Gulf Oil Leak

          A containment dome is a 4-story, 70-ton structure that catches the escaping oil and allows it to be pumped to the surface. BP was planning on installing a shutoff valve at the site of one of the leaks, but the seas were too rough. They laid floating booms in the coastal waters to protect the shoreline from the spreading oil slick, but heavy winds damaged those.
          A blowout preventer is a device that is meant to seal leaks. BP's blowout preventer was unable to seal the well due to an obstruction too thick for the BOP, blowout preventer, to crush or shear. Transocean would face a large overhang of investor worry.
          In my opinion, everyone should have just one their job to the best of their ability. It seems to me like this problem came from a long line of people not doing their job correctly. I also think they should test the cement plug more than once, leaving some room for error without great consequences.

Chemical Pollution in Water

     In our experiment, we tested for Chromate, Carbonate, Chloride, Iron(III), Sulfate, Lead, and Phosfate. We tested the ions first as a control group, to see how it looks when the tests positive. We also tested our school's water fountain and tap water from Fairchance. The water from the fountain came out negative each time, and so did the water from Fairchance. I was in some ways surprised that everything came back negative. I guess I was hoping for something interesting to happen. I didn't really expect the tested waters to be polluted.

Hinkley vs. Pacific Gas & Electric

     In the movie, Erin Brockovich, they discuss the difference between Chromium six and Chromium three. In the movie, Chromium six was in their water and the company, PG&E, told them facts about Chromium three. Chromium three is very good for you. Chromium six is a carcinogen. Chromium six can cause tumors, miscarriages, chronic nosebleeds, and many other harmful health complications. 

     I get my water from the Point Marion Boro. I found that there are amounts of haloacetic acids, trihalomethanes, and Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate that exceed the health guidlines. Epidemiological studies suggest that haloacetic acid exposure during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy may be linked to birth defects in newborns. Trialomethanes include:chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform. Connection between trialomethanes and liver cancer has been found. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is a pollutant from rubber and industrial chemical factories it is also a leachate of PVC pipe. It is concidered a probable human carcinogen, or a cancer causing substance. I don't think my water tastes any different than bottled water. That is probably just me. The water at my house is often a strange color. Yesterday, for example, it was brownish tone. Last summer it was purple. It does concern me that the water often changes color. It made me curious as to what was in the water. Now, I know.