

Trends in U.S. Elk Populations 1930-1990

600 500

Trends in U.S. Wild Turkey Populations 1900-1990

450 400 350

(Thousands)

400 300 200 100 0 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

Millions

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

Year

Source: MacCleery, 1992

Year

Source: MacCleery, 1992

Trends in U.S. Pronghorn Populations 1910-1990

600 500

(Thousands)

400 300 200 100 0 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

Year

Source: MacCleery, 1992

True (T) or False (F):

Considering the total annual harvest of forests in the United States and the total consumption of wood and fiber products within our country, the U.S. is a net importer of wood and wood products.

True (T) or False (F):

Considering the total annual harvest of forests in the United States and the total consumption of wood and fiber products within our country, the U.S. is a net importer of wood and wood products.

The United States is a Net Importer of Wood and Wood Products

Net U.S. imports of wood and wood products amounted to 15-20 percent of total wood consumption and 29 percent of construction lumber consumed in 2008.

When waste paper exports are included in the net import calculation, the U.S. net import figure for wood and wood products drops to 2-3 percent.

As a percentage of all the paper used in the United States in 2008 _____ was recovered for reuse.
14 percent 36 percent 57 percent 92 percent

As a percentage of all the paper used in the United States in 2008 _____ was recovered for reuse.
14 percent 36 percent 57 percent 92 percent

Recovered paper provided _____ of the U.S. paper industrys fiber in 2008.
12 percent 34 percent 51 percent 86 percent

Recovered paper provided _____ of the U.S. paper industrys fiber in 2008.
12 percent 34 percent 51 percent 86 percent

True (T) or False (F). More extensive recycling of paper could reduce harvesting of forests in the U.S. by 60 percent or more.

True (T) or False (F). More extensive recycling of paper could reduce harvesting of forests in the U.S. by 60 percent or more.

Were paper recycling in the U.S. to go to the limit of technology worldwide the domestic timber harvest could be reduced by about 12-13%.

True (T) or False (F). The manufacture of wood construction materials generally results in far lower environmental impacts than when similar construction materials are manufactured from steel, aluminum, plastic, or concrete.

True (T) or False (F). The manufacture of wood construction materials generally results in far lower environmental impacts than when similar construction materials are manufactured from steel, aluminum, plastic, or concrete.

At a time when Society is seeking to more effectively harness solar energy, it turns out that one of our major raw materials wood is totally produced using solar energy.

And, very little additional energy is required to convert wood into useful products.

The manufacture and use of all construction materials results in environmental impacts. The impacts, however, differ considerably.

If, for example, an interior wall of a house is constructed using steel rather than wood studs, the result is a large increase in energy consumption and emissions to air and water.

Interior Non-Load Bearing Wall, Wood vs. Steel Comparative Energy Use (GJ)
Wood 3.8 Steel* 11.5 Difference 3.0X

* 30% recycled content.

Source: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, 1993.

Comparative Emissions in Manufacturing Wood vs. Steel-Framed Interior Wall

Emission/Effluent CO2 (kg) CO (g) SOX (g) NOX (g) Particulates (g) VOCs (g) Methane (g) Wood Wall ,305 2,450 400 1,150 100 390 ,4 , Steel Wall 965 11,800 3,700 1,800 335 1,800 45 Difference 3.2X 4.8X 9.3X 1.6X 3.4X 4.6X 11.1X

Source: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, 1993.

Comparative Effluents in Manufacturing Wood vs. Steel-Framed Interior Wall

Emission/Effluent Wood Wall Suspended solids (g) 12,180 Non-ferrous metals (mg) 62 Cyanide (mg) 99 Phenols (mg) 17,715 Ammonia (mg) 1,310 Halogenated organics (mg) 507 Oil and grease (mg) 1,421 Sulphides (mg) 13 Steel Wall Difference 495,640 41X 2,532 41X 4,051 41X 725,994 41X 53,665 41X 20,758 58,222 507 41X 41X 39X

Source: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, 1993.