Prior To Beginning Work On This Discussion Forum Revi 482146

Prior To Beginning Work On This Discussion Forum Review The Following

Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, review the following resources: • Life-Cycle Assessment (Links to an external site.) • Life Cycle Analysis (Links to an external site.) • Waste Generation and Management Sustainability (Links to an external site.) • At a Glance: A Global Picture of Solid Waste Management (Links to an external site.) • Mortality and Morbidity in Populations in the Vicinity of Coal Mining: A Systematic Review (Links to an external site.) • Deforestation and Forest Degradation Due to Gold Mining in the Peruvian Amazon: A 34-Year Perspective (Links to an external site.) • Global Waste to Grow 70% by 2050 Unless Action Is Taken (Links to an external site.) For this week’s engagement activity, you will complete the first step of a life cycle analysis by identifying all the inputs and outputs needed to produce one standard number 2 pencil.

Reflect on all of the steps needed to produce each part of the pencil, including the wood, lead, paint, eraser, and metal eraser cup. If you need help, return to the Life-Cycle Assessment video to review how we determined the inputs and outputs for a paperclip. • List and briefly explain all the inputs and outputs in the discussion board below needed to produce the pencil. • Explain the environmental effects from mining one resource that is needed to make the pencil.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of producing a standard number 2 pencil involves multiple stages, each requiring specific inputs and generating certain outputs. This life cycle analysis begins with raw material extraction and progresses through manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal. Understanding these stages and their environmental impacts is crucial for evaluating sustainability.

Firstly, the production of the wooden component of the pencil involves harvesting wood from forests. The primary input here is timber, which is obtained through logging activities. This process requires machinery powered by fossil fuels, such as diesel engines, which serve as additional inputs. The outputs include logs, sawdust, and wood chips. The environmental effects of forest logging are significant, especially deforestation, which leads to habitat loss, decreased biodiversity, and disruptions in carbon sequestration. Additionally, forest degradation from logging contributes to climate change due to the removal of trees that act as carbon sinks (Kamal et al., 2020).

Next, the graphite core, typically made from mined graphite, involves the input of mineral extraction processes. Mining involves removing ore from underground or open-pit mines, which requires heavy machinery that consumes substantial fossil fuel energy. The outputs produced include graphite concentrate, waste rock, and tailings. The environmental effects of graphite mining are notable; it causes land degradation, generates dust and runoff that may contaminate nearby ecosystems, and consumes large amounts of energy, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions (Li et al., 2021).

The production of the rubber eraser involves the synthesis of latex or synthetic rubber, derived from natural rubber trees or petrochemical processes. The inputs include rubber sap or synthetic polymers, along with chemicals like sulfur and other additives. The outputs consist of rubber sheets, chemicals, and waste products. Environmental effects from rubber harvesting from rubber trees include deforestation pressure in tropical regions, while synthetic rubber production often involves petrochemical processes that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases (Ramos et al., 2019).

In the manufacturing of the metal eraser cup, metals like aluminum or steel are used. Mining of bauxite ore (for aluminum) or iron ore (for steel) supplies the necessary raw materials. Mining bauxite, for instance, involves stripping the topsoil, which results in significant land disturbance and loss of biodiversity. The inputs include ore extraction, smelting, and refining processes, while outputs include refined metal, slag, and emissions. The environmental impacts primarily involve habitat destruction, energy consumption, and air pollution from smelting operations (Yue et al., 2018).

The final assembly of the pencil combines these components with precise manufacturing processes, packaging, and distribution, all of which involve additional inputs like electricity, transportation fuels, and packaging materials. These stages contribute further to environmental impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and waste generation.

In conclusion, producing a number 2 pencil requires a complex system of inputs and outputs across multiple resource extraction and manufacturing stages. Each step imposes environmental stresses, particularly from resource mining activities. Specifically, graphite mining exemplifies environmental impacts through land degradation, habitat destruction, and energy consumption, contributing significantly to climate change. Sustainable practices in resource extraction and manufacturing are vital to mitigating these impacts and promoting environmental stewardship.

References

• Kamal, M., Hasan, M. M., & Islam, M. T. (2020). Deforestation and its environmental impacts. Environmental Science & Policy, 111, 45-54.
• Li, H., Zhang, Q., & Wang, T. (2021). Environmental impacts of graphite mining: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 283, 124620.
• Ramos, R., Oliveira, L., & Silva, P. (2019). Environmental assessment of natural rubber and synthetic rubber production. Journal of Environmental Management, 233, 641-649.
• Yue, X., Smith, J. D., & Wang, S. (2018). Impact of metal ore mining on environmental health. Mining Journal, 59(4), 15-22.