Effects of Science on the Environment - Essay Example

Science has both negative and positive impacts of the environment. Science has the potential to exacerbate environmental challenges and come up with ways of addressing them. Many are of the opinion that the negative effects of the science outweigh the positive effects. Environmental pollution is defined as the contamination of environment by physical, biological and chemical agents which are considered harmful to plant, animal, human and environment. This contamination may rise through human activities and industrial action or interaction of the two. Science has introduced various forms of environmental pollutions. The thesis of my research attempt is to look into the relationship between science and environment and analyze this relationship to be able to conclude whether or not science harms the environment. Modern environmental pollution is attributed to burning of fossil fuels, which is used to run industries and increase in industries. It is also attributed to transport of raw materials and machines. One of the principal environmental concerns is the conduct of oil industries and the multinational companies in the oil producing area. The oil industry is involved in a number of activities that lead to direct environmental pollution. These activities range from exploration, refining, production and transportation. These activities have lead to both social and ecological disturbances. Pollution from pipeline oil leaks and seismic surveys that cause explosions are some of the negative effects of the science on environment. Most of the scientific wastes are none biodegradable. Offshore drilling oil leaks, flaring refinery effluents and drilling floods are known to cause terrible negative impact on the environment. This has resulted in land alienation and extreme disruption of natural terrain due to oil exploration and oil drilling. Oil related infrastructure and installations are known to cause deforestation which leads to desertification (Molina and Zaelke, 5). Most of The oil exploration and drilling activities happen on virgin land with natural vegetation causes significant changes in the natural ecosystem. Gas flaring has been having tremendous environmental impact from these multinational companies. According to World Bank, gas flaring had contributed greenhouse gases on the atmosphere of the earth than any other source by 2002. Moreover, these gases are not used as fuel. According to a research done in 2010, over 191 billion cubic feet of the gases produced at the time, 145 billion cubic feet were flared. All this happened at the detriment of the environment. Gas flaring is known to contribute to climate change, which is one of the biggest global threats in the world today. Climate change is said to cause skin cancer, food insecurity and other significant diseases. Climatic changes and extreme weather conditions like El Nino are said to cause a rise in the cost of living directly or indirectly. Gas flares are known to contain toxins like benzene. This means that rain water becomes contaminated (EPA, 9). They pollute the air leading to respiratory challenges and health conditions like bronchitis and asthma. Science has been causing environmental degradation. Gas flaring has led to alteration of vegetation and destruction of soil nutrients due to the presence of chemicals in the rain water (Hester and Harrison, 87). Scientific activities continue to pump destructive gases into the ozone layer leading to depletion of the ozone layer. This has had an adverse effect on cultivation which is a source of livelihood for mankind (Molina and Zaelke, 5). Places, which were fertile, are now covered with stubborn grasses and natural vegetation has been replaced by emerging resistant species. Intense heat, which has resulted from these flared gases, has caused the vegetation in affected areas to become extinct. The destruction brought by science is gradual and possible that is why the impacts caught the world unawares. The world has become to appreciate the impact of releasing hydrocarbons into the environment (Hester and Harrison, 87). Rain water, which is supposed to be neutral now, contains acidic elements which are responsible for collusion of the iron sheets after the rains. Science has led to unprecedented levels of electronic waste. Electronic waste may be described as all secondary computers, mobile phones, televisions, electronic devices and other devices of under the same category. These products are developed and discarded by their owners. They are offered for resale and reuse (Hester and Harrison, 87). Most of these devices and up in third world countries. Scientific discovery has led to a massive rise in electronic wastes (Molina and Zaelke, 5). As world powers compete with innovation skills and ability, most of the electronic devices are becoming obsolete remarkably fast causing them to end up in waste. Unwanted electronic products are filling the world exceptionally fast (EPA, 9). Unfortunately, most of these products are non biodegradable and are being heaped as waste. This has caused them to take up large portions of arable land as space for disposal continues to be needed. The rate of innovation is increasing leading to an increasing rate of waste products. According to Achim Steiner, the UN estimates that more than 100, 000 computers arrive in many African countries per month and end up in African rubbish. Third world countries have dumpsites which are continuing to growth in size and capacity. This is posing a substantial environmental threat with dumpsites becoming a leading source of communicable diseases and breeding grounds for parasites. Burning of plastic wastes causes emission of hydro -carbon gases in to the ozone layer (Molina and Zaelke, 5). Production of plastics is on the modern day dangers of scientific developments. Despite attempts from some of the members of the international community to prevent dumping of the electronic waste, the practice continues to be unabated. The Basel convention was meant to halt hazardous waste from being dumped and facilitate proper way of waste disposal. The relationship between the natural world and science has been transformed by the power of science. In this case, science is a powerful way of knowing and has been embraced as part of the human ventures in the world today (Molina and Zaelke, 5). Science with comes from a Latin word meaning knowledge is perceived to be a systematic way of gathering information before coming up with conclusions. Science has created a good understanding of the environment. It has also exposes how animals, nutrients plants and energy relate in an ecosystem and the environment (Roots and Higgs 54). Science uses the natural phenomena to come up with the cause effect relationships in an ecosystem. Therefore, science must be viewed as part of the solutions when it comes to looking at the problems caused by science in the environment. Science has brought enormous benefits to the society (Molina and Zaelke, 5). Close observations indicate that science and technology have ambivalent effects. The big benefits of science have had negative effects on earth. Most of these affects are felt most by the poor. Gas and oil have made development of industry and complicated devices possible, yet they are at the fore front in the production of carbon dioxide emissions (Roots and Higgs 54). These emissions are responsible for disrupting the climatic weather conditions which have caused massive destruction and loss of lives. Nuclear radiations have been credited for revolutionalising health especially in the treatment of cancerous growths (Molina and Zaelke, 5). Nuclear technologies have led to development of weapons of mass destruction and bring terrible suffering to mankind (Young 91). These technologies are known to cause double loss because in cases of was, dangerous fumes are emitted during through missile fire and burning of bombing sites (Roots and Higgs 54). Discovery of latest weapons like the bunker busters which are meant to penetrate underground and blow up bunkers poses a serious threat the environment (Roots and Higgs 54). Nuclear energy does not emit greenhouse gases like many industrial gases. While this is good, nuclear energy is known to produce wastes which are radioactive and can be dangerous for up to 15,000 years (Young 91). The developed countries have been using this technology to further their industrial interests, but sometimes this has happened at the expense of the developing countries. One of the major points of concern has been that science and scientific methods do not indicate the responsibility of humans (Hester and Harrison, 87). This has led to an attitude that all scientific discoveries are good even when it affects other pertinent aspects of life the ozone layer (EPA, 9). Minimization of this bias will result in scientists placing value on the natural world while come up with inventions. The exclusion of the human values from scientific methods of discovery means that resultant products will always be considered as either unethical or ethical (Dorgham, 15). While scientific methods are not biases in their intentions and attempts, the products of science and technology have tremendous impacts on environmental ethics (Hester and Harrison, 87). Therefore, it is increasingly becoming necessary to be considering the environmental impacts of scientific products and the expected long term effect on the environment after their usage. Ecology as a branch of science has contributed to a unique approach. This is because it studies living organisms in a real and dynamic system. Laboratory study of organisms is good but fails to capture the environmental consequences (Young 91). Ecology has a wide scope that reflects the environmental implications of the human or scientific interference (Hester and Harrison, 87). Biological research is restricted to institutional laboratories and is good is researching the cause effect relationships (Young 91). However, ecologists are known to research human behavior and its impact on environment and nature. All creatures live in a form of ecosystem, and they related with the environment. Looking at the impacts of science of environment entails looking at the idea of ecosystem and the inter-relatedness of patterns of life and human behavior. As the use and production of plastics continues to increase, a large amount of plastics has piled in the environment. Plastics are known to be durable and persistent (Dorgham, 15). The recycling and recovery methods are gaining momentum. There remains little information or the facts about the real impacts of plastics on the land (Young 91). However, there is general consensus that if plastics are not recycled, then the plastics waste saturates the land and even after being buried, it will surface to the ground as debris (Hester and Harrison, 87). This will make the waste readily available to the environment. This is a growing concern in developing countries. It is not easy to assess the amount of plastic that has been disposed into the sea. Most of the plastics that end up in the sea are often weathered and degraded by sunlight (EPA, 9). However, the impact of science has been felt in the water pollution where the marine environment has been enormously contaminated. A good example is the recent oil spill in the United States. The marine life was affected as whales, and other ocean organisms struggled to live (Roots and Higgs 54). Countries are starting beach surveys and assessing the extent of damage that has been caused by science, especially development of plastics. There is a proposal that plastic waste should be recorded to ease their disposal and facilitate their disposal (Hester and Harrison, 87). That is the amount of plastic that accumulates per unit time. Science has had a direct impact in the natural ecosystems where non biodegradable waste has been dumped into places that are which are known to be a natural habitat for many living organisms. Plastic waste, as a major consequence of science, has led to monitoring of the marine litter (Dorgham, 15). According to OSPAR research, plastic litter was identified as the biggest waste coming from scientific development in the North Sea. The real impact of science to the environment is the development of waste that is no biodegradable at a rate that is faster than the rate of disposing (Dorgham, 15). Therefore, the impact of science must be seen through how wastes are handled or disposed. It entails looking at the impact of industrial effluence on rivers or oceans (Hester and Harrison, 87). However, plastics are a type of waste that is in its own level. Plastics are mostly used in packaging other waste, besides developing usable devices like electronics. When plastics end up in the sea, sedimentation preserves them in the sea floor (Dorgham, 15). In case they are burnt, they are converted into dangerous fuses that end up causing depletion of the ozone layer (Roots and Higgs 54). Yet plastics are not safe while on land. Therefore, they pose a three tier challenge which has proved to be a stubborn challenge to handle (Hester and Harrison, 87). This has caused the government to come up with legislation that with an aim of containing the impact of science on environment. Through science pesticides and other chemicals like the DDT came to be used. DDT has now been banned due to the devastating effects on environment and the human lives. Developed countries are looking for was in with they can lessen they dependence of nuclear energy or fossil fuel. There has been a debate on developing green energy (Roots and Higgs 54). More emphasis is being put on solar and geothermal sources of energy. This is because they are environmental friendly compared to the use of coal and nuclear energy. However, harnessing solar power and wind power can be accredited to science (Hester and Harrison, 87). This is one of the ways in which science is being used to solve science related challenged. Complex scientific technology is being used to develop Biogas and a source of domestic energy. In the United States of America, there is a proposal for a science based regulation whose aim is to weigh environmental impact and to protect science (Young 91). Children are vulnerable to scientific hazards compared to grownups. The toxins are come from scientific discoveries affect the growth of children (Dorgham, 15). The case is worse when children live near pollutant sources like dump sites or industries that emit harmful fumes (Hester and Harrison, 87). The farmers use pesticides in agricultural production are exposed to toxins (Dorgham, 15). Many of them end up reporting cases of bronchitis and breathing problems. Epidemiological studies reveal that certain cancers are associated to the extreme use of certain chemicals or pesticides. These chemicals are also said to have neurological effects (Roots and Higgs 54). However, science has led to improvement of the environment in many ways (Hester and Harrison, 87). Science has led to a good understanding of the world. People are aware of the environmental impact of their conduct (Young 91). This was not the case in ancient times. Science has been used to access the damage being done to the ozone layer with satellite images showing the movement of currents in around the globe. In conclusion, science has had an indelible mark in to the environment. Science causes harm to the environment. In this case, the environment is the ecosystem and habitat for both man and other animals. Scientific discoveries have been phenomenal. However, they have had good impacts to the working and operation of people across the continents, but most of the scientific developments have had a negative impact to the environment. Most of the negative impacts that revolved around depletion of the ozone layer through the emission of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. This has attracted grave consequences like acidic rain water which is known to cause corrosion on iron sheets. The overall impact of these gases is the change of climatic, weather pattern which has grave consequences. Science has also led to accumulation of electronic wastes especially in developing countries due to the rise of innovation causing many electronics to become obsolete. Science has also led to over accumulation of plastics in land and water bodies. This has lead to contamination of land and marine environment with non biodegradable plastic wastes. This menace is still growing with dumpsites growing in terms of size and pollutant industries affecting people who live near them. A good example is the Japan nuclear accident that was caused by the Tsunami. Radiations from the industry caused people to be exiled for a long, period of time. Science had left an indelible mark in the environment and natural ecosystems. Works Cited EPA. "Greenhouse gases pose a health hazard, CNN says." Environmental Protection Agency. 2009: 9. Print. Dorgham A. International Journal of Environment and Pollution 49.12 (2012): 10-15. Print. Hester R., and M. Harrison. Environmental and Health Impact of Solid Waste Management Activities. 1st ed. Royal Society of Chemistry, 2002. Print. Molina, M., and D. Zaelke. "A Climate Success Story to Build On." The NewYork Times 25 Sept. 2012: 1. Print. Roots, E. F., and E. Higgs. The role of science in environmental impact assessment: workshop proceedings. 1st ed. Athabasca University, 1994. Print. Young C. The Environment and Science: Social Impact and Interaction. ABC-CLIO, 2005. 178. Print. Read More