Joel E. Cohen once stated in his How Many People Can the Earth Support?, “A little boy wanted to know the sum of one plus one. First he asked a physicist, who said, “If one is matter, and the other is antimatter, then the answer is zero. But if one is a critical mass of uranium and the other is a critical mass of uranium, then that's an explosive question.” Unenlightened, the little boy asked a biologist. She said, “Are we talking bacteria, mice or whales? And for how long?” In desperation, the boy hired an accountant. The accountant peered closely at the little boy and said, “Hmmm. One plus one? Tell me, little boy, how much do you want one plus one to be?” (Cohen 261) Every living thing on planet Earth requires a certain amount of …show more content…
Humans, along with any other living life form, need water and air to survive. “Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans,” said Jacques Cousteau. ("Effects of Overpopulation: Water and Air Pollution") Fresh water and air supplies have recently become “garbage cans” as Cousteau explained in that people throw waste into rivers and lakes which are fresh water and carbon dioxide along with other pollutants that are harming our air supply. ("Effects of Overpopulation: Water and Air Pollution") For example, people in China throw their garbage in nearby rivers because the rivers are not used for anything. In these rivers one could find anything from rotten food to dirt to chemicals. Approximately 39% of our rivers, 46% of our lakes, and 51% of our estuaries are still too polluted for safe fishing or swimming. (America’s Troubled Waters) Another example would be the use of cars. When a car is on the road it releases toxic fumes such as carbon dioxide that are harmful to the Earth’s ozone and some would even say to the green house. As these fumes increase, the thicker the layer in the ozone becomes which pollutes the air quality on this planet. World Watch Institute has pointed out that water will once again be at the center of new conflicts because of the increasing demand and the depleting supply. (Negative Population Growth)
When you think of problems in the world today, water pollution isn’t one that would normally come up. In fact it is one of the worst problems in the world today. Water pollution, by definition, is the contamination of streams, lakes, underground water, bays, or oceans by any substances harmful to living things. All living things contain water and most need water to survive, so water pollution is a big problem. If severe, the pollution can kill off birds, fish, and any animals that use the water source. In some cases even killing an entire species.
Water is probably the most important resource we as people have. Humans can survive without food for several weeks, but without water we would die in less than a week. On a slightly less dramatic note, millions of liters of water are needed every day worldwide for washing, irrigating crops, and cooling industrial processes, not to mention leisure industries such as swimming pools and water-sports centers. Despite our dependence on water, we use it as a dumping ground for all sorts of waste, and do very little to protect the water supplies we have.
Water pollution has become a major problem in our water sources. People think that when they litter or dump in our waters that their little contribution will not hurt anything, but everyone’s little contributions add up to some major problems. Our water ecosystems and the species that reside in them are being destroyed and we need to take the steps necessary to stop this. Why would anyone use the source of most of the world’s food as a dumping ground for garbage? People need to start realizing what it is they are doing when they do not take the proper steps to dispose of their garbage and the problems they are making for the future.
Water pollution is when, “one or more substances have built up in the water to such an extent that they cause problems for animals and people” (Woodford). Water pollution is also bad for humans and animal’s health. Sewage, chemicals, radioactive waste, oil pollution, and plastic, are some causes for water pollution (Explain That Stuff). When water from rain runs off roofs and roads into rivers it carries away trash, toxic chemicals, dirt, and harmful organisms (NRDC Water). Some solutions to these are to throw things into the correct bin, use water wisely, and not throw chemicals, oil, paints, and medicine down the sink, drain, or toilet. Also plant lots of trees and have cities develop a sewage treatment plant to minimize pollution (eSchool Today). It’s important to protect our
TRASH! TRASH! TRASH! Regardless of environmental laws that protect the quality of streams and lakes, garbage often ends up in our waters. Most of the trash comes from people who fish or participate in other forms of water-related recreation. Regardless of the source, trash is a form of water pollution. The most important issue facing us is the preserving of our waterways for future generations to enjoy. There are several things which can be done to make a difference regarding this issue so we will have a lifetime to enjoy our beautiful rivers and lakes.
The one thing humans need on this planet to survive is water. If we need water to survive, then why are polluting it? Most of our nation’s waterways are in terrible condition because of the pollution in the water. Water pollution not only can cause illnesses, but also deaths for humans. Humans aren’t the only thing that water pollution causes harm to. It is also hurting our ecosystem. Humans are the leading cause of most water pollution. We keep throwing wastes into the water making the water unsafe for humans to drink. Scientists are coming up with ways for humans to decrease the amount of wastes they are putting in the water. We need to stop polluting the one thing that keeps us alive.
In conclusion, as stated earlier, most of our planet is made up of water and us as humans are slowly destroying it by dumping are wastes and unwanted items. Don’t throw trash in someone else’s house because you wouldn’t like it very much if someone did that in your house. Next time you are on a beach and are done drinking your bottle of pop, don’t leave it on the beach, bring it back with you and dispose it properly. Ocean
to be grown trees have to be cut down and I have explained the effects
In recent years, the controversial subject of global warming has been more predominantly brought to our attention. Is the threat of global warming real? Is it man-made or is this just a natural cycle of earth? Does it really affect earth’s inhabitants? Should action be taken against it? If so, what kind and to what extent? It cannot be only a coincidence that the alarmingly rapid climate change coincides perfectly with the increased amount of pollutants that humans release into the environment. The once stable climate has in recent years begun to skyrocket, thus altering the delicate structure of earthly life. This proves to be hazardous to the future of the planet; some people worry that many of the resources the environment provides that
Nearly everything that a human does is in response to the environment. Our lives are defined by what is around us and what we find in front of us, whether this means accepting, dealing with or changing it. This has been the pattern since primates first stood up and became Homo erectus, and has continued until we considered ourselves doubly wise. The shape of the land affected where humans moved. Weather was something with which to contend. Fire affected humans until they conquered it – and herein lies the core of the relationship. The earth affects humans, and humans affect it back, viewing characteristics and patterns as problems and challenges, and finding a solution.
A reason that water pollution is a problem today is because many people don’t realize that they are hurting out water supplies when they really are. There are many pollutants that hurt our water supply such as farming. When farmers spray their fields with chemicals and apply fertilizers. Some of these chemicals reach the river, and animal urine and manure may be washed into the river. Another cause of water pollution is from accidents, such as tanker spills. Accidents with chemicals may cause river pollution as well. Mining can be another cause because the dusts and minerals get washed into the rivers. Seepage is another cause of water pollution. Because chemicals from waste dumps join the groundwater flow into the river. Urban Wastes is a major cause because the sewage comes from toilets, sinks, and industrial processes. This causes many human diseases such as diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, and cholera.
There are many kinds of environment: the physical environment often thought of as nature, psychological environments built out of human interactions, and political environments rife with manipulation and posturing. While there are some obvious effects that large human populations would have on the natural environment, there are also less evident psychological and political ramifications. Thus, overpopulation is today's most pressing environmental issue.
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how overpopulation causes social problems. To do so you must take many things into consideration, such as different views of racial problems and conflicting definitions of a social problem. Social problems can be defined in many different ways. They effect everyone and some of us encounter problems everyday as a result of our race, religion, gender, or low income. Others experience problems from technological change or declining neighborhoods, others are affected directly by crime and violence in their own neighborhood, and sometimes definitions of social problems are changed by society because of changes around you. Finally in
The last great source of pollution lays in the businesses. Although not common, businesses have been known to dump their waste products into streams, lakes, and rivers. This may seem like a relatively small occurrence that really is not your concern, but you're wrong. Each time one of these companies pollutes there are horrible consequences to pay. Mutations, destroyed ecosystems, and human death have all occurred as a direct result of illegal dumping. It contaminates our drinking water and soil. It causes entire communities of humans (not to mention animals) to move on to new places not to return for at least a century. The pollutants dumped by industry are so concentrated that a single barrel can destroy an entire lake's ecosystem. Not only do companies dump chemicals, but also hot water. This hot water kills most life it comes into contact with, but also causes an overgrowth
Water is the source of life and comes from the origin, humans have been using water for various purposes. Since civilizations first started appearing it centered around a source of water. When civilizations came around they caused deforestation which lead to rises to floods, annual run-off levels and also affects on-stream flow. In many parts of the world, humans obtain water supplies by pumping from ground water; it reduces level of water table and the replacement of coastal areas’ fresh water by salt water (ocean water) which isn’t that great to drink. As fresh water is slowing (not really slowly but vastly) being depleted we will soon be left only with salt water. Fresh water has been tasted and is showing different chemicals and substances within the water which can lead to diseases. Waste has constantly been dumped or disposed of back into the river. In the article by Franz-Josef Bruggemier states “The new industries, mainly iron and steel works and coal mines, consumed large quantities of water… After use, the industries poured the wastewater back into these rivers without any attempt at treatment.” (Bruggemier &Universitat, 1994, p 37) Even during the industrial revolution people constantly abused the water without thinking of how it was going to further affect the water for the future. Fish within the water are having some gender transitions, male fish are starting to have female organs. In the documentary For the Love of Water by Irena Salina there is a Gandhian