Human Impact on Environment

Human Impact on Environment

Environmental problems may arise due to natural disasters or due to human activities.

Natural Disaster

  1. Floods
  2. Cyclone
  3. Earthquake
  4. Forest Fire
  5. Tsunami
  6. Landslide
  7. Cloud Burst

Human-made Disaster

  1. Deforestation and Loss of Ecosystem
  2. Air, Water, Soil and Noise Pollution
  3. Depletion of Fossil Fuel
  4. Biomagnification
  5. Depletion of Ozone Layer
  6. Global Warming
  7. Waste Generation
  8. Eutrophication

Prevention of natural disasters like earthquake, cyclone, tsunami, cloud-burst is not within human control, but an early warning system could help in saving lives and property.

Constructing flood proof and earthquake proof buildings can help in minimizing loss to lives and property due to floods and earthquakes.

Forest fires are a major cause of forest degradation and  has an adverse ecological, social and economic impact. Natural forest fire caused by lightning striking dry trees or by the heat generated in the litter and other biomass in the dry summer months is not in our control but definitely forest fire caused by human negligence can be avoided.

Lighting a matchstick or cigarette should be completely banned in a forest. Deforestation by humans has contributed towards soil erosion and global warming.

Increased population, mindless overexploitation of resources and human negligence has adversely affected our environment. Over exploitation of resources has resulted in loss of ecosystem, depletion of fossil fuel, pollution, global warming, ozone layer depletion and photochemical smog.

The excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides to increase agricultural yield has led to eutrophication and biomagnification.

1. Air Pollution

Causes

  • Gases from Vehicle or factories exhaust
  • Forest fires, volcanic eruption, dry soil erosion other natural sources
  • Building construction and demolition

Effects

  • Pollutants in the air make it hard for people breathe causing long diseases.
  • When it rains the chemicals in the air cause acid rain killing aquatic the animals and plants, and monument.

2. Water Pollution

Causes

  • Increased sediment from Soil erosion
  • Improper waste disposal and littering
  • Organic Material decay in water supplies

Effects

  • Decreasing the quantity of available drinking water
  • Toxic waste and Oil spills cause many animals and plants to die

3. Land Pollution

Causes

  • Thousands of waste and sewage fills
  • Non Sustainable farming practices, such as the heavy use of inorganic pesticides
  • Strip mining, deforestation
  • Household dumping and littering

Effects

  • Poor growth and reduce crop yields
  • Loss of wildlife habitats
  • Soil erosion