Nature and Health Effects of Environmental Issues

Nature and Health
Effects of
Environmental Issues
Introduction
It is common knowledge that the Earth

is undergoing a lot of stress because of
the actions of humans. The past few
decades have been especially bad for
the environment since the human
population has ballooned to very high
levels. It has increased the demand for
resources, and the waste produced by
the large human population is a
problem.
Improper Waste Disposal
The production of waste is inevitable in today’s world. However, this,
unfortunately, leads to waste being disposed of through improper means.
Improper waste disposal is a problem that many countries are facing,
and this has several negative impacts on the environment.
Environmental Impact of Improper Waste Disposal
The kind of waste that we produce is commonly
classified as either biodegradable or non-
biodegradable. Biodegradable waste is made up of
materials that can decompose, or be broken down
in the environment through natural means. The
action of bacteria and fungi is the most common
cause of decomposition. Non-biodegradable waste,
on the other hand, does not decompose in the
environment through normal means. In most cases,
these materials could take hundreds to thousands of
years for them to rot.
Non-biodegradable wastes cause the most
common problems in improper waste disposal.
These are the ones that usually persist in the
environment, and can eventually cause problems.
Plastics, some of the most common non-
biodegradable wastes, can clog marine areas which
can impact the normal flow in those ecosystems.
Plastics also affect land-based areas since they
persist. It can also be consumed by animals who
mistake them for food, and this can cause severe
health problems
This is not to say that biodegradable waste is
acceptable. While biodegradable materials do
not usually persist for a long time in the
environment, they can also cause problems if
improperly disposed of. The process of
decomposition usually involves fungi and
bacteria, and the presence of biodegradable
materials can alter the chemical or physical
composition of soil and water.
For biodegradable materials to be broken

down in the first place, environmental
conditions must be favorable. Some
environments, like extremely cold or hot
ones, have lower rates of decomposition
which can prove to be a problem.
More often than not, improper waste

disposal can lead to Pollution, which will
be discussed in more detail later on in this
lesson.
Health Impact of Improper Waste Disposal
As stated earlier, the improper disposal of wastes has many negative

environmental effects. As you have learned in the previous unit,
communities are exposed to their environments, and the status of the
environment will positively or negatively affect the health of humans.
Ways to Properly Dispose of Wastes
There are many ways to properly dispose of the wastes that we

produce. Some of these include reducing, recycling, reusing, waste
segregation, and composting
Waste reduction involves practices that lower the

amount of waste produced. Some methods include
minimizing the use of disposable materials or foregoing
the use of disposable materials altogether.
Recycled materials are used items that can be

converted into another form for it to be used again.
Some of the most commonly recycled materials are
paper and some types of plastic.
The Reuse of materials, on the other hand, is the reuse
of an item for the same purpose that it was initially
used for, or for a new function.
A useful method, known as waste segregation

involves separating wastes based on certain criteria. The
most common method of segregation involves the
separation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable
materials to make the process of recycling and reusing
easier.
Many people practice composting which involves

placing biodegradable waste in the soil to allow
microorganisms in the ground to perform the process
of decomposition. It also results in the production of a
fertilizer used on plants.
Pollution
Many things that humans do will produce materials that eventually enter
the environment and cause harmful effects on the environment and its
inhabitants. This is known as Pollution. The substances that cause the
adverse effects are called Pollutants, and these can come in many forms.
Kinds of Pollution
There are many ways by which pollution can be classified, and

one of the most common ways is to sort them based on what the
pollutants affect. These are Terrestrial Pollution, Aquatic
pollution, and Air pollution.
Kinds of Pollution
Terrestrial Pollution affects land-based
areas. Some of the most common types of
terrestrial pollution are caused by
garbage, or through contamination of the
soil by harmful chemicals.
Aquatic Pollution affects the bodies of
water. Marine plants and animals are
usually severely affected by aquatic
pollution as they spend a vast majority of
their lives being directly immersed in
water, which may contain pollutants.
Common types of this pollution are
chemicals that come from factories,
agricultural areas, and from the air.
Air pollution affects the atmosphere. Some of the most
common sources of air pollution include the combustion
or burning of materials or the aerosolization of different
materials. Aerosolization refers to materials becoming
small and light enough to be carried as particles in the
air. Air pollution affects both land-based and water-
based organisms and environments.
Sources of Pollution
● Agriculture: Pollutants commonly found in Agriculture
agricultural land are pesticides, which are used
for destroying unwanted organisms, and
fertilizers that provide nutrients needed by
plants. Both of these can serve as pollutants
should they move outside the agricultural area.
Industries: Many factories are built near Industries

bodies of water and frequently dump their
wastes there
Residential areas: Even residential areas

can be a significant source of pollution
because of all the waste produced Residential areas
Improper waste disposal Improper waste disposal
Automobiles: Automobiles are a significant

source of pollution because of the
combustion of fossil fuels. Automobiles
Environmental Impact of Pollution
The quality of many natural habitats is continually being lowered

because of the presence of pollutants. This is a phenomenon known as
environmental degradation. Environmental degradation leads to
decreased health and death of many animals and plants. It may also
lead to a reduced amount of resources, like food and shelter, available
to organisms. It compromises the survival of these animals and plants.
Health Impact of Pollution
Exposure to pollution can cause many diseases in humans.

Exposure can be classified as either acute exposure or long-term
exposure. Acute exposure refers to a one-time exposure, whereas
long-term exposure refers to constant, prolonged exposure. Both
of these can cause diseases.
Some examples of health concerns that can be caused by

pollution exposure are the following:
Health Impact of Pollution
● Respiratory diseases: humans that are exposed to low-quality
air and high particulate matter have a higher risk of becoming
sick.
● Cancers: some types of cancer have been associated with

exposure to pollution. Many pollutants are considered to be
carcinogens or cancer-causing substances.
● Organ damage: Continued exposure to specific types of

pollutants can cause organ damage. The most commonly affected
organs are the kidneys and the liver.
● Poisoning: Most pollutants are toxic, and can cause poisoning

when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed in the body.
Ways to Prevent Pollution
The best way that we can do to prevent pollution is to reduce the

amount of waste that we produce. This will ensure that the
garbage that we produce is easily managed and disposed of.
Reducing, reusing, and recycling all help in reducing waste.
Another way of minimizing pollution is by walking or biking

when we travel. Walking or biking is an excellent form of exercise
and can help prevent increased amounts of air pollution as these
do not produce smoke that can reduce air quality.
Group #
• Ma. Fe Francisco

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Nature and Health Effects of Environmental Issues

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Nature and Health

It is common knowledge that the Earth

For biodegradable materials to be broken

More often than not, improper waste

As stated earlier, the improper disposal of wastes has many negative

Ways to Properly Dispose of Wastes

There are many ways to properly dispose of the wastes that we

Waste reduction involves practices that lower the

Recycled materials are used items that can be

A useful method, known as waste segregation

Many people practice composting which involves

There are many ways by which pollution can be classified, and

Industries: Many factories are built near Industries

Residential areas: Even residential areas

Improper waste disposal Improper waste disposal

Automobiles: Automobiles are a significant

The quality of many natural habitats is continually being lowered

Exposure to pollution can cause many diseases in humans.

Some examples of health concerns that can be caused by

● Cancers: some types of cancer have been associated with

● Organ damage: Continued exposure to specific types of

● Poisoning: Most pollutants are toxic, and can cause poisoning

The best way that we can do to prevent pollution is to reduce the

Another way of minimizing pollution is by walking or biking

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