Environmental issues
Vismaya c p
Environmental degradation is the major issue that we are facing today. each second environment is polluted due to various human activities. Increased population growth and industrial and agricultural activities contribute to environmental pollution. The major environmental issues are:-
Climatic change is the major issue we are facing in the past few years. Increase in greenhouse gases is the main reason for this. These greenhouse gases trap the heat energy which increases the atmospheric temperature which ultimately leads to global warming. The climatic change affects the survival of human animals and plants on the earth. Frequent drought, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can directly harm animals and plants.
In order to reduce climate change, we have to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide methane etc
Global Warming
Global warming is the increase of temperature due to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This increased temperature caused various environmental issues. this affected the survival of many plants and animal species. excessive deforestation, increased number of vehicles, thermal power plants, burning of fossil fuels etc add fuel to global warming. global warming caused the melting of glaciers which resulted in flood in some countries and drought in some other countries
Ozone Layer Depletion
The ozone layer is an umbrella which protects the earth from the harmful UV radiation of the sun. Ozone depletion is the thinning of ozone layer by the action of chlorofluorocarbons. Ozone depletion permits the entry of harmful UV radiation to the earth’s surface which affects the health of humans, animals and plants. UV radiation causes skin cancer in human beings
Water Pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water by undesirable substances which makes it undesirable for human use. The deposition of waste materials in water bodies will affects the physical, chemical and biological properties of water. The polluted water also becomes the source of various diseases.
Domestic waste, Industrial waste, chemical fertilizers pesticides, detergents etc pollutes the water bodies. The wastewater from industries and factories are released directly into the water bodies without treatment. this will adversely affect the aquatic plants and animals. Excessive water pollution may lead to Eutrophication.
Air Pollution
Air pollution can be caused by human activities and natural phenomena.
The emissions from factories, industries and automobiles are the main sources of air pollution. Polluted air causes various respiratory diseases in humans and animals. Air pollution will also affect the growth and development of plants.
Excessive burning of fossil fuels will release a large amount of carbon dioxide, methane and other gases into the air. this will increase the global temperature
Deforestation
Deforestation is the clearing of trees or forests of a large area and using that land for various human activities such as for agricultural purposes, construction of roads dams building houses etc. deforestation causes the loss of habitat for various living organisms and this will affect the survival of many organisms.
Check your knowledge
- Water pollution
- Air pollution
- Global warming
- Deforestation
- Climatic change
- Ozole layer depletion
Ozone depletion is the thinning of ozone layer by the action of chlorofluorocarbons. Ozone depletion permits the entry of harmful UV radiation to the earth’s surface which affects the health of humans, animals and plants. UV radiation causes skin cancer in human beings
Deforestation is the clearing of trees or forests of a large area and using that land for various human activities such as for agricultural purposes, construction of roads dams building houses etc.
Global warming is the increase of temperature due to the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Domestic waste, Industrial waste, chemical fertilizers pesticides, detergents etc pollutes the water bodies. The wastewater from industries and factories are released directly into the water bodies without treatment. this will adversely affect the aquatic plants and animals. Excessive water pollution may lead to Eutrophication.