• Question: what do you think we can do to about pollution

    Asked by DONUT DONUT DONUT DUNOT ! to Philip, Maxime, Jake, Ann, Annette, Amy Heather on 11 Nov 2019.
    • Photo: Amy Heather Fitzpatrick

      Amy Heather Fitzpatrick answered on 11 Nov 2019:

      In order to reduce all pollution we need governments to make new legislation that forces private industry to reduce plastic use, reduce water use and be more responsible about designing products that may cause harm. Governments need to place the responsibility on big companies and not on individual citizens. As scientists we try to reduce our plastic use in the lab and I work with ensuring that water and food are safe to eat. I hope that by continuing this work, it becomes clear that Irish waste water management and water management is not good enough and that it needs to be updated!

      As a student the best thing you can do currently is contact your local politicians and tell them you are worried and want to see more bike paths, less plastic in schools, electric trams/buses/cars and more environmentally designed school buildings! Start a Green Schools committee and try to make local changes.

    • Photo: Philip Schuler

      Philip Schuler answered on 11 Nov 2019:

      Simply developing an economic system that does not depend on destroying the planet.

    • Photo: Ann Reen

      Ann Reen answered on 11 Nov 2019:

      Every one can make small changes in thier lives to help reduce the amount of pollution.

      For example if you reduce the amount of washing powder you put into the washing machine it can help the fish in lakes! Washing powder that leaves your machine eventaully makes it way to lakes in some instances

      Washing powder contains phosphoros . Phosphoros is a nutrient that plants need to grow. Excessive amount of phosphoros result in algal blooms in lakes. Algal blooms are green like scum that rests in the surfae of a lake. At night time these blooms use oxygen resulting in less oxygen availabe for the poor fish that share the lake.!!

      These blooms can also release toxins. If dogs drink water from the lake that has an algal bloom they can become sick or if humans splash about in these lakes that conatin algal blooms they can suffer skin irritants as a result.

      So by reducing the amount of washing powder or by purchasing washing powder that is free from phosphoros you are helping the environment!

    • Photo: Jake Cunningham

      Jake Cunningham answered on 11 Nov 2019:

      I think that it starts simply by making sure that we use our bins correctly and to reduce our emissions by taking public transport or cycling whenever we can and to reduce our electricity consumption by turning off the lights when we don’t need them. But in the greater scheme of things as Amy mentioned a lot of government policies need to change.

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