Humans’ Negative Impacts on the Environment

Introduction:

We, humans, have become too dependent on luxuries such as cars, houses, and cell phones. But what does our love for manufactured metallic and plastic goods do to the environment?

This has produced extreme climate change issues, harming the ecosystem from the environment to wildlife and to us humans.

Explanation:

Humans affect the environment in both positive and negative ways.

Environmental impact is any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial.

Reason for Environmental Changes

The reason for the environmental changes primarily constitutes the following facts that have adversely affected it.

• Overpopulation
• Pollution
• Land conversion for development
• Ocean acidification
• Deforestation
• Acid rain

Overpopulation

Overpopulation is an unfavorable condition where the number of the existing human population exceeds the actual carrying capacity of the Earth.

Overpopulation has many adverse effects on the environment and the ecosystem.

It increases the demand for food and habitat, which leads to deforestation, over-farming, use of fertilizers to increase production, water pollution, and eutrophication.

Population increases lead to increased carbon dioxide, the primary gas which causes global warming.

Pollution

Pollution harms the environment and the ecosystem.

Pollution affects the Earth through global warming, increased greenhouse gases, and an increase in disease.

Pollutants can cause excessive levels of acid in lakes and streams and damage trees and forest soils.

Nitrogen in the atmosphere can reduce plant biodiversity and harm fish and other aquatic life.

Types of Pollution

There are four types of pollution that affect the environment. See the images below.​

Land Conversion for Development

The conversion of lands that once provided wildlife habitat to housing developments, roads, strip malls, parking lots, and industrial sites continues even during the current economic crisis.

Ocean Acidification

It is the process by which a massive amount of carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean, reducing the pH levels of water and thus making it more acidic.

Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas is one of the major causes.

Ocean acidification has an overall negative effect on many marine species.

It harms life forms that rely on carbonate-based shells, skeletons, and organisms sensitive to acidity.

Deforestation

It is defined as the large-scale removal of trees from forests to facilitate human activities.

It is also a contributor to climate change and global warming.

It is a serious environmental concern since it can result in:

• Biodiversity loss
• Damage to natural habitats
• Disturbances in the water cycle 
• Soil erosion

Acid Rain

Acid rain is rain that has been polluted and causes harm to the environment.

When humans burn coal, harmful gases are released into the atmosphere. They rise and accumulate in the clouds until the clouds become saturated and rain acid, causing havoc on the ground beneath.

When the rain falls, it accumulates in water bodies which is especially harmful to lakes and small bodies of water.

Did You Know?

64 billion plastic bottles end up in landfills each year.