The world is a set of elements that interact with each other, creating a perfect balance that allows the development of life throughout the planet. Over time, man has developed measures for the consumption of natural resources, allowing an adequate development of society in different ways but also influencing the destruction of natural environments. In the following article we will learn about How Pollution Affects the Planet and what are the possible solutions for it.
How Does Pollution Affect the Planet?
The planet earth has been exposed to various changes since the beginning of time, altering and modifying it until it has taken it to new phases of evolution; but since the intervention of man in acquiring its resources and carrying out industrial activities, it has modified the natural environment causing its alteration and contaminating all areas. All this is observed when carrying out practices or implementing substances that alter the purity of the environment and its natural condition.
Pollution is known as everything that represents the accumulation of harmful substances for the environment, negatively affecting the natural environment. It is also one of the main causes of the deterioration of the health of living beings, therefore it influences the living conditions of all organisms. These polluting agents can become chemical (pharmaceutical substances or petroleum derivatives), physical (garbage, waste) and biological (pharmaceutical residues).
At present there are many consequences attributed to pollution such as the affectation of water bodies, massive accumulation of garbage, loss of biodiversity, deforestation of green areas, destruction of natural ecosystems and the cause of a large number of harmful diseases in recent decades. . The latter being one of the main concerns for the maintenance of the life of society.
The deaths generated worldwide by pollution range from approximately 9 million people a year, where approximately 20% are affected in China, the main country that registers pollution-related diseases. According to studies, the most influential pollution is atmospheric, it consists of those harmful gases that accumulate in the atmosphere, affecting a large number of lives, approximately 6,5 million worldwide. In this case, the country stands out for presenting the highest rate of accumulation of greenhouse gases in its large cities.
Observing all this, pollution has a strong influence on the environment, destroying ecosystems and harming nature, but it also influences living beings causing diseases that can lead to death, more and more diseases are highlighted in society. .
Causes of the Pollution of the Planet
Pollution is a definition handled worldwide, being discussed in homes, schools, offices, political debates, among many other instances. This is because it is a worrying phenomenon, because it puts the environment and future generations at risk, since it has been responsible for charging numerous resources and human lives, if the planet remains stable in the coming years, serious injuries are presumed. environmental conditions due to the massive deterioration caused by it.
Despite the knowledge in humanity about the impact it has on the natural environment, radical measures have not been taken to curb the effect of pollution on the environment. The industrial activities carried out by companies and industries are the main cause of the alteration of the environment, but also small actions in our daily lives, such as the consumption of treated food, accumulation of organic and inorganic waste, excessive volume, among others.
Main causes
Pollution is present in all environments of the globe, covering large scales such as the extinction of plant and animal species, destruction of ecosystems or also on small scales such as garbage cans, excessive noise. Next, the influences on the affectation of the soil will be highlighted, taking the following characteristics:
Pesticides and Chemicals
In agriculture, chemical products are usually used to eradicate or avoid pests that make plants sick and cause their death, this type of product is known as pesticide; These types of substances stand out for releasing enormous amounts of greenhouse gases that adhere to the atmosphere and deteriorate the ozone layer, eventually influencing global climate change.
In addition, an excess of this type of substance can be harmful to crops and nearby water sources. Currently, it has been decided to reduce the use of pesticides and insecticides, because they are chemical substances that can remain in the water and in the soil for many years, in addition to being very toxic to human health.
Deforestation
There is a wide variety of ecosystems throughout planet earth, but wooded lands stand out due to the presence of different plant species, especially trees, they are organisms that allow air purification and provide oxygen for the entire planet. Despite this, in recent decades practices have been observed that have led to the destruction of numerous forests worldwide, such as excessive logging, construction of urban areas, excessive extraction of raw material (wood).
It is considered that extensions of forests the size of Portugal or Panama disappear annually, coupled with the massive accumulation of gases in the atmosphere, being increasingly noticeable and perceived in the environment, bringing serious diseases to all living organisms. Deforestation is related to food consumption, linked to monoculture extensions and livestock.
Industrial and Domestic Waste
Industries are noted for carrying out useful processes for the production of products that are consumed by society, such as cosmetics, beverages, food, among others, most of which are used in our daily lives. The massive consumption of the same causes industrial processes to act in a chain effect, acquiring raw material in an excessive way and without protecting the environment, the waste generated after these processes is one of the main causes of pollution today.
Fossil fuels
The main source of energy in humanity comes from the exploitation of hydrocarbons in the different crude oil deposits, this raw material is processed for the acquisition of different derivatives that allow obtaining a wide variety of products. The excessive exploitation of coal, oil and natural gas, represent one of the main pollution indexes, affecting the air, soil and water currents.
Fossil fuel represents a great alert for the conservation of the environment, especially to maintain sustainable development and care of the soil, for this reason, measures have been established to guarantee the conservation of the soil for future generations; emerging green energies correspond to those that use renewable resources as the main source, such as wind, sunlight and water currents.
High Rates of Garbage Production
Society has been characterized by the excessive consumption of goods, mainly those processed with numerous packages, such as cans, wrappers, fried foods, among others; generating a large amount of waste. Currently there is a large accumulation of waste that generates damage to ecosystems and the environment.
Solutions Against Pollution
Pollution is known as a negative consequence that everyone is aware of but few take action against it. For more than a decade, political and institutional initiatives have been taken to reduce the impact of pollution on the earth, in addition to raising awareness from homes, making environmental conservation a principle, thus collaborating against this terrible phenomenon. Some of the actions taken are the following to highlight:
Recycle Waste
Recycling consists of the action of converting discarded materials to be used as other types of products or as raw materials that can be reused for other purposes. One of its main advantages, first of all, is to be able to reuse materials that have already completed their first cycle, and second, it allows all waste to be classified into those that are optimal for other purposes. It is a type of practice that can be applied from home, being taught to the smallest of the home.
Use of Public Transportation and Other Alternative Means
Transportation based on the burning of fossil fuel usually emits large amounts of gases that are harmful to the environment. To reduce this impact, it is recommended to use bicycles, electric cars and subways; In this way, it is possible to collaborate with the sustainability of the planet, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.
Responsible consumption
The products used should not be for massive and materialistic consumption, in this case responsible consumption is encouraged for real needs. In this way, the demand for certain types of highly polluting products is reduced and with this the consumption of natural resources is reduced, collaborating with the reduction of greenhouse gases.
Construction of Gardens at Home
Home gardens allow obtaining healthier food resources and self-consumption, allowing awareness of the soil resource. Through this, the different planting methods are known, such as learning about spring plants or those that are aromatic, normally they are the most used in this type of orchard.
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