Negative Impacts of Urbanization on Environmental Degradation

This paper analyzes the negative impacts of urbanization on environmental degradation and its relevant outcomes. It discusses the increasing level of air pollution and the impact of urbanization on disposal wastes and hazardous wastes. It also provides solutions to mitigate these negative impacts.

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Abstract
In recent times, increasing population and rapid development have been posing challenges on the
environmental sustainability. Currently, global atmosphere, all countries undergo with the
challenges of environment, social, economy in their respective cities. As a result, the urban areas
are capable of improved infrastructure, public facilities along with provision of employment
opportunities compared to the rural areas. The paper has offered comprehensive insights of the
negative impacts of urbanization on environmental degradation and its relevant outcomes.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Findings...........................................................................................................................................3
Increasing Level of Air Pollution................................................................................................3
Impact of Urbanization on disposal wastes and hazardous wastes..............................................4
Solutions......................................................................................................................................5
Discussion....................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
Urbanization is identified as a process which results to the growth of cities because of
industrialization and economic growth (Li & Ma, 2014). Such an economic growth further leads
to urban centric developments in the realm of specialization, labour division and human
behaviours. Reports of authors have revealed in only twenty decades, the world’s urban
population has developed from around 2% to nearly 50% of all people. Zhang et al. (2014) have
noted that because of unregulated urbanization in developing countries, certain environmental
degradation has been taking place at a rapid pace and have been giving rise to immense air
pollution, dust as well as heat in addition to issues of disposal wastes along with hazardous
wastes. The following paper will analyse the negative impacts of urbanization on environmental
degradation and its relevant outcomes.
Findings
Increasing Level of Air Pollution
Air pollution is considered as the world’s largest scale of environmental health risk by the
World Health Organization (WHO). According to Bounoua et al. (2015), air pollution frequently
plagues industrialized cities especially during the process of urbanization. Significant episodes of
elevated levels of sulphurous smog have been accountable for deaths or causing illness to
several. Furthermore, as per Capps, Bentsen and Ramírez (2016), other urbanized cities chiefly
in the industrialized regions of the United States as well as Europe have been suffering from
reduced air quality. Moreover, in North America and Europe, the union of industrialization and
air pollution demanded significant creation of air quality standards and regulations for emission

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sources such as increasing number of vehicles, electrical power generation and industrial
services (Capps, Bentsen & Ramírez, 2016). According to Isaksson (2015), the success of these
initiatives has caused the intrinsically severe air pollution episodes to be secluded memories in
the affected regions. Moreover, Wei and Ye (2014) have noted that as urbanization develops, the
level of air quality concern tends to disseminate other areas of the globe. For example, authors
have noted that recently majority of cities in China such as Shanghai, Beijing and
Guangzhou have been reporting that urbanization impact of air pollution has remained as a major
environmental issue globally.
Impact of Urbanization on disposal wastes and hazardous wastes
Urbanization has immense effect on waste generation which is likely to impact the
environment and sustainability involving space availability, global warming in addition to loss of
habitat and consumption of natural resources (Zhang et al., 2014). The increase of hazardous
wastes depends on significant number of factors related to lifestyle of the people, their relative
standards of living, and broad consumer patterns in addition to the level of technological
advancement. Reports of Bounoua et al. (2015) have revealed that detection of traces of toxic
chemicals in drinking water supplies in areas of polar icecaps, ground water sources as well as
episodes such as those in Japan and USA have essentially emphasized on the attention of the
public worldwide on the threats caused by improper disposal of disposal and hazardous waste as
well as accidental discharge of toxic chemicals into the environment. Ren, Cui and Sun (2014)
have cited the example of developing nations such as India where the issue and need to manage
the hazardous waste generated in the country has been focused on after the increasing rate of
population. Furthermore, it has been expected that population of India will rise to around 1,824
million by 2051 and approximately 300 million tons per year of disposal wastes and hazardous

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wastes will be generated that will necessitate approximately 1,450 km of land in order to dispose
it in a systematic manner (Kumar & Singh, 2014). Moreover, reports of Butu and Mshelia (2014)
have noted that water resources have been reducing not only due to substantial number of large
population numbers but also because of wasteful consumption as well as disregard of
conservation.
Solutions
Considering growing rate of hazardous wastes in both developed and developing nations,
a reliable waste collection service is required in order to be suitable for local conditions. Ren,
Cui and Sun (2014) have noted that effective enforcement of waste management legislation
along with a proper policy and planning framework for waste management are required.
Furthermore, with increasing rate of urbanization it is imperative that wastes dumped along
roads, underneath of the flyovers and in sewage channels need to be cleared. Kumar and Singh
(2014) have noted that for developed cities along with zone-wise decentralized composting units
must be strategically established. However, community participation along with segregated
biodegradable waste from individual community should be collected as well as disposed into
these decentralized composting units in order to condense the impact of urbanization on the
environment.
On the other hand, considering the rise of air pollution due to urbanization has led
extensive range transport of pollutants developed in Europe and at the later stage in North
America such as the Ozone Transport Assessment Group research in the eastern United States.
Reports of Butu and Mshelia (2014) have revealed that long-range transport of O3 along with
particulate matter has been regarded as a vital issue in order to consider in all urban areas, not

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only in the more developed nations whereby local emissions have strategically been regulated in
highly developing nations where large cities tend to lie in close proximity to one another. On the
other hand, Sadorsky (2014) has noted the set up of the South Coast Air Quality Management
District in order to reduce the negative impacts of urbanization on air pollution can effectively
improve the air quality in Los Angeles.
Discussion
As urbanization, global population and economic growth, extensive-range transport of
pollution have developed as an increasingly vital factor for cities looking to improve air
quality. Reports of Capps, Bentsen and Ramírez (2016) have mentioned that urbanization is
likely to pose impact on the extensive regional environments. According to Li and Ma (2014),
regions downwind from large industrial complexes further anticipate an increase in the amount
of precipitation, air pollution in addition to the number of days with thunderstorms. Urbanization
not only poses impact on weather patterns but also the overflow patterns for water. Capps,
Bentsen and Ramírez (2016) have mentioned that urban areas typically generate considerable
amount of rain but tend to reduce the infiltration of water as well as lower the water tables.
However, on the other hand, authors have highlighted that urbanization is a vital factor in
determining the quality of life in urban areas in addition to the impact of the urban areas on the
broader environment. The health implications of these environmental issues include respiratory
infections along with other detrimental diseases. Nevertheless, as per Zhang et al. (2014), with
the lack of strong and effective governance, public-private associations can develop high vitality.
Such kinds of partnerships can aid in establishing priorities which are shared at an extensive rate
and consequently implemented.

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Conclusion
Hence to conclude, certain causes of negative impacts on the environment because of
urbanization lie in the framework and legislation and the controlling agencies of the countries.
The role of protecting and upholding the entire environment has been a continuing factor that
depends on the level of a nation’s socioeconomic and political development. Thus, there is a
need to improve environmental education programs and public participation as it impacts solid
waste management through social media, print media as well as through the grassroots
enlightenment campaigns. However, many researchers consider that urbanization is highly
beneficial for the financial growth of nation but vigilant arrangement is essential on order to
develop cities and present basic amenities for healthy living.

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References
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