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environmentalism
environmentalism movement to protect the quality and continuity of life through conservation of natural resources , prevention of pollution , and control of land use . The philosophical foundations for environmentalism in the United States were established by Thomas Jefferson, Ralph Waldo Emerso...
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land use
land use exploitation of land for agricultural, industrial, residential, recreational, or other purposes. Because the United States historically has a laissez-faire attitude toward land use, the land has been exploited at will for economic gain. Only in recent decades have Americans realized that l...
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Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution , noise pollution , and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and disposal of toxic substances. Th...
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pneumothorax
pneumothorax , collapse of a lung with escape of air into the pleural cavity between the lung and the chest wall. The cause may be traumatic (e.g., gunshot or stab wound), spontaneous (rupture due to disease or localized weakness of the lung lining), or environmental (extreme change in atmospheric p...
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environmental impact statement
environmental impact statement analysis of the impact that a proposed development, usually industrial, will have on the natural and social environment. It includes assessment of long- and short-term effects on the physical environment, such as air, water, and noise pollution, as well as effects on ...
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pollution
pollution contamination of the environment as a result of human activities. The term pollution refers primarily to the fouling of air, water, and land by wastes (see air pollution ; water pollution ; solid waste ). In recent years it has come to signify a wider range of disruptions to environm...
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Greenpeace
Greenpeace international organization that promotes environmental awareness and addresses environmental abuse through direct, nonviolent confrontations with governments and companies. Founded in 1971 to oppose U.S. nuclear testing in Alaska, the organization has fought to protect endangered species...
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amalgamation process
amalgamation process , in particular, a method to extract gold and silver from ores. The ore is crushed and treated with mercury , in which the metal dissolves. The amalgam is heated and the mercury evaporates, leaving pure gold or silver. The process has been criticized as an environmental and occ...
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Omagh
Omagh , town (1991 pop. 14,627), Omagh dist., W Northern Ireland, on the Strule River. The town is a farm market. Dairy products are processed and shirts are manufactured. The discovery in 1995 of silver and gold in the bogs of Omagh led to a conflict between proponents of economic growth and advoca...
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air pollution
air pollution contamination of the air by noxious gases and minute particles of solid and liquid matter (particulates) in concentrations that endanger health. The major sources of air pollution are transportation engines, power and heat generation, industrial processes, and the burning of solid wa...
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