ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION:
ISSUE LIKE OVER POPULATION DEFORESTATION, POLUTION, AND WASTE MANAGEMENT AFFECT COMMUNITY HEALTH AND
SUSTAINABILITY
BY MICHAELA NICOLE CEBALLOS, JOHN LERRIE GEPULLE
FROM RCL-1BSBA-MM-A
Environmental degradation is a process through which the
natural environment is compromised in some way, reducing biological diversity
and the general health of the environment. This process can be entirely natural
in origin, or it can be accelerated or caused by human activities. Many
international organizations recognize environmental degradation as one of the
major threats facing the planet, since humans have only been given on earth to
work with, and if the environment becomes irreparably compromised, it could
mean the end of human existence
The major factor of environmental degradation is human (waste management, pollution, overpopulation growth, deforestation, etc.) and natural (flood, typhoons, droughts, rising temperatures, fires, etc.) cause. Environmental pollution refers to the degradation of the quality and quantity of natural resources. Different kinds of human activities are the main reasons for environmental degradation. The automobile and industries increase the number of poisonous gases like Sox, NOx, CO, and smoke in the atmosphere. Unplanned urbanization and industrialization have caused water, air, soil, and sound pollution. Industrialization, urbanization, and sewage waste help to increase pollution of the sources of water (Olabode et al., 2015). Similarly, the smoke emitted by vehicles and industries like Chlorofluorocarbon, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and other dust particles pollutes the air. Since man began to use tools and gradually formed a society, he began to play an important role in the evolution of the natural
SOME EXAMPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
WASTE MANAGEMENT- involves the collection, transportation and
disposal of sewage, garbage and variety of waste products. There are many
alternative names of waste management including waste disposal and recycling. A
waste management definition is activities that include collecting, destroying,
and disposing of waste. Waste materials can consists of paper, plastic, glass,
metal or
organic matter.
POLLUTION- Pollution is the introduction of harmful materials into the environment. These harmful materials are called pollutants. Pollutants can be natural, such as volcanic ash. They can also be created by human activity, such as trash or runoff produced by factories. Pollutants damage the quality of air, water, and land.
OVER POPULATION GROWTH- Population growth is the increase in the number of humans on Earth. For most of human history our population size was relatively stable. But with innovation and industrialization, energy, food, water, and medical care became more available and reliable.
DEFORESTATION-Deforestation is cutting down a large number of trees and
clearing out forest areas. The various reasons behind these human activities
are increasing the space for human usage like logging or wood extraction,
agricultural expansion, infrastructure expansion etc.
HOW CAN AFFECT IN OUR
COMMUNITY
Impact on human health Human health might be at the receiving end as a result of environmental degradation. Areas exposed to toxic air pollutants can cause respiratory problems like pneumonia and asthma. Millions of people are known to have died off due to the indirect effects of air pollution.
Ozone layer depletion The ozone layer is responsible for protecting the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. The presence
of chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is causing the ozone layer to
deplete. As it will deplete, it will emit harmful radiation back to the earth .
Loss for the tourism industry The deterioration of the environment can be a huge setback for the tourism industry that relies on tourists for their daily livelihood. Environmental damage in the form of loss of green cover, loss of biodiversity, huge landfills, increased air, and water pollution can be a big turn off for most of the tourists.
Loss of biodiversity Biodiversity is important for maintaining the balance of the ecosystem in the form of combating pollution, restoring nutrients, protecting water sources and stabilizing climate. Deforestation, global warming, overpopulation, and pollution are a few of the major causes of loss of biodiversity.
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