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Mercury is released as coal is burnt in power stations

TLF ID M015345

This resource describes research into environmental disease resulting from the heavy metal mercury. It is estimated 60,000 babies are born each year in the United States with mercury-related diseases from the burning of coal in power stations. World wide, this is a significant problem. Mercury also enters the environment and the food chain. Suresh Bhargava is working on monitoring mercury at power stations. The next step is to remove it at the source. Download the audio or view the transcript of this ABC radio interview.

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Educational details

Educational value

This is a useful resource for year 9 and 10 science students to understand science as a human endeavour in the context of the cross curriculum priority of Sustainability for the Australian Curriculum. It emphasises the need for evidence-based conclusions and how chemistry is applied to monitoring environmental conditions.

Year level

9; 10; 11; 12

Topics Chemical reactions Decision making Coal Values (Psychology) Sampling bias Carbon cycle Ecosystems Nanotechnology Reaction rates Photosynthesis Reasoning Innovation Evidence Power stations Evaluation Test validity Discovery (Observations) Reliability Cellular respiration

Learning area

Science

Other details

Contributors

Author

Name: ABC - Science Show
Organization: ABC - Science Show
Description: author

Contributor

Name: ABC - Science Show
Organization: ABC - Science Show
Description: author

Name: State of NSW, Department of Education
Organization: State of NSW, Department of Education
Description: Data contributor

Name: Education Services Australia
Organization: Education Services Australia
Description: Data manager
Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/

Publisher

Name: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Organization: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Description: Publisher

Resource metadata contributed by

Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
Address: AUSTRALIA
URL: www.esa.edu.au

Access profile

Generic

Learning Resource Type

Audio

Rights