The Environment

The Environment

Humans are impacting the environment negatively and steps need to be taken to repair as well as prevent the damages. Many major problems such as pollutants, ozone depletion and global warming are occurring in the environment. People are beginning to ask how to correct these issues. Pollutants, a key concern, began affecting this environment as the Industrial Revolution evolved. Contamination worsened especially where factories began burning coal, oil and natural gas. General air pollution is the poisoning caused by industrial smokestacks, home chimneys and the manufacture and use of chemical products (Dolan 77). Most ozone in the lower atmosphere is considered an air pollutant while ozone in the upper atmosphere is a major factor in making life on Earth possible (Stoker 84). Pollutants are created by chemical reactions between sunlight and pollutants already in the atmosphere (Stoker 84). Pollutants are depleting the ozone causing many tribulations. All this pollution is initiating many problems with the environment. Along with ozone depletion, global warming is contributing to the Earth's decay. Temperatures are increasing; wildlife and the ecosystem have also seen adverse effects. One example is that the twentieth century was the warmest of the past 1,000 years and 19 of the 20 hottest years on record occurred after 1980 (Di Silvestro 22-25). These problems are being produced by humans. If people could stop polluting, the Earth would be able to begin to heal itself and the damaging effects would begin to reverse. Steps need to be taken to correct these issues or Earth is in significant trouble.

This environment is already beginning to deteriorate and if these problems are not addressed they will only escalate the crisis. Many major problems in the environment are occurring due to pollution. A recent, severe example of the damaging effects is the thick smog that covered London in 1952. It stayed for three days, eventually killing 4,000 people. Another 8,000 died in the weeks following. The smog was caused by residue of coal being burned in their factories, shops and homes (Dolan 1-2). More incidents like this one could become more frequent if the environment's problems are not resolved and others will die. The consequences are starting to affect wildlife and even the food supply upon which the entire world relies. Eventually, these supplies will run out, ruining our bionetwork. In a more specific example, decline in the health of polar bears was reported due to rising spring temperatures and the early breakup of sea ice (EPA 11). Another species being affected are penguins. In the past 25 years an approximate 50% decrease in the population of Adelie penguins on the Antarctica Peninsula has been reported (EPA 11). Many species are beginning to travel more northward during migration because the temperatures are beginning to become warmer. A study of some 1,700 species completed in 2002 found that some birds and butterflies have shifted their ranges northward by four miles yearly since the 1960s (Di Silvestro 22-25). Not only are land animals being affected, but aquatic life is feeling the change as well. Great white sharks and Portuguese man o' war jellyfish are moving into waters that used to be too cold for these species (Di Silvestro 22-25). Even plant life could be influenced by the warming temperatures. Research indicates that increased radiation will eventually damage photosynthesis in plants (Dolan 37). If this were to happen, it would damage our entire ecosystem. If the climate changes slowly enough, warmer temperatures may enable the trees to colonize north into areas that are currently too cold (EPA 6). This is unpleasant sign because it establishes that the environment is warming up. The warmer temperatures can cause the sea level to rise, and if it rises two feet nationwide, it could eliminate 17-73% of the United States wetlands (EPA 4).

Another harmful effect pollution brings is acid rain. It is caused principally by the industrial and automotive burning of fossil fuels and natural gases. When fossil fuels and natural gases are burned, they emit sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. When they are exposed to sunlight and moisture, they undergo a chemical change. Sulfuric and nitric acid mingle with the clouds and return as acid rain (Dolan 40). Acid rain in combination with ozone pollution is often the result of dead or dying trees (Gay 28). Buildings can be affected too. Acid rain and the ozone can cause rubber to crack, dyes to fade and paint to erode (Gay 30). If no actions are taken people's health could be in danger. A number of respiratory problems can be triggered by high levels of ozone pollution. If the ozone weakens too much it will let in too many ultraviolet rays. This can lead to painful burns, skin cancers, eye problems and weaken the immune system (Dolan 26). Ultraviolet light even carries enough energy to damage and mutate DNA and disrupt the working of cells (Jakobson 54). Actions must be taken to help correct these dilemmas. Without measures to help the planet, effects are predicted to include sea level rise, impacts on agriculture, reductions in the ozone layer, increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, and spread of diseases (Wikipedia 1). All of these conditions will cause catastrophic events and make it impossible to continue along this destructive path.

Along with pollution, the environment is suffering from the depleting supply of ozone. There are three layers of the atmosphere: the mesosphere, the stratosphere, and the troposphere. The ozone in the stratosphere is commonly known as the ozone layer. Ozone is also located in the layer region of the atmosphere, called the troposphere (NOAA 1). Ozone resides in a layer that begins between six and ten miles above the Earth's surface and extends up to about 30 miles; this is the stratosphere (NOAA 1). Ozone is very rare in this atmosphere, averaging about three molecules of ozone for every ten million air molecules (NOAA 1). The ozone absorbs the damaging ultraviolet sunlight. In this century, it has become increasingly clear that humans are influencing the chemical composition of the troposphere and the stratosphere in ways that can impact conditions at the Earth's surface (NOAA 1). The ozone layer over the United States is thinning at twice the previously reported rate, and the winter ozone levels have dropped from 1.7% to 3% (Science News 231). This drop can cause health problems including skin cancers. The man-made chemical compounds known as the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are shredding the ozone layer, leaving us increasingly exposed to the dangers of the sun's ultraviolet radiation (Dolan 26). CFCs are so stable and so long-lived they last at least 50 years. Some of the CFC molecules in the atmosphere