Chemical Valley – Share your thoughts…
Why is knowledge about chemicals and chemical reactions important to everyone in society?
Ontario’s chemical industry directly employs over 50 000 people, who created and sold products worth over $22 billion in 2008. The chemical industry has had many positive effects on Ontario’s economy. However, as with many human activities, the chemical industry can have unintended negative effects…
Read through the article
Watch the video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnHWZE0M_-k
The Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve and Chemical Valley – chemicals are everywhere, but the use and disposal of chemicals comes with a responsibility to the environment
- Aamjiwnaang First Nation – the website for the Aamjiwnaang First Nation
- Environmental Health Perspectives – the magazine where Ada Lockridge published her results (look for it…)
- Canadian Natives Blame Toxins for Fewer Sons – a MSNBC report on Chemical Valley
- Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Sarnia sounds alarm over toxins – a CBC report on Chemical Valley
- EnvironmentalChemistry.com – a collection of resources and news about chemistry and the environment
Part One: Video or Podcast
- Answer the question posed under the heading “Issue.” Support your answer using the information in this activity.
- This will be posted on our class Flipgrid… information on how to login coming soon
- You will need to post one of your own and then you will respond to two others… using good discussion sills.
Part Two: Thoughts in your Comments
- Put your answers to this in the comment section below this post…
- Would you expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusions about the health problems on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve as Lockridge and her colleagues? Why?
- Environmental Health Perspectives is a peer-reviewed journal. A peer-reviewed journal is one in which expert scientists must review and approve research before it is published. Do you think it was important for Lockridge and her colleagues to publish their research in a peer-reviewed journal? Why?
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3. As an employee I wouldn’t come to my conclusions. Personally I wouldn’t come to my conclusions so no I wouldn’t expect a employee to come to their conclusions. I would understand as an employee what going on but I wouldn’t want to lose my job.
4. In my opinion I think it would be important published it as a peer reviewed journal. If its approved its more likely to get farther out and more people to know about it. And its better written if its a peer reviewed journal. it would be a bit less work for the people too.
3. personally i would expect for an employee to come to the same conclusion as the Aamjwninng people. i think this because the knowledge of chemicals being bad for the environment is widely known. But if i are an employee, i wouldnt say anything because it would endanger my job. 4. personally, i feel like a ” peer reviewed journal ” is a great idea. although i agree with some of the Aamjwninng peoples points, there was alot of bias on the case study i read. with an peer reviewed journal, it would put “chemical valley” in a better field of vision to the public.
Part 2
3. I would expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusion about the health problems on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve as Lockridge and her colleagues. I would expect them to because if they see these people getting sick or in the hospital they could start to realize that the spills and chemicals from the plant are what is causing this. They could also see that some of their coworkers are starting to develop health problems which would cause them to think that the chemicals are making many people sick.
4. Yes I think it was important for Lockridge and her colleagues to publish their research because then more people would know what is happening with chemical plants. The more people who know the more people might want to help and try and fix the problem.
Part 1
https://www.thoughtco.com/importance-of-chemical-reactions-604047
https://www.repsol.com/en/products-and-services/chemicals/chemicals-and-you/index.cshtml
https://www.pesticidereform.org/pesticides-human-health/
Chemical Valley questions 3 and 4
3. Yes, I would expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusions on the health issues on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation community as Lockridge did. I think that the employees would have the same conclusions on this because they must be experiencing these health effects as well. These workers spend most of their days working in these plants, inhaling the same chemicals as the Aamjiwnaang peoples so I would assume that they are being harmed by the chemicals just as much. Knowing that these people live very close to these plants, the workers must suspect that these people are having the same if not worse health effects as them.
4. I think that Lockridge and her colleagues publishing their research in a peer-reviewed journal was extremely important. I think that this is so important because if a expert scientist were to review this journal and approve it, people would be educated on what is going on in this community and know how bad it is for the people living there. Some people have no clue how hard it is for this First Nations community to live their life on this reserve.
1. It might come across their minds but I don’t think they would actually say something about it just because their job would then probably be on the line. And many people would rather not risk their job to help others with their problem, especially if their job is higher up.
2. Yes, just so their work looks more professional and have everyone’s sides and their story’s about what happened and so their story looks and sounds more sympathetic and draws more attention to it. So it can make more and more people read it and get more people on their side.
Q#1: The way I see it, I do not think the employees could say anything bad or harmful to the company, while still working at the chemical plant. From the video, I noticed that the environmental associate that was being interviewed, avoided to answer any question that may seem to be negative in any way. It is obvious that the industry is trying to keep a good image, but also is not giving the residents the respect and acceptance that the First Nation Reserve deserves.
Q#2: I believe publishing the research in a peer-reviewed journal is a good, since it helps make sure the research is original, and this research are raising awareness on a big source, meaning the internet, where anyone and everyone can help.
Question 3:
In my opinion an employee of a chemical plant would have the same conclusion about health problems about the Amajiwnaang first nation reserve as Lockridge and her colleagues because they would also have similar short and long term effects from the chemicals and the leaks, spills and toxins in the air would effect the employees as well. I think the employees would come to the same conclusion because they would be equally effected by leaks considering they have to work with the chemicals. For example, a man who worked at Chemical Valley was diagnosed with Mesothelioma. In the global mail there was a section “dying for a living”. This man had only 4 months to live and he wanted to show people what diseases you can get by working near and around chemical.
Question 4:
I think it is important for Lockeridge and her colleagues to publish their research in a peer- reviewed journal to raise awareness on Chemical Valley. It is important to let the community know or leakages and spills that go unreported. I think it is fascinating that they took the issue into their own hands and did their own tests to show how toxic the air is. It is also interesting that they studied the fish and found that they had a large amount of mercury in them. Therefore, they disclosed that the pond was unsafe. As well as I find it engaging that the used a Bucket brigade to catch unreported leaks. Therefore, I do believe it is important for Lockridge and her colleagues to publish their findings and raise awareness of leaks, spills and toxins in the air.
3. Would you expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusions about the health problems on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve as Lockridge and her colleagues? Why?
No, I would not expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusions about the health problems in Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve as Ada Lockridge and her colleagues did because it would bring bad publicity and press to the chemical plant they work at, and it could possibly put them out of a job. You would expect the employees to be aware of the hazards associated with working in a chemical plant but not necessarily know the specific dangers that these chemicals being released are causing (i.e., the declining male births in Aamjiwnaang). Another reason may be that the employees perhaps do not even know about the negative impact at all because they are told all is safe. Most companies would not bring forth or advertise that their workplace is pouring out hazardous chemicals into the air causing a significant amount of deaths in Aamjiwnaang.
4. Environmental Health Perspectives is a peer-reviewed journal. A peer-reviewed journal is one in which expert scientists must review and approve research before it is published. Do you think it was important for Lockridge and her colleagues to publish their research in a peer-reviewed journal? Why?
I believe that it is very important for Ada Lockridge and her colleagues to publish in a peer-reviewed journal because it demonstrates just how serious the growing health concerns in Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve are. Knowing their research was reviewed by expert scientists, establishes a sense of reliability, and that Ada Lockridge and her colleague’s research is accurate. This also may allow others to take the issue more seriously; the validity of the research on the declining male birth ratios in Aamjiwnaang is supported by experts in the field, therefore indicating that their research is necessary and that more people should pay attention to the concerns in chemical valley.
Would you expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusions about the health problems on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve as Lockridge and her colleagues? Why?
– I don’t think that an employee from the chemical plant would agree and come to the same conclusions about the affects to the chemical plant as Lockridge and her colleagues. Firstly, an employee from the chemical plant wouldn’t agree because they would be at risk of losing a good paying job if they agree. Secondly, they might not think or know that the chemical plant has a huge effect on the environment. Lastly, they might not think or know the effects the chemical plant has on the people that live on Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve, as well as the wildlife that live there.
Environmental Health Perspectives is a peer-reviewed journal. A peer-reviewed journal is one in which expert scientists must review and approve research before it is published. Do you think it was important for Lockridge and her colleagues to publish their research in a peer-reviewed journal? Why?
-I think it is important that Lockridge and her colleagues publish their research in a peer-reviewed journal. It is important that is was a peer-reviewed journal so that people know that their research is true because a scientist approved the research for the article.
PART 2:
1. I would expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusions about the health problems on the Aamjiwnaang First Nations Reserve as Lockridge and her peers. I think this because the employees of the chemical plants would be even more at risk working in the plant. I think that the employees know the same facts about the chemical plants, but are just less vocal on their concerns because speaking out could lead to losing a job, or messing things up for the whole company.
2. I think it was important for Lockridge and her colleagues to publish their research in a peer-reviewed journal because it shows that their facts are correct. in the article it stated that “In 2005, in the well-respected journal ‘Environmental Health Perspectives’ Lockridge and her colleagues published a paper.” This statement show that Lockridge had her research and writing looked over by experts and they agreed with her work.
1.Would you expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusions about the health problems on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve as Lockridge and her colleagues? Why?
-I would not expect an employee of a chemical to come forward about the harmful gases and emissions the plants put out. I think that the employees would not come forward about the harmful emissions because it could put their jobs at risk and if all the plants came forward about what really happens and the chemicals they use, everyone would want to put a stop to the power plants.
2. Environmental Health Perspectives is a peer-reviewed journal. A peer-reviewed journal is one in which expert scientists must review and approve research before it is published. Do you think it was important for Lockridge and her colleagues to publish their research in a peer-reviewed journal? Why?
-I think that it was very important for Lockridge and her colleagues to publish their research in a peer-reviewed journal. I think that this important because if a scientist might have not agreed with what they were saying. The scientists would have not published the journal because then the public would fight for the plant to be shut down.
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Question 3:
I would expect employees to come to the same conclusions about health issues. I think that if you work in an oil plant you have to realize that part of your jobs affect those around. However in reality those workers choose to ignore the harm being done because they are making a salary to provide for themselves and their families.
Question 4:
I believe that it is crucial for expert scientists to look over the information before it gets published to the public. Although Lockridges information may be correct it is still important to get a “fresh” pair of eyes to look everything over. Another benefit is getting a “peer review” just to ensure that everything is well said with the correct spelling and grammar.
yes I think that an employee would come to the same conclusions because they could see first hand what the chemicals are doing to things around them. I also think yes because they could be experiencing the affects of the chemicals too. yes I think that it is good that they made it a peer reviewed journal because it gives the experts a chance to read it over and edit/make improvements to it before it is published.
3. Yes, I would. T hi is because the employee working there probably have more contact with the harmful chemicals than the people living there. In fact their perspective would be exaggerated compared to others because they are so close to the source of harm.
4.Yes. This is because the information Ana has collected could’ve been altered or the issue itself could’ve originated from a different source. Since Ana wasn’t a professional, she might e not hasd enough information to come to a reasonable conclusion, so any help by experts would be needed.
I would expect that an employee would because it is pretty obvious that it is not good for the environment around it. Yes i think it is important that they put it in a peer-reviewed journal because it would be easier to get someone’s attention about
1. No, I would not expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusions about the health problems on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve as Lockridge and her colleagues because they wouldn’t want to lose business with other companies causing them to lose money, and they also wouldn’t want to lose their job.
2. Yes, I think it was important for Lockridge and her colleagues to publish their research in a peer-reviewed journal because then they could educate other people about how the chemicals are affecting people’s health on the Aamjiwnaang First Nation Reserve in a negative way.
1. the employees of the chemical plant would not have the same thoughts as the protesters because they would want to keep their jobs and look good in the community.
2. yes it was important because they wanted to get their word to everyone who may have a concern about this issue.
1. Yes I would expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusion. Maybe even a worse conclusion than we know of. If he does tell anyone about the conclusion it may cost him his job. The politically correct answer is the truth. If Chemical Valley is endangering lives they should tell the neighbouring town. The worker has a lot more information than we do. He will be able to find out more accurate notes on what is truly happening.
2. It is important that people know what is going on. If Lockridge and her colleague’s research provide that then it will be important for people to know. They should publish their research to get more people involved and maybe come to an agreement. They can possibly raise awareness for people living in Chemical Valley and possibly donate to help clean the waters.
1. I feel as if the staff of the plant would know what they are doing just as much as the people effected by the plant because they too can see first hand what is happening. I also think many of the employees don’t outright and bring these issues to the light in fear of losing a job.
2. I believe that all scientists should have a peer reviewed journal because it is a clear sign to a creditable source for others to read. Just as I said I do believe that Lockridge should have gotten the peer-reviewed journal to make their source more creditable and harder to sweep under the rug.
I would expect an employee of a chemical plant to come to the same conclusions about the health problems on the Aamjiwnaag First Nation Reserve as Lockridge and her colleagues because as employees at the chemical plant they would know certain dangers to the chemicals and would have to wear WHMIS Personnel Protective Equipment while working with chemicals. They would have to know how dangerous it is and if they did the same research Lockridge did, they would have come up with the same conclusion that it was negatively affecting the Aamjiwnaag First Nation Reserve.
I think it is important for Lockridge and her colleagues to publish their research in a peer reviewed journal because scientist would read it and awareness can be brought to the table. They can get action done for the people affected and for future generations.
i think that someone that works at the chemical play would come to a different conclusion because their jobs and the money that they get paid is involved.
I think that it would be important for this information to be put in a peer reviewed journal because people would be more inclined to believe it after others had backed up her research.