Human Population Growth, Waste, & Plastic

Pollution
Learning Objectives
● You will observe human population growth
● You will understand human impacts on the planet
“Population growth is the primary source of environmental damage”
– Jacques Yves Cousteau

Introduction
All life on Earth depends on the environment. Biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living)
factors provide the resources and energy needed by living organisms. All living
organisms are interconnected with one another. Species have direct impacts on their
environment, for example by consuming resources and producing waste, other
organisms are affected. Humans are no exception.
How much impact can a person have in the environment? You will explore this question
in this lab. Many people are unaware of the resources they use and of the
consequences their actions and decisions have on the environment. Also, while each
person’s actions may seem insignificant, the cumulative effect of human activity is
almost unimaginably large and significant, especially because of the very rapid increase
of the human population.
Humans, both as a species and as individuals, have a large impact on the environment.
The impact we leave behind is sometimes called the human footprint. It is also the title
of a video that explores the effects people have on their environment. As you watch this
video, you will learn about the resources an average person in the United States uses
during the course of a lifetime; it is a lot, from diapers and milk, to clothing and food, to
transportation, and cellphones. You will also learn about some of the consequences of
this consumption. As you watch the video, answer the following questions.
Safety Concerns
None
Lab Procedures
The human population is continuing to grow. In order to observe this, go to:
https://www.census.gov/popclock/
Fill this info out before you start this lab and when you finish this lab (this difference
should be a few days), then answer the questions below the table at the end of the lab:
Start of lab End of lab Population change:
Time:7:28 Time:8:20
US Population Population: Population: 111
330,254,893 330,255,004
Time:7:28 Time:8:20
World Population Population: Population: 8,214
7,760,675,575 7,760,683,789

How often is there a birth? 8 seconds, a death? 12 seconds

How often is there a net gain of one person? 29 seconds
What are the five most populous countries in the world?
China, India, US, Indonesia, Pakistan

Video: 7 billion
View the video 7 billion: https://youtu.be/sc4HxPxNrZ0
1. How long would it take to count to 7 billion out loud?
200 Years

2. How many times around the world is 7 billion steps?

133 Times

3. What will be the estimated world population in 2045?

9 Billion

4. What is the life expectancy in 2010? In 1960?

In 2010 life expectancy was 69 years old & in 1960 it was 53 years old
 5. How many people are born every second? How many die?
5 people every second are born and 2 people die

6. How many people live in a megacity?

10 million

7. If every person in the world stood shoulder to shoulder where would they all fit?
Los Angeles

8. What are some of the resources that people are consuming?

Energy & water

Video: World Population

Go to: https://worldpopulationhistory.org/map/1/mercator/1/0/25/#
1. What is an environment?
A system of living things

2. What percentage of the earth’s surface do humans thrive on?

17%

3. How much do we use to grow crops?

4%

4. What trend do you notice as time is progressing in terms of the human population
on the planet?
Increasing at a faster rate.
5. How big is the population expected to get by the end of the century?
10 billion