Human impact on nature, negative impact. Man and environment

The relationship between people and nature has always been quite complex - a person sought to subdue it, use it for their own needs and change it in every possible way. Today, people everywhere talk about the negative consequences of global warming, but this is far from the only example of how human civilization and nature influence each other.

1. A warming climate is fueling violence

Many scientific studies over several decades have consistently suggested that the rate of violent crime always increases as you get closer to the equator, that is, as the climate gets hotter. But none of these studies have been able to determine why this is so. There are two main theories. First, hot weather makes people uncomfortable and irritable, and therefore more violent.

Secondly, people in warm weather are more likely to be outdoors and interact more actively, i.e., there are more opportunities for violent conflicts. But researchers at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam believe that it's not so much the heat that's to blame for this behavior, but the slight change in temperature in these regions.

Without having to plan for upcoming seasons, people can focus on the present without worrying so much about the future. This "one-day strategy" can lead to a decrease in self-control and thus to an increase in the number of acts of violence.

2 Light Pollution Causes Early Springs In Cities

Light pollution caused by too much artificial lighting can actually be devastating to natural ecosystems. Over time, the bright lights in the cities gradually "deceive" the surrounding trees and plants, which begin to "believ" that spring has come earlier.

In a 12-year study of four different types of trees, British scientists found that in large cities with a lot of night light, trees bud a week earlier than similar species in rural areas. This has a natural multiplier effect on the surrounding ecosystem, causing disruptions to pollination cycles and bird and bee populations.

3. Cigarette butts are a threat to marine life

Of the billions of cigarette butts produced each year, only a fraction are properly disposed of. An insane amount of them end up in the ocean. In fact, cigarette butts are the most common type of debris in the oceans. They are made up of thousands of tiny plastic particles woven into a fiber that breaks down in the ocean environment.

One study found that the hazardous materials contained in a single cigarette butt could contaminate 1 liter of water sufficiently to kill any fish in that water.

4. People and evolution

Hunting, human encroachment on the natural habitat of animals, as well as other changes in the environment have contributed to the extinction of thousands of species over many centuries. But certain patterns of human behavior may end up giving rise to new species that would never have otherwise. For example, in London there are underground mosquitoes, whose DNA and breeding habits are different from ordinary mosquitoes.

They came from insects that escaped into artificial underground tunnels during World War II bombing raids. Since they are no longer able to breed with other mosquitoes, these mosquitoes are a separate species that was actually created by humans.

5. Nature improves mental health

In 2013, a study by the University of Essex found that clinical rates of depression dropped markedly (by 71 percent) in people who took at least a short walk in nature every day. These results are in stark contrast to the control group, whose participants walked once a day at the mall. Their depression levels dropped by 45 percent, while 22 percent actually felt even more depressed.

In addition, adolescents living within 1 km of green spaces showed a decrease in aggressive behavior. Either way, the authors of the study came to a rather specific conclusion: more green space in urban areas could lead to a 12 percent reduction in violent and aggressive behavior among teenagers.

6. Increase vegetation growth

The melting of glaciers and the gradual disappearance of perennial ice shelves caused by global climate change have had an unexpected secondary effect. In many places where the ice has receded, greenery has appeared in its place.

This long-term trend has been noted by NASA through satellite imagery. In addition to the retreat of ice and rising temperatures, another factor is the increase in the amount of nitrogen in the atmosphere, which plants love.

7. Poor people in green areas get sick less

Scientists from the University of Glasgow conducted a study that substantiated the theory that the impact of nature is beneficial to people. After ruling out diseases such as lung cancer, circulatory diseases, and intentional self-harm, the researchers decided to survey the entire working population of England to determine if there was a pattern in the health status of people who could not afford health care living near green spaces.

It turned out that people who live near greenery are indeed healthier, even if they do not visit doctors at all.

8. Mothers living close to nature have big babies.

Ben Gurion University researchers in 2014 noted that mothers in greener areas tend to give birth to babies with much higher average body weights. The study also showed that a much lower birth weight threatens a child with many lifelong health problems.

It has been found that low birth weight is commonly found in economically underdeveloped areas with minimal green space.

9. Roads can have a positive impact on nature

Even though roads are vital to the infrastructure of any society, environmentalists actively protest against their construction. In fact, in 2013, University of Cambridge professor Andrew Balmford suggested that building roads or improving existing roads in some areas could be beneficial to surrounding areas.

In particular, in underdeveloped areas suitable for agriculture, roads clearly contribute to the conservation of vulnerable species of plants and animals, as people simply "stay away from them."

10. Animals adapt to the presence of humans

During the industrial revolution and as a result of the human population explosion, there was a clear effect on the diversity of animal species. Hunting and fishing, despite changes in habitat and migration patterns, have had a negative impact on many species, but not all. Some of them have adapted to thrive in the presence of humans, and learning how they managed to do so may be the key to mitigating the effect of future population growth.

Chipmunks and crows, for example, have completely changed their diet to adapt to city life. Many endangered birds began to settle on the flat roofs of shopping malls.

We all know that humanity has already caused irreparable harm to the environment. The post-industrial era has led to pollution, a reduction in the biodiversity of animals and plants, the industrialization of forest areas and climate change. Of course, plants, factories, production and even agriculture are largely responsible for what is happening to the environment today. However, people hardly think about the fact that the usual things that surround us every day can also become detrimental to our planet. These are everyday items that can become a deadly weapon against the environment.

Accumulators and batteries are in the house of every person, because today it is simply impossible to imagine your life without a huge number of gadgets and electronic devices. However, sooner or later the day comes when the battery runs out. Statistically, only about 15% percent of the billions of alkaline batteries are recycled after use. According to scientists from the US Environmental Protection Agency, batteries account for more than 50% of toxic emissions from all household waste. At the same time, batteries account for 0.25% of all emissions. Used batteries contain mercury, cadmium, magnesium, lead, tin, nickel, zinc. When discarded, batteries corrode (their metal coating is destroyed), and heavy metals enter the soil and groundwater. From groundwater, these metals can get into rivers and lakes. Just one AA battery pollutes 400 liters of water and 20 square meters of soil with harmful components. Harmful substances accumulate in the human and animal body, affecting the work of almost all organs, blocking the work of enzymes and causing malignant tumors.

Discarded plastic bags do not decompose, meaning they can, in fact, remain in nature for an average of about 500 years! Around the world, people use about 4 trillion bags every year: this number kills millions of birds and countless schools of fish. Every year, more than a hundred thousand whales, seals, and turtles die from plastic bags in Newfoundland alone. For these reasons, in a number of countries the use of plastic bags as household packaging is limited or prohibited, and on August 23, the ECA Movement holds an annual action - “A Day Without Plastic Bags”.

Since the 1950s, global plastic production has doubled every eleven years, and about 300,000 tons of plastic waste end up in the seas and oceans every year. There, large fragments gradually break up into small bright pieces, which are often eaten by marine life and birds, mistaking plastic for food. But if in 1960 only 5% of the examined birds had plastic fragments in their stomachs, then in 2010 this figure reached 80%. Birds often mistake floating bottles, lighters and other objects for fish, and not only swallow them themselves, but also bring them as food to their chicks. That's just plastic consists of toxic components and absorbs harmful substances from the environment. In addition, such fragments do not always pass through the gastrointestinal tract and accumulate in the body, causing intestinal blockage. Often so much plastic accumulates in the stomach that there is no room for food, and the bird dies of starvation.

The gases used to put patients to sleep before surgery accumulate in the Earth's atmosphere, where they contribute to climate change. The results of recent analyzes of air samples showed the presence of anesthetics even in Antarctica. Over the past decades, concentrations of desflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane have been on the rise around the world. Like carbon dioxide, anesthetic gases allow the atmosphere to store more solar energy. However, unlike carbon dioxide, medical gases have proved to be much more powerful than greenhouse gases in this case: one kilogram of desflurane, for example, is equivalent to 2,500 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

It is estimated that out of the 6 trillion cigarettes smoked worldwide each year, more than 4.5 trillion are thrown onto the ground by smokers. So nicotine, toxins, carcinogens and pesticides, which pose a great danger to animals and people, get into the soil, and then into the water. American scientists note that the toxicity of tobacco smoke is four times higher than the harmful effects of car exhaust gases. In their opinion, cigarettes cause no less harm to the planet than cement and asphalt plants.

Paper

Paper is biodegradable, but as you know, each sheet is cut down trees and destroyed forests, as well as energy costs and environmental emissions during its production. Of course, wood is a renewable resource, but not all countries and companies follow its renewal, trying to use what they have to the maximum. Now many manufacturers offer paper from recycled materials, but this is also not a completely harmless solution. When the paper is processed, all of it is mixed into a pulp. This slurry is washed, cleaned and then pressed into sheets of paper. During this process, all waste such as paper fiber, inks, cleaning chemicals and paints are filtered out and sent to one huge pile - paper sludge. This sludge is then either incinerated or sent to a landfill, where it releases dozens of toxic chemicals and heavy metals that subsequently enter the groundwater.

When the last tree is cut down, when the last river is poisoned, when the last bird is caught, only then will you understand that money cannot be eaten.
Prophecy of the Cree Indians

• Man appeared on a unique planet, where there was plenty of clean water and clean air - everything that is so necessary for life. Centuries passed, and it seemed to people that it would always be so, that the gifts of nature were inexhaustible. But lately we have noticed more and more that the air has become completely different from what it was before - it becomes difficult for them to breathe. And what have our water sources turned into - rivers and lakes? They became shallow, overgrown with mud and became so dirty that even “purified” water has to be drunk with caution ...

How do we enter the 21st century? What awaits us?

The environmental prognosis, based on facts, is extremely disappointing. Scientists believe that humanity has reached such a level of technical development, at. in which his unbridled economic activity is capable of irreversibly changing the natural environment on Earth, as a result of which an ecological apocalypse will come, that is, the death of all life on our still blue and green planet.

Formally, in Russia, and in other countries as well, measures are being taken to protect the natural environment, international symposiums are being held, and agreements between countries are being signed. So, for example, in 1972, agreements were signed between the USSR and the USA on cooperation in the field of environmental protection. But there are no visible improvements. On the contrary, the severity of the environmental problem is increasing every year: the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases, while the amount of free oxygen decreases; Tropical forests are being destroyed before our eyes, rare species of animals and plants are disappearing, fertile lands are dwindling, and supplies of clean fresh water are declining. In a word, nature degenerates. And if nature deteriorates, people begin to be overcome by diseases ...

One of the most important components of the natural environment is the atmosphere. According to researchers, industrial enterprises and thermal power plants annually emit many billions of tons (!) of harmful chemical compounds, ash and dust into the earth's atmosphere. In highly industrialized countries, pollution emissions roughly double every 12 years. Over 40% of all pollution comes from road transport.

Atmospheric pollution has no boundaries. Today, within the troposphere, the air is already polluted throughout the Earth. In comparison with 1965, pollution has increased by about three times. According to geochemists, more than 300 billion tons of carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere every year from the burning of oil, coal, gas and wood! With an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide, the thermal balance of the planet changes: the Earth absorbs more infrared (thermal) radiation, the outflow of heat into space decreases and the average temperature of the surface air layer rises. Therefore, "thermal" pollution causes climate change on a planetary scale.

Some warming, which is currently observed, causes the melting of ice in Antarctica and Greenland, which inevitably leads to an increase in the level of the World Ocean. In the future, this process may become irreversible, and then the rise in ocean level by 5-6 m (due to increased melting of continental glaciations) will pose a serious threat to the population living in low-lying coastal regions of the Earth.

In cities, pollution is usually 5-10 times higher than in rural areas. This is facilitated by industrial and domestic waste dumps that form around cities. Such dumps have become a real disaster for the environment and people. They are a source of pollution not only of the atmosphere, but also of soil, and water basins, and even groundwater.

Recently, the danger has come even from rural areas and due to the widespread use in agriculture of the so-called pesticide he - highly toxic chemicals that are used to control pests of crops. Air currents and waterways, these substances are distributed throughout the Earth. Suffice it to say that even in the stomachs of chinstrap penguins, DDT has been found.

No less serious danger to humanity is the pollution of water sources. It is not only about the purity of our rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but also about the purity of salty sea water. For some reason, it is considered in the order of things to release spent fuel oil directly overboard. Every year, its waste from all ships amounts to tens of thousands of tons (this is in addition to 10 million tons of oil flowing into the oceans as a result of oil tanker accidents). One can imagine what this leads to if every ton of fuel oil or oil spreads on the water surface as a thin film over an area of ​​12 km2, and the ocean is the main supplier of oxygen! On satellite images taken from orbital stations, it can be seen that many thousands of square kilometers of the coastal waters of the World Ocean and the seas are covered with a dark oil film ...

The famous French aquanaut Jacques Yves Cousteau (1910-1997) was concerned about the results of his studies of the deep sea: due to the constant pollution of the oceans, there was a real threat of the complete destruction of many of its inhabitants. In the last 50 years alone, more than a thousand species of marine fauna have disappeared.

If pollutants are present in the atmosphere, iodine and soil, they inevitably accumulate in plants and animals. Man consumes plant and animal food. Consequently, through food, many harmful substances, such as lead and mercury, enter the human body.

At present, it is very difficult to find a place on Earth that has not been exposed to human influence. But, changing natural conditions, a person often does not take into account how this will affect his own health. In an effort to obtain momentary economic benefits, people do not at all think about the irreparable harm they cause not only to themselves, but also to future generations.

Thus, thoughtless human economic activity leads to negative changes in the entire environment and, ultimately, to the complete devastation of nature. In turn, the polluted environment - dying nature - causes mass diseases of people with chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, disorders of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

All living beings on Earth have always been exposed to ionizing radiation, the source of which is natural radioactive isotopes. They create the natural radioactive background of the planet, to which man has adapted quite well.

But in 1945, in connection with the first tests of nuclear weapons, radioactive substances created by people themselves appeared in the atmosphere. And together with air and water, a person began to swallow them. Radioactive isotopes of strontium and uranium turned out to be especially dangerous for a living organism. Over the years, they accumulate in human bone tissue, which becomes a source of ionizing radiation that causes leukemia - a serious incurable disease.

Now around the world, about 500 nuclear power units are operating at nuclear power plants. And if catastrophes like Chernobyl on April 26, 1986 are repeated, then the possibility of contamination of the entire Earth with the most dangerous strontium-90 is not ruled out ...

As you can see, the problem of nature protection has acquired planetary significance in our days. To deal with the impending threat, the people of the entire Earth must look at their planet as one. Therefore, to successfully solve the global environmental problem, space sensing is indispensable. For the timely detection of sources of pollution, their localization and neutralization, special patrol observations of the Earth from space are needed. Such observations are already being made.

Space methods for operational monitoring of the state of the natural environment are very effective. And only thanks to this, the further development of space research should be recognized as an unconditionally necessary thing. But for a complete solution of the environmental problem, it will be necessary to conduct an offensive along the “all front”.

First of all, it is necessary to take urgent measures to reduce environmental pollution. A promising way is the establishment of a waste-free technological process at industrial enterprises. But even if we create a waste-free land-based industry, it still will not bring the desired result: pollution of the planet will continue to some extent. There is only one way out: to relocate all our industrial production to space.

Some supporters of the environmental movement, the so-called "greens", believe that space technology has a detrimental effect on the natural environment: it pollutes the earth's atmosphere with harmful combustion products of rocket fuel and destroys the ozone layer. Of course, to some extent this happens. But a complete rejection of further space research will not save the nature of our planet from destruction. The most favorable development strategy should proceed from a reasonable combination of contradictory requirements: on the one hand, to preserve the earthly nature, on the other hand, to ensure not only the survival of man, but also his further progress.

The Russian scientist-philosopher Arkady Dmitrievich Ursul put forward a hypothesis about the division and future of social production into terrestrial and cosmic. The first should be predominantly agricultural, the second - industrial. If it is not possible to completely create closed technological cycles, then it is important to develop such an option so that space production waste does not litter the near space - near-Earth space, does not affect the Earth's atmosphere and its nature.

At present, our planet is undergoing an intensive accumulation of radioactive waste, which is formed at nuclear power plants. These wastes pose a deadly threat to humans and the earth's biosphere. Burying containers of radioactive isotopes in deep exhausted mines and on the ocean floor are not the best options. All this for the time being. The trouble can come at any time and it will be worse than Chernobyl!

The solution has long been suggested: the place of nuclear energy is space! In the meantime, it continues to operate on Earth, you should think better: where to put radioactive waste? There are projects for space disposal of this very hazardous waste. For example, removal with the help of rockets outside the solar system - into interstellar space. But from an ecological point of view, the option of burning radioactive waste in the plasma envelope of the Sun is considered the best.

The removal of industrial production from the Earth and the creation of orbital industrial complexes in space is a task that humanity should begin to solve in the second half of the 21st century. Only from the standpoint of space exploration is it possible to solve the ecological catastrophe that has come upon us and save the nature of the Earth. There is no other way.

“All wealth begins from the earth, and the earth loves care,” says a Russian folk proverb. The wise meaning of these words is clear to everyone: a person must fatherly protect and protect nature - our priceless wealth, the source of all our earthly blessings.

Incredible Facts

It's lunchtime, but there's no food at home, so you get behind the wheel and drive to the nearest grocery store.

You walk among the stalls in the hope of buying something. In the end, you choose a chicken and a ready-made salad and return home to enjoy your meal.

Consider how a seemingly harmless trip to the store has affected the environment.

First, driving a car contributed to carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. The electricity in the store is nothing but the result of burning coal, the mining of which has devastated the Appalachian ecosystem.

The salad ingredients were farm-grown and treated with pesticides, which then ended up in water streams, poisoning fish and aquatic plants (which help keep the air clean).

The chicken was raised on a remote poultry farm, where animal waste releases large amounts of toxic methane into the atmosphere. When delivering goods to the store, many modes of transport were involved, each of which caused its own harm to the environment.

Even the smallest human actions initiate changes in the environment. How we heat our homes, power our electrical appliances, what we do with our trash, and where our food comes from all have a huge impact on the environment.

Considering the problem at the public level, it can be noted that human behavior has significantly affected the environment. The temperature of the earth has increased by one degree F since 1975, the amount of polar ice has decreased by 9 percent in just one decade.

We have caused enormous damage to the planet, much more than you can imagine. Construction, irrigation, mining significantly spoils the natural landscape and disrupts important ecological processes. Aggressive fishing and hunting can deplete species stocks, and human migration can introduce alien species into established food chains. Greed leads to catastrophic accidents, and laziness leads to destructive practices.

10. Public projects

Sometimes public works projects don't really work for the benefit of the public. Designed to generate clean energy, for example, dam projects in China have devastated everything around them, flooding cities and environmental waste sites, greatly increasing the risk of natural disasters.

In 2007, China completed 20 years of construction on the world's largest hydroelectric dam, the Three Gorges Dam. During the implementation of this project, more than 1.2 million people were forced to leave their usual habitats, as 13 large cities, 140 ordinary cities and 1,350 villages were flooded. Hundreds of factories, mines, dumps and industrial centers were also flooded, plus the main reservoirs were heavily polluted. The project has changed the ecosystem of the Yangtze River, turning the once-mighty river into a stagnant basin, thereby destroying the local flora and fauna to a greater extent.

Redirected rivers also greatly increase the risk of landslides along banks that are home to hundreds of thousands of people. Nearly half a million people along the river are projected to be relocated by 2020 as landslides are imminent and the ecosystem continues to deplete.

Scientists have recently linked dam building to earthquakes. The Three Gorges Reservoir was built on top of two major fault lines, with hundreds of small shocks occurring since its discovery. Scientists have suggested that the catastrophic 2008 earthquake in China's Sichuan province, which killed 8,000 people, was also caused by the accumulation of water in the area of ​​the dam, located less than half a mile from the center of the start of the tremors. The phenomenon of dams causing earthquakes is due to water pressure building up under the reservoir, which in turn increases pressure in rocks and acts as a softener for fault lines that are already under stress.

9. Overfishing

"There are a lot of fish in the sea" is no longer a completely reliable statement. Humanity's appetite for seafood has devastated our oceans to the point where experts fear the ability of many species to repopulate on their own.

According to the World Wildlife Federation, the global fish catch exceeds the allowable rate by 2.5 times. More than half of the world's fish stocks and species are already depleted, and one quarter of the species is over-depleted. Ninety percent of large fish species - tuna, swordfish, cod, halibut, flounder, marlin - have lost their natural habitat. According to forecasts, if the situation does not change, then by 2048 the stocks of these fish will disappear.

It is worth noting that the main culprit of what is happening are advances in fishing technology. Most commercial fishing boats today are equipped with fishfinder sonar. Once they find the right spot, the fishermen release huge nets, the size of three football fields, that can sweep up all the fish in a matter of minutes. Thus, with this approach, fish populations can be reduced by 80 percent in 10-15 years.

8. Invasive Species

Man throughout the era of the founding of the world was himself a distributor of invasive species. Even though it may seem to you that your favorite pet or plant feels much better in a new place, in fact, the natural balance is disturbed. Invasive flora and fauna have been proven to be the most destructive thing humanity has done to the environment.

In the United States, 400 out of 958 species are listed in the Red List because they are considered to be at risk due to competition with invasive alien species.

Invasive species problems mostly affect invertebrates. For example, in the first half of the 20th century, an Asian fungus destroyed more than 180 million acres of American chestnut trees. As a result, more than 10 species dependent on chestnuts have become extinct.

7. Coal mining

The biggest danger posed by coal mining is climate change, but it also threatens local ecosystems.

Market realities pose a serious threat to coal mining, especially in the United States. Coal is a cheap source of energy - one megawatt of energy produced with coal costs $20-30, as opposed to one megawatt produced with natural gas - $45-60. Moreover, one quarter of the world's coal reserves are located in the United States.

Two of the most destructive forms of the coal mining industry are the extraction of coal from the tops of mountains and the use of gas. In the first case, the miners can "cut down" more than 305 meters of a mountain peak in order to get to the coal deposit. Extraction with the help of gas occurs when coal is closer to the surface of the mountain. In this case, all the "inhabitants" of the mountain (trees and any other creatures living in them) are exterminated to extract valuable minerals.

Each practice of this kind creates a large amount of waste in its path. Extensive damaged and old forest areas are being dumped into nearby valleys. In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than 121,405 hectares of hardwood forests have been destroyed by coal mining in West Virginia. By 2012, it is said that 5,180 square kilometers of Appalachian forest will cease to exist.

The question of what to do with this kind of "waste" is still open. Usually, mining companies simply dump unwanted trees, dead wild animals, etc. in nearby valleys, which in turn not only destroys natural ecosystems, but also affects the drying up of large rivers. Industrial waste from mines finds shelter in riverbeds.

6. Human disasters

Although most of the ways in which man harms the environment develop over a period of years, some events may occur in an instant, but this instant will have far-reaching consequences.

In 1989, the oil spill in Prince Williams Bay, Alaska, had the most serious consequences. Then there was a spill of about 11 million gallons of crude oil, as a result of this accident, more than 25,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 seals, 250 eagles, about 22 killer whales, as well as billions of salmon and herring, died. At least two species, the Pacific herring and the murre dove, did not recover from the disaster.

It is still too early to assess the damage to wildlife from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but the scale of the disaster is unlike anything seen before in American history. Over the course of several days, more than 9.5 million liters of oil were seeping into the bay daily, the largest spill in American history. By most estimates, wildlife damage is still lower than the 1989 spill due to lower species densities. However, despite this, there is no doubt that the damage from the spill will persist for many years to come.

5. Cars

America has long been considered the land of cars, so it's no surprise that one-fifth of all US greenhouse gas emissions come from cars. There are 232 million cars on the roads of this country, very few of which are powered by electricity, and the average car consumes about 2271 liters of gasoline annually.

One car emits about 12,000 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in the form of exhaust gases. In order to purify the air of these impurities, 240 trees will be needed. In America, cars emit about the same amount of carbon dioxide as coal-burning factories.

The combustion process that takes place in a car engine produces fine particles of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and sulfur dioxide. In large quantities, these chemicals can harm the human respiratory system, causing coughing and choking. Cars also generate carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas produced by burning fossil fuels that blocks the transport of oxygen to the brain, heart, and other vital organs.

At the same time, the extraction of oil, which is necessary to create fuel and oil for the movement of the car, in turn, also has a serious impact on the environment. Land drilling is crowding out native species, while offshore drilling and subsequent transportation has created an unthinkable amount of problems over the years, as more than 40 million gallons of oil have been spilled worldwide since 1978.

4. Unsustainable agriculture

In all the ways that humanity harms the environment, there is one common trend: we are not able to plan for the future. But nowhere is this more evident than in our method of growing our own food.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, real farming practices are responsible for 70 percent of the pollution in the country's rivers and streams. Chemical runoff, contaminated soil, animal waste, all end up in waterways, of which more than 173,000 miles are already in disrepair. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides increase nitrogen levels and decrease oxygen levels in water.

Pesticides used to protect crops from being eaten by predators threaten the survival of some bird and insect species. For example, the number of bee colonies on US farmland fell from 4.4 million in 1985 to less than 2 million in 1997. When exposed to pesticides, the immune system of bees weakens, making them more vulnerable to the enemy.

Large-scale industrial agriculture also contributes to the process of global warming. The vast majority of meat products in the world are produced on industrial farms. On any farm, tens of thousands of cattle are concentrated in small areas in order to save space. Among other things, the destruction of untreated animal waste releases harmful gases, including methane, which, in turn, has a significant impact on the global warming process.

3. Deforestation

There were times when most of the earth on the planet was covered with forests. Today, forests are disappearing before our eyes. According to the United Nations, 32 million acres of forests are lost every year, including 14,800 acres of virgin forests, that is, land that is not occupied or affected by human activity. Seventy percent of the planet's animals and plants live in forests, and, accordingly, having lost their home, they themselves will face the threat of extinction as a species.

The problem is particularly acute in tropical forests with a humid climate. Such forests cover 7 percent of the land area and provide a home for about half of all species on the planet. At the current rate of deforestation, scientists estimate that the rainforest will be wiped off the face of the earth in about 100 years.

Deforestation also contributes to global warming. Trees absorb greenhouse gases, so fewer trees means more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. They also help perpetuate the water cycle by returning water vapor to the atmosphere. Without trees, forests will quickly turn into barren deserts, leading to even more severe fluctuations in global temperatures. When forests burn, trees release carbon into the atmosphere, which also contributes to the problem of global warming. Scientists have calculated that the trees of the Amazon forest have processed the amount of greenhouse gases equivalent to 10 years of human activity.

Poverty is one of the main causes of deforestation. Most rainforests are in third world countries, and politicians there regularly stimulate the economic development of weak regions. Thus, lumberjacks and farmers are slowly but surely doing their job. In most cases, deforestation occurs due to the need to create a farm site. The farmer usually burns trees and vegetation in order to obtain ash, which can then be used as fertilizer. This process is called slash-and-burn agriculture. Among other things, the risk of soil erosion and flooding increases as, over the years, the nutrients from the soil evaporate, and the land is often unable to support the planted crops for which the trees were cut down.

2. Global warming

The average surface temperature of the Earth has increased by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 130 years. Ice caps are melting at an alarming rate - since 1979 more than 20 percent of the world's ice has disappeared. Sea levels are rising, causing flooding, and having a significant impact on catastrophic natural disasters occurring worldwide with increasing frequency.

Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect, in which some gases channel the heat received from the sun back into the atmosphere. Since 1990, annual greenhouse gas emissions have increased by about 6 billion tons worldwide, or 20 percent.

The gas most responsible for global warming is carbon dioxide, which accounts for 82 percent of all US greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide is produced by burning fossil fuels, mainly by driving cars and by feeding factories and factories with coal. Five years ago, global atmospheric concentrations of gases were already 35 percent higher than before the industrial revolution.

Global warming can lead to the development of natural disasters, large-scale food and water shortages, and devastating effects on wildlife. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sea levels could rise by 17.8 - 58.4 cm by the end of the century. And since most of the world's population lives in coastal areas, this is a very big danger for both people and ecosystems .

1. Overpopulation

"Overpopulation is 'the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about,'" says Dr John Guillebaud, professor of family planning and reproductive health at University College London. reduce the population, nature will do it for us through violence, epidemics and famine," he adds.

Over the past 40 years, the world's population has grown from 3 billion to 6.7 billion. 75 million people (equivalent to the population of Germany) are added annually, or more than 200,000 daily. According to forecasts, by 2050 the world population will exceed 9 billion people.

More people means more waste, more demand for food, more production of consumer goods, more need for electricity, cars, and so on. In other words, all the factors that contribute to global warming will only get worse.

Increasing demand for food will force farmers and fishermen to do more damage to already fragile ecosystems. The forests will be removed almost entirely as cities continue to expand and new areas for farmland will be needed. The list of endangered species is getting longer. In rapidly developing countries such as India and China, increased energy consumption is expected to increase carbon emissions. In short, the more people, the more problems.

Pollution is the introduction of pollutants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes. Pollution can take the form of chemicals or energy such as noise, heat or light. Pollution components can be either foreign substances/energy or natural pollutants.

The main types and causes of environmental pollution:

Air pollution

Coniferous forest after acid rain

Smoke from chimneys, factories, vehicles, or from burning wood and coal makes the air toxic. The effects of air pollution are also obvious. The release of sulfur dioxide and dangerous gases into the atmosphere causes global warming and acid rain, which in turn increase temperatures, causing excessive rainfall or droughts around the world, and making life difficult. We also breathe every polluted particle in the air and as a result, the risk of asthma and lung cancer increases.

Water pollution

It caused the loss of many species of flora and fauna of the Earth. This was due to the fact that industrial wastes dumped into rivers and other water bodies cause an imbalance in the aquatic environment, which leads to serious pollution and death of aquatic animals and plants.

In addition, spraying insecticides, pesticides (such as DDT) on plants pollute the groundwater system. Oil spills in the oceans have caused significant damage to water bodies.

Eutrophication in the Potomac River, USA

Eutrophication is another important cause of water pollution. Occurs due to untreated sewage and fertilizer runoff from the soil into lakes, ponds or rivers, due to which chemicals enter the water and prevent the penetration of sunlight, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen and making the reservoir uninhabitable.

Pollution of water resources harms not only individual aquatic organisms, but the whole, and seriously affects people who depend on them. In some countries of the world, due to water pollution, outbreaks of cholera and diarrhea are observed.

Soil pollution

soil erosion

This type of pollution occurs when harmful chemical elements enter the soil, usually caused by human activities. Insecticides and pesticides absorb nitrogen compounds from the soil, after which it becomes unsuitable for plant growth. Industrial waste, and also adversely affect the soil. Because plants cannot grow as they should, they are unable to hold the soil, resulting in erosion.

Noise pollution

This pollution occurs when unpleasant (loud) sounds from the environment affect a person's hearing organs and lead to psychological problems, including tension, high blood pressure, hearing loss, etc. It can be caused by industrial equipment, aircraft, cars, etc.

Nuclear pollution

This is a very dangerous type of pollution, it occurs due to failures in the operation of nuclear power plants, improper storage of nuclear waste, accidents, etc. Radioactive contamination can cause cancer, infertility, loss of vision, birth defects; it can make the soil infertile, and also negatively affects the air and water.

light pollution

Light pollution of planet earth

Occurs due to noticeable over-illumination of the area. It is common, as a rule, in large cities, especially from billboards, in gyms or entertainment venues at night. In residential areas, light pollution greatly affects people's lives. It also interferes with astronomical observations by making the stars almost invisible.

Thermal/thermal pollution

Thermal pollution is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes the temperature of the surrounding water. The main cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a refrigerant by power plants and industrial plants. When water used as a refrigerant is returned to the natural environment at a higher temperature, the change in temperature reduces the supply of oxygen and affects the composition. Fish and other organisms adapted to a particular temperature range can be killed by sudden changes in water temperature (or rapid increases or decreases).

Thermal pollution is caused by excess heat in the environment creating unwanted changes over long periods of time. This is due to the huge number of industrial enterprises, deforestation and air pollution. Thermal pollution increases the Earth's temperature, causing drastic climate change and extinction of wildlife species.

Visual pollution

Visual pollution, Philippines

Visual pollution is an aesthetic problem and refers to the effects of pollution that impair the ability to enjoy the outside world. It includes: billboards, open dumps, antennas, electrical wires, buildings, cars, etc.

Overcrowding of the territory with a large number of objects causes visual pollution. Such pollution contributes to distraction, eye fatigue, loss of identity, and so on.

plastic pollution

Plastic pollution, India

Includes the accumulation of plastic products in the environment that have adverse effects on wildlife, animal or human habitats. Plastic products are inexpensive and durable, which has made them very popular among people. However, this material decomposes very slowly. Plastic pollution can adversely affect soil, lakes, rivers, seas and oceans. Living organisms, especially marine animals, become entangled in plastic waste or are affected by chemicals in plastic that cause interruptions in biological function. People are also affected by plastic pollution, causing a hormonal imbalance.

Objects of pollution

The main objects of environmental pollution are such as air (atmosphere), water resources (streams, rivers, lakes, seas, oceans), soil, etc.

Pollutants (sources or subjects of pollution) of the environment

Pollutants are chemical, biological, physical or mechanical elements (or processes) that harm the environment.

They can be harmful both in the short and long term. Pollutants originate from natural resources or are produced by humans.

Many pollutants have a toxic effect on living organisms. Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide) is an example of a substance that harms humans. This compound is taken up by the body instead of oxygen, causing shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, and in severe cases can lead to serious poisoning, and even death.

Some pollutants become hazardous when they react with other naturally occurring compounds. Nitrogen and sulfur oxides are released from impurities in fossil fuels during combustion. They react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form acid rain. Acid rain adversely affects aquatic ecosystems and leads to the death of aquatic animals, plants, and other living organisms. Terrestrial ecosystems also suffer from acid rain.

Classification of pollution sources

According to the type of occurrence, environmental pollution is divided into:

Anthropogenic (artificial) pollution

Deforestation

Anthropogenic pollution is the impact on the environment caused by the activities of mankind. The main sources of artificial pollution are:

• industrialization;
• the invention of automobiles;
• the growth of the world's population;
• deforestation: destruction of natural habitats;
• nuclear explosions;
• overexploitation of natural resources;
• construction of buildings, roads, dams;
• the creation of explosive substances that are used during military operations;
• use of fertilizers and pesticides;
• mining.

Natural (natural) pollution

Eruption

Natural pollution is caused and occurs naturally, without human intervention. It can affect the environment for a certain period of time, but it can be regenerated. Sources of natural pollution include:

• volcanic eruptions, with the release of gases, ash and magma;
• forest fires emit smoke and gas impurities;
• sandstorms raise dust and sand;
• decomposition of organic matter, during which gases are released.

Consequences of pollution:

environmental degradation

Left photo: Beijing after the rain. Right photo: smog in Beijing

The environment is the first victim of atmospheric pollution. An increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere leads to smog, which can prevent sunlight from reaching the earth's surface. As a result, it becomes much more difficult. Gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide can cause acid rain. Water pollution in terms of an oil spill can lead to the death of several species of wild animals and plants.

Human health

Lung cancer

Decreased air quality leads to some respiratory problems, including asthma or lung cancer. Chest pain, sore throat, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease can be caused by air pollution. Water pollution can create skin problems, including irritation and rashes. Similarly, noise pollution leads to hearing loss, stress and sleep disturbance.

Global warming

Male, the capital of the Maldives, is one of the cities facing the prospect of being flooded by the ocean in the 21st century.

The release of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, leads to global warming. Every day new industries are created, new cars appear on the roads, and the number of trees is reduced to make room for new homes. All these factors, directly or indirectly, lead to an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere. Rising CO2 causes the polar ice caps to melt, which increases sea levels and endangers people living near coastal areas.

Ozone layer depletion

The ozone layer is a thin shield high in the sky that prevents ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth. As a result of human activity, chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons are released into the atmosphere, which contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Badlands

Due to the constant use of insecticides and pesticides, the soil can become infertile. Various types of chemicals from industrial waste end up in water, which also affects soil quality.

Protection (protection) of the environment from pollution:

International protection

Many of these are particularly vulnerable as they are subject to human influence in many countries. As a result, some states unite and develop agreements aimed at preventing damage or managing human impact on natural resources. They include agreements that affect the protection of the climate, oceans, rivers and air from pollution. These international environmental treaties are sometimes binding instruments that have legal consequences in case of non-compliance, and in other situations are used as codes of conduct. The most famous include:

• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), approved in June 1972, provides for the protection of nature for the present generation of people and their descendants.
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was signed in May 1992. The main goal of this agreement is "stabilizing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
• The Kyoto Protocol provides for the reduction or stabilization of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. It was signed in Japan at the end of 1997.

State protection

The discussion of environmental issues often focuses on the level of government, legislation and law enforcement. However, in the broadest sense, the protection of the environment can be seen as the responsibility of the whole people, and not just the government. Decisions that affect the environment will ideally include a wide range of stakeholders, including industrial sites, indigenous groups, representatives of environmental groups and communities. Decision-making processes in the field of environmental protection are constantly evolving and becoming more active in different countries.

Many constitutions recognize the fundamental right to protect the environment. In addition, in various countries there are organizations and institutions dealing with environmental issues.

While protecting the environment is not just the responsibility of government agencies, most people consider these organizations paramount in creating and maintaining basic standards that protect the environment and the people who interact with it.

How to protect the environment yourself?

Population and technological advances based on fossil fuels have seriously affected our natural environment. Therefore, now we need to do our part to eliminate the consequences of degradation so that humanity continues to live in an ecologically safe environment.

There are 3 main principles that are still relevant and important more than ever:

• use less;
• reuse;
• convert.

• Create a compost heap in your garden. This helps to recycle food waste and other biodegradable materials.
• When shopping, use your eco-bags and try to avoid plastic bags as much as possible.
• Plant as many trees as you can.
• Think about how you can reduce the number of trips you make with your car.
• Reduce car emissions by walking or cycling. These are not just great alternatives to driving, but also health benefits.
• Use public transport whenever you can for your daily commute.
• Bottles, paper, waste oil, old batteries and used tires must be properly disposed of; All this causes serious pollution.
• Do not pour chemicals and used oil onto the ground or down drains leading to waterways.
• If possible, recycle selected biodegradable waste, and work to reduce the amount of non-recyclable waste used.
• Reduce the amount of meat you consume or consider a vegetarian diet.

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