how environment is polluted due to human activities?

Answer 1

-airborn polutants, particulates, CO2 from car exhaust, manufacturing, fuel burning

- sewage into oceans

- effluent into streams and rivers and oceans

- landfill contaminants leaching into groundwater

- PCBs, dioxins

- pesticides and herbicides

- hormones in animal feed entering the biosphere


etc.

Answer 2

If I explained everything, I would be here until the Earth died. There are so many different activities in which humans pollute the earth:

-construction - destroys habitat, uses up electricity - which in the process creates pollution
-deforestation - expanding population growth is using up way too much space and we are choking the animals out of their habitats
-transportation - cars, trains and airplaces all use up energy that in some stage releases pollutants. Some do more than others...while some carry more passengers and uses up less (and thus releases less) per person.
-non-native introduction - through the use of transportation, we are introducing different species from all over the globe into different (non-native) habitats. This, as a result, creates an unbalance in an ecosystem and invasive species can cause ecological damage as well as extensive economical damage.
-Everything essentially - did you experience that heat wave

Answer 3

umm...anytime something is burned, there is carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, voc, and particulate matter (and potentailly sulfur dioxide) released into the air. all of these except for carbon dioxide are listed as criteria air pollutants by the epa. these compunds adversely affect human health; if you need more information how, please check the link.

in addition, many heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, etc. are released due to industrialization. these metals are also toxic to humans. metals such as mercury build up in the food chain, which is why some fish are unhealthy to eat.

there are also several hazardous chemicals that are created daily at chemical plants. some of which can kill people at very small exposure rates. hydrogen flouride is toxic at 3 ppb (that is three parts per billion, and it is a very small concentration) and is used catalytically in some alkylation reactions. all chemical plants leak chemicals. no matter how well the system is running, some fugitive emissions will always occur. pump seals leak, valve stems leak, pipe flanges leak, compressors, drains, sample connections, etc.

these are just a few examples. feel free to check out the epa website for more information about pollution in your area.

http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/6poll.html

Answer 4

I am an avid recycler. However, in looking at the facts I feel betrayed by the cause. I always though that we were working to save the plant by recycling. Come to find out, recycling often does more harm than good. It takes more energy to recycle a plastic bottle than it des to make a new one. As for the carpet that is made from recycled plastic I am not sure. I have purchased a home recently, and nothing we looked at was made from recycled plastic. There was a trend in which plastic was used to make synthetic fiber for jackets and outdoor wear. I have not seen these options any more. I have nothing to back this up, but it would seem that the market would not support the cost of the idea, or that consumers would not pay the extra price for the items. Perhaps if people were more aware of the product and its benefits to society the demand would increase, the cost of production would fall with increased demand, and the market could sustain the idea.

The only thing we typically recycle that actually conserve is aluminum. It takes a tremendous amount of electricity to produce aluminum. However, once it is made it can be melted and reformed over and over again. This is why you see people collecting aluminum cans and nothing else. It is easier to produce a can from recycled aluminum than it is to make more aluminum. The result is a higher value placed on an old can, rising the purchase price of the can. Thus, people collect cans to earn money. Then people start collecting plastic bottles to support themselves we know we are making a difference by recycling. If we truly want to cut down on consumption of aluminum lets demand a redesign of the soda/beer can we are all familiar with. If the can were elongated and narrowed the same volume of liquid could be contained with less aluminum.

Paper is an area where I really feel betrayed. I fought with my office manager to start a paper recycling program. However, in looking at the facts nearly all virgin pulp is farmed not old growth. Additionally, the process to break down recycled paper into, and I don’t know the proper name for it, is chemical based. We run the risk of causing greater harm to the environment through a chemical leak at a recycling plant than we do making paper from trees.

The greatest contributor to global deforestation is caused by poor farms in the rain forest trying to provide for their families, not population growth. Home builders and city planners will follow the path of least resistance. Of course forests are cut for growth, but this is not the main problem. Who are we who are not hungry and trying to provide basic sustenance to our families to judge those who are? It is much easier to point a finger at a large corporation whose goal is to make profit. Corporations are easy to vilify.

Many people cite a rise in temperatures as a sign of global warming. Yes, it is warmer now than it has been in the past. However, the highest yearly average global temperature was in 1994. Does this mean we have passed the hump? Or is it that the earth has a natural changing of climate? Remember there was an ice age in the earths past. There are also places in the world that are not desert climates that once were the floor of a prehistoric ocean. This would seem to reason that there was a period of intense temperature increase to cause the polar ice caps to melt. The truth is that we just don’t know what causes the shifts in climate. Also keep in mind that in the 70’s many people, due to abnormally cold years claimed that the earth was heading into another ice age as a result of pollution.

Many also say we should not drill in the Alaskan wildlife preserves. I am all for keeping nature whole and pure, but I am more for our kids. Look at populated areas of our country where we are currently producing oil. There are oil derricks near schools, in residential areas, in our lives. If drilling for oil is that destructive to the wild nature why would we do it in our backyard? Why don’t we move all oil drilling to the wild? Why don’t we protect ourselves first? Of course this is an ignorant statement, but there is s ring of a good idea in there.

I know that many people will be angered by my words. I am angry also. I still recycle, but it is not out of a belief that I am making a difference. This movement for the environment has been taken over by those who are angry at corporate greed rather than the environment. I just wish we could all come out and say it. Many people will stereo type me into a certain political party for what I have said. They would be wrong. I am an everyday American. I just think we need to look at our station in life and how that allows a person to carry certain beliefs. We should be grateful that we live in a country where we have the time, resources, and abundance to be able to make the world a better place. We just need to aim our concern in areas where we truly make a difference. I apologize to those I have offended. I truly am not trying to antagonize. Believe it or not I am as hurt as you are.