Toxic waste

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/toxic-waste

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary generation sectors?Industrial manufacturing, chemical production, resource extraction, and consumer electronics disposal
2. What is the exposure pathways?Inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption leading to acute and chronic health effects
3. Where does toxic waste come from?Most toxic waste comes from factories that make things and from old electronics like phones and computers. These items can have heavy metals and other dangerous chemicals inside.
4. How can toxic waste make people sick?When we breathe, eat, or touch toxic waste, the chemicals can damage our bodies. They can cause cancers, growth problems, and hurt organs.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Chemical substances that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in living organisms, and pose a risk to human health and the environment.
Bioaccumulation: The accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism.
Circular Economy: An economic model aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources.