Effects of Human Action on Environment - Literature review Example

Effects of Human Action on Environment Human beings are the most species that pollute the environment. This pollution occurs at very different levels, and the impact goes beyond our planet, to other species and also to humankind. Pollution affects the environment from three important perspectives. They include soil, water, and air. According to Miller, Human activities that affect the environment include technology, agricultural, industrial energy, products from manufacturing industries, mining, and transport. These activities have direct and indirect effects to the biodiversity, resources, and the biophysical environment. However, over-exploitation of the natural resources and pollution has increased at unprecedented rate and hence affected the environment. This paper, therefore, is destined to look at these negative and positive effects of man to the environment and to what extent. It also covers the major causes. An increased demand of the limited available natural resources because of industrialization and population growth has negatively affected the environment. This is because of the rampant adoption of chemical use like fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides in order to boost production in the agricultural sector. These products are usually toxic chemicals, and they pollute air, soil, and water. Biodiversity loss and other changes in the environment have increased currently as compared ever in history (Morris and Chapman 1). There has also been a decline in plant and animal population and an increase in extinction rate of indigenous species. The loss of biodiversity negatively affects lives of human beings (Morris and Chapman 1). For example, insecurity on food, increase in the number of natural disaster being experienced, insecurity in the amount of energy produced and scarce access of clean water and raw materials (Morris and Chapman 1). According to Morris and Chapman, the major causes of biodiversity loss in the environment are grouped into two- direct and indirect drivers. Direct drivers comprise of human habitat while indirect drivers include human population growth, economic activities, technology, and social, political and cultural factors. According to Hawksworth (339), the three main elements of environment that are affected by human activities are air, soil, and water. Human beings burn fossil fuels for heating, transport and industrial use that pollute the environment. This air pollution has led to global warming, climate change and an increase in the number of disease. It has also led to decreased agricultural production because of unpredictable weather changes, which has contributed to food insecurities in the world. According to a research carried out by United Nations, an estimate of 3.5 million of deaths, which are premature, occurs every year (World Health Organization (WHO) 1). This is because of household air pollution and a comparison of 3.3 million deaths from outdoor air pollution is made (WHO 1). The second element is water that human being use for consumption, irrigation, fishing among other activities. Increased population growth has led to as increased of water consumption. As population grows, there is development of human communities, which always disrupts water flow through construction of watershed. Quality of water is damaged as chemicals are slowly being disposed in water sources (lakes, rivers oceans) which has led to destruction of aquatic life (Miller 211-212). Soil pollution occurs because of use of chemicals like fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides to boost agricultural production and waste disposal. Increased use of these chemicals over time leads to nutrient depletion and leaching a condition where plants can no longer access them leaving the soil unproductive (Hawksworth and Bull 339). Agriculture forms the basis of every countries development backbone in that it provides raw materials for industries; export in trade and for local consumption. Therefore, ways of improving production are sort by incorporating technology. Agricultural practices usually leads to an increase in carbon dioxide production especially in animal farming. Wastes from farm animals also contain harmful pathogens, which cause disease, and infections and chemicals that reach water sources cause a greenhouse effect in the air. Conversion of land to agricultural land leads to destruction of plants; deforestation also leads to an increase in carbon dioxide and eventually leads to global temperature rise (Rodriguez, Sultan and Hiliver 32). Ground plant cover is useful because it binds the soil particles together by the roots reducing the rate of soil erosion. Destruction of these plant cover, therefore, leads to increased soil erosion and loss of useful nutrients for agriculture. Modern agricultural techniques of use of fertilizers have proven wasteful (Rodriguez, Sultan and Hiliver 31). This is because large amounts are added when the plants are young leaving the technique inefficient since young plants are unable to absorb most of the nitrogen. In order to increase the quality and quantity of agricultural products, irrigation methods are nowadays being used (Rodriguez, Sultan and Hiliver 31). These irrigation schemes get water from rivers diverting it to the irrigated area. The impact of this hydrological scheme results to water logging, leaching of the most important minerals making it had the plant roots to reach them and salination of soil. Technological irrigation projects that adopt the use of power to increase the water flow lead to a large-scale depletion of fresh water from the rivers, lakes, and aquifers. This diversion contributes to the change in the ecosystem, which eventually contributes to extinction of many species that live in these water bodies. Industrial wastes, run-offs from fertilizers used in agricultural land, oil spills have also damaged the ecosystem by polluting water bodies. This has equally affected aquatic animal leaving billions of people without access of clean and safe water for consumption. Transport network development have also affected the environment. The expansion has led to clearing of land; its reliance on use of energy creates air pollution that is a significant contributor of global warming through the emission of carbon dioxide. Other effects of the transport network system on the environment includes congestion of traffic, urban sprawl that is automobile oriented and consumes the available agricultural land and natural habitats (Miller 213-214). This leads to climate change, air pollution, smog and acidic rain. Another way in which humans affect the environment is through war. The modern technology employed especially with atomic bombs has adverse effects on the environment. Use of explosives usually pollutes the environment rendering land unusable and dangerous causing death to aquatic animals. According to Rodriguez, Sultan and Hiliver (28-31) human being should make positive changes so as not to overexploit the environment. Some of the positive ways already adopted to counter the negative effects includes introduction of captive bred animals to replace the endangered species to deal with the problem of extinction. Also, adopting the use of renewable energy to reduce over-dependence on fossil fuel energy. For example, the use of wind energy, solar, water energy, and the use of biofuels from plants that contain ethanol and oils. In addition, coming up with policies illegalizing poaching, deforestation and reforesting the already deforested areas which will help to bring an economic balance. In addition, recycling of waste products helps in reducing the amount of waste in the environment. This eventually leads to people having a healthy lifestyle. Controlling population growth by adopting family planning methods will be of great help since population growth is the major cause of over-exploitation of the available natural resources largely (Hawksworth and Bull 339). In conclusion, it is evident that human actions have greater negative effects as compared to the positive ones. Therefore, man should try to adopt actions that will counteract and ease the negative effects in order to try to run a healthy lifestyle. It is also evident that every human action should engage sustainable development. This is to mean that future generations well being should be put into consideration to enhance continuity, and every individual has a role to affect the environment positively. Works Cited Hawksworth, D. L. and Bull, Alan T. “Biodiversity and Conservation in Europe.” Springer Science & Business Media, 2007. Print. Miller G.T. “Sustaining the earth.” California: Thompson Learning Inc, 2004. Print Morris and Chapman. “Biodiversity and human wellbeing.” Greenfacts.org. Web. 05 December 2014. < http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/>. Rodriguez, E, Sultan, Ryan and Hiliver, Amy. “Negative effects of agriculture on our environment.” The Traprock 3 (2004):28-32. Print. World Health Organization. “7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution.” Who.int. Web. 05 December 2014. . . Read More