Download Human Impact on the Environment

Human Impact on the
Environment
• View the following images
• Explain briefly what relationship is
being demonstrated between humans
and their environment
Industry and Combustion
Industry and Combustion
• Industrial emissions include Sulfides and Nitrides
that mix with moisture in the atmosphere and
return as acid precipitation.
• Combustion, burning of fossil fuels produces
greenhouses gasses, increased combustion from
industry and vehicles as well as agriculture has
lead to an increase of these gasses in the
atmosphere and ocean
– In the atmosphere it has increased the planets
greenhouse effect, leading to global climate change
– In the ocean it has lead to acidification and a loss of
species, especially coral and zooplankton
Logging and Mining
Logging and mining
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Lead to destruction of habitats
Loss of biodiversity
Erosion, loss of nutrients in top soil
Deforestation has actually lead to drought
in some areas because it interrupts the
water cycle.
Wetland and Reef Habitats
Wetlands and Reef habitats
• As the Human population grows we take up
more space and use more resources.
• Wetlands are being drained for urban expansion
and the resources are being used up and
habitats destroyed
• Coral Reefs are being destroyed to make way
for shipping lanes and recreation vehicles.
• Reefs and their diverse species of coral and fish
are being exploited and stress leads to reduced
reproduction and possible extinction.
Endangered Species
Fishing and Construction
Endangered Species due to
overfishing and construction
• The Human population is expanding and
more people need more food and more
space.
• This means exploiting our oceans and
lakes, overfishing leads to unhealthy
aquatic ecosystems
• Construction means using resources and
destruction of habitat, which leads to loss
of biodiversity
Land fills, Oil rigs and pipelines
Human Population
Water and Agriculture
Water and agriculture
• Pesticides, like DDT, accumulate in
ecosystems and magnify in the body
tissues of the consumers.
• 1970 the US banded the use of DDT
because raptors like the Bald Eagle were
declining. Research showed high levels of
DDT in the body had weakened the egg
shell and prevented the Eagle from
reproducing.
Water and agriculture
• Fertilizers are also a problem
• When excess nutrients like Nitrogen and
Phosphorous leach into the ground they
runoff into the water systems.
• This fertilizes the water and causes an
algal bloom. This blocks out the sun and
clogs the water way. The algae dies and
decomposes. Decomposition depletes the
oxygen from the water and fish die.
Important terms: Human Impact
• Ozone depletion, increase in UV radiation
• Buildup of Greenhouse gasses causes
Global Warming and Climate shift
• Bioaccumulation in top predators reaches
toxic levels
• Deforestation equals loss of natural habitat
• Invasive species leading to loss of Native
Species
• Pollution, smog, acid rain
Common Pollution
• Sulfur dioxides and Nitrogen oxides emissions
from combustion create acid rain and ground level ozone - smog
• Ground level ozone created by chemical reactions between
oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the
presence of sunlight.
• Particulate matter the sum of all solid and liquid particles in the air
• PCBs Polychlorinated biphenyls, a persistent organic pollutant
found in electrical insulation and coolants.
• VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds, indoor pollutants.