Human Influence on the Environment: Impacts and Solutions

Tema 10: Human Influence on the Environment

Environmental Impact

Environmental impact is the significant change in the environment produced by human activity.

Types of Impacts

• Positive impacts: the first major production in the environment.
• Negative impacts: environmental pollution and the degradation of the natural environment.

Impacts on the Natural Environment

Human activity causes changes in other species of living things, as well as in soil, air or water, which affect the natural environment.

Impacts on Human Health

These impacts affect directly the quality of human life.

Scope of Modification

• Local: only the affected zone is changed.
• Regional: extensive areas are affected.
• Global: the whole planet is affected.

Negative Impacts

The severity of a negative impact depends on how easily or difficultly it can be corrected.

Impacts on the Atmosphere

Pollution of the atmosphere causes decreased air quality through gases and particles: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and heavy metals. These contaminants can be solid particles, gases, or ash.

Impacts on the Hydrosphere

• Changes in water properties: caused by substances that contaminate water.
• Changes in the water cycle: alteration of the distribution of water.
• Eutrophication: excess of inorganic nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate.
• Salinization of aquifers: in coastal areas, underground waters become salty as seawater invades freshwater sources.
• Warming of water: thermal pollution that reduces dissolved oxygen.

Impacts on the Ground

• Erosion: soil is removed when vegetation cover is lacking.
• Desertification: land is converted into a desert.
• Desertification (human-caused): a consequence of human action.
• Pollution and overexploitation: excessive use of agriculture.
• Loss of fertility: scarcity of nutrients in the soil.

Impacts on the Biosphere

• Species extinction: loss of biodiversity.
• Trophic pyramid contamination: frequent and severe impact.
• Genetic manipulation: alteration of the genetic processes of living organisms.

Waste and Its Management

Waste management covers its origin, classification, recycling, and utilization, as well as its accumulation in landfills and energy recovery.

Control Facilities

• Clean points
• Water treatment plants
• Waste treatment stations
• Composting plants
• Landfills
• Incineration plants