Although media and hospitals around the nation rushed to record the 300 millionth American, born at 6:46 a.m. Central Daylight Time Oct. 17, others are concerned about the effects of America’s rising population.

The United States now belongs to an exclusive trio of countries – which is completed by China and India – that have reached the milestone of 300 million citizens.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one person is born every seven seconds, dies every 13 seconds and immigrates every 31 seconds in the United States. This results in a net gain of one additional citizen every 11 seconds.

Unfortunately, the sum of such calculations could equal trouble for the United States and its resources.

Some experts are worried about the effects the ever-growing population has on the environment.

Michael Duffy, professor of economics, said with the amplification of the U.S. population comes major strain on basic necessities such as food, water, land, clean air and fuel.

“As each person demands and consumes more, more pressure is put on America’s resources,” Duffy said.

Anthony Contento, assistant scientist in genetics, development and cellular biology, agreed, saying the increasing population could place a strain on U.S. agriculture.

“Our world can produce more food, but for how long? Grain and field crops are one thing, but protein sources are becoming less and less available around the world,” Contento said. “Over-fishing will deplete our oceans; overgrazing will damage our free lands; overfarming will remove topsoil, regardless of how conservative we are.”

Topics of concern surrounding the swelling of the American population include environmental damage and immigration. It is estimated that one in eight people in the United States was born in a foreign country. America’s two most populous states – Texas and California – now list whites as a minority.

Contento said immigration is not necessarily a bad thing for America and its population and can be helpful in stimulating the U.S. economy.

“Temporary workers should not factor into permanent figures. Permanent residents are a mainstay of the growth of our nation,” Contento said.

“My only hope is that immigration officials focus on granting visas and green cards to skilled individuals and their families – to strengthen our nation and its economy.”

Overcrowding and traffic congestion in major cities have citizens frustrated. The amount of carbon dioxide being released into the air by cars – the primary pollution provider – is a concern for environmental scientists.

Neil Johnson, an ISU alumnus with an interest in marine biology, works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a wetlands biologist under the Clean Water Act.

“We regulate the discharge of fill and dredged material into wetlands and other waters of the United States, including streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and oceans,” Johnson said. “Of course, population increases have had a substantial impact on the environment because more people means more cars, houses, roads, sewage and the need for resources in general.”

Although China has implemented population control in an attempt at decelerating national growth, Contento said the United States would never rely on similar regulation.

“In American society, it would be an invasion of personal freedom to force any person, anywhere, to control their right to reproduce,” Contento said. “Education should be offered to everyone about the responsibilities of child rearing. Health and sex education should also be offered to help citizens make honest and responsible choices.”