Human Impact On The Environment

Running Head: HUMAN IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT
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Human Impact on the Environment
Student Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Environmental Issues Developed Due To Human Activities
Introduction
Deterioration of the environment is majorly caused by human activities that lead to depletion of
assets such as water, air, and soil. The world is currently facing uncountable ecological
problems, which are mainly caused by social events. This paper expounds on pollution and
global warming as the major environmental issues resulting from daily human activities.
Pollution is a worldwide menace, while global warming is a widely debated issue globally
(Dearden & Mitchell, 2016).
Pollution
There are numerous forms of pollution resulting from human activities, ranging from water, air
to soil pollution. Urbanization and industrialization have increased air pollution through the
burning of fossil fuels, emission of exhausts from factories and industrial plants, and exhaust
fumes released from automobiles that deteriorate the quality of the air we breathe. Human
activities such as industrial waste disposals, accidental oil leakages, chemical fertilizers and
pesticides, leakage from sewage and wastewater, among others, have led to water pollution in
rivers, lakes, oceans, and seas. Soil or land pollution is mainly caused by deforestation, and
consequently erosion, illegal dumping of industrial wastes, bad agricultural habits as well as
construction and urbanization. Pollution is considered an intercontinental public health problem,
and measures have been put in place to support health promotion by reinforcing ecological
systems to resist contamination of the environment. Technology-based approaches have also
been implemented to reduce pollution (Diener & Frank, 2010).
Environmental contaminants have various adverse health impacts. The harmful health
effects of the pollution include cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, perinatal disorders,

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infant mortality, allergies, malignancies, and an increase in trauma oxidative, endothelial
dysfunction, mental disorders, and various other caustic effects. Though short term effects of
environmental pollutants are usually highlighted, a wide range of hazards of air pollution from
early life are their possible implications on chronic, non-communicable diseases of adulthood
that cannot be underscored. Countless studies have exposed that environmental particulate
exposure has been linked to increased risk of morbidity and mortality from many diseases, organ
conflicts, cancers, and other long-lasting diseases. Consequently, it is time to act and control
pollution. Otherwise, the waste products from intake, heating, farming, mining, manufacturing,
transportation, and other human actions will ultimately damage the environment (Dearden &
Mitchell, 2016).
Figure 1: Air pollution due to industrialization
Centered on the forte of the scientific knowledge regarding the adverse health effects of
environmental pollution and the degree of their health effect, different kinds of interventions
should be taken into account. In addition to technical aspects, public cognizance should be
increased in this concern. Similarly, health specialists have an elite competency to help in the

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prevention and decrease of the destructive effects of environmental problems; this capacity
should be underscored in their usual practice.
Global warming
Secondly, global warming is a major environmental problem that describes the continued
increase in the levels of the greenhouse gases that are emitted to the atmosphere. Greenhouse
gases are produced through human activities. According to Kjellstrom et al. (2016), greenhouse
gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Emission of these gases into the
atmosphere results in extreme climate variations daily, annually, seasonally, and decanal. Human
beings stand at the center of the propagation of global warming, yet they are also at the forefront
of receiving the health effects of global warming far and wide (Kjellstrom et al., 2016).
The impacts of global warming on the climate include severe weather events, massive
flooding, and severe drought throughout various parts of the world. Areas that have been
adversely affected by global warming include China and India due to the increase of greenhouse
gases as shown in figure 2. For instance, glaciers are a prominent geographic feature that
supports over 1.3 billion people in these two countries. The glaciers are, however, melting due to
global warming and are estimated to disappear within twenty to thirty years. This destruction
will cause extreme flooding throughout these countries, which will lead to a mass displacement
of people from their homes.

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Figure 2: High rise of CO2 emissions in China and India
Furthermore, the increase in temperature raises the threat of severe drought, which will
eventually cause a decrease in the agricultural output, and consequently leading to a shortage of
food supply. Diener and Frank speculate that droughts can become severe that by 2070, a four-
degree centigrade increase in temperature could result in a 6-10% reduction of agricultural
output in China and a 31-40% reduction in India. These daunting calculations demonstrate the
reality of global warming’s effect on the human resources necessary for everyday living (Spoon,
Hobolt & de Vries, 2013).
Apart from the indirect effects of global warming mentioned, human health is also
directly affected. The World Health Organization speculates that 150,000 deaths with 5 million
“disability-adjusted life years” have been brought by global warming within the last 30 years.
The high death rates are in conjunction with the spread of infectious trajectories and rodent-
borne illnesses, diarrhea, thermal overindulgences, malnourishment, cholera, and cardiovascular
and respiratory ailment. Not merely can global warming bring about high temperatures, but
winter can also be detrimental to human health. U.S. Global Alteration Research Program, bring
about the idea that in “overcast, dank, and probably snowy days,” people may be forced indoors

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in adjacent quarters, increasing the risk for microbial or viral contagion, thereby backing to the
increased morbidity and death rates. This data sheds light on the life-threatening issue that
continues to grow around the world (Kim, 2016).
In a husk, there is much to point out concerning the effects realized regarding the
nightmare of global warming. The alteration in climate does not only make the stay on the planet
to be uncomfortable in terms of an increase in the temperatures on the Earth’s surface but also
adversely affects the health of humans. Taking an ardent look at the statistics that are related to
health, we can comfortably conclude that global warming has related health hazards to the
human population. Some of the health deathtraps come due to the hazardous sun rays on the
human skin, while others are tied to the damage of the environment by the changes in the
ecological elements (Diener & Frank, 2010).
Automobiles are an essential part of daily life; it has shaped our culture and our life’s.
However, considering global warming, motor vehicles play a significant role in the most severe
environmental problem the world faces today. The automobile’s main impact comes from the
carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted as the engine burns fuel. Three factors determining auto CO2
emissions refer to the three-legged stool. The elements are Travel claim, Fuel use proportion, and
Fuel carbon content. Fuel carbon intensity has not significantly changed, reflecting the tenacity
of oil (Dearden & Mitchell, 2016).
Mitigation Strategies
Many strategies can be taken towards ensuring that the emission of greenhouse gases is reduced.
First, the attempt to greening transportation can be an excellent way to reduce the emission of
greenhouse gases. Greening transportation will involve improving efficiency in all modes of
transport by reducing the miles of traveling via smart growth and swapping to low-carbon fuels.

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Secondly, fossil fuel phase-out is another critical strategy in protecting our environment from
toxic gases. Lastly, nuclear exploration for the future will assist in minimizing fuel use. Nuclear
energy is encompassed in the energy mix to assist in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases
hence protecting the environment. These three policies, among others, need to be applied
aggressively to assist in stopping the menacing issue of global warming (Turton, 2010).
Conferring to an article by R. Lake, global warming and pollution of the environment can
be reduced through conservation strategy known as the three R’s (Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse)
shown in figure 3. This strategy impacts positively on the environment by reducing the levels of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Recycling is the act of buying kinds of stuff that are made
from recycled items, or that can be recycled and reused. Reducing is the ability to produce goods
that will not leave behind so many leftovers. By buying stuff in bulk and reducing the use of
non-reusable products like paper, plastic, aluminum foil, etc., the greenhouse gases can be
minimized. Reusing of products in ways such as reuse of grocery bags, using resalable containers
rather than plastic or foil that you just throw away have positive impacts as it helps to recycle the
products being bought (Dearden & Mitchell, 2016).
Figure 3: Three R’s

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Conclusion
In conclusion, on a global scale, human activities result in direct or indirect damage to the
environment. Rapid population growth is associated with adverse environmental effects like
global warming and pollution. Therefore, as the population increases, there’s a need for more
food, a measure that is met through intensive farming that calls for deforestation to create more
farmlands, which later brings about increased human activities. People should be educated on
important family planning to reduce the number of human beings and, in return, reducing social
activities.

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References
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