ABSTRACT
An environmental sink is a repository for potentially damaging by-products of human activity. As with a kitchen sink, we can send a certain amount of “gunk” into an environmental sink before problems occur. Limited amounts of some pollutants can be transformed, diluted, dispersed, or absorbed into the environment without causing any damage. Animals can store small traces of DDT pesticide in their fat tissues with little or no ill effects. Soil can receive controlled amounts of organic waste before harm is done. And by a process called carbon sequestration, the oceans and vegetation absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), release oxygen (O), and store carbon (C).
