Environmental issues can be harmful effects of man’s activity on the natural environment. Environmental protection is essentially a process of protecting the human environment for humans, the ecosystem, and the environment as a whole for the sake of both humans and the natural environment. It has three aspects that have to be implemented to ensure the best quality of life.
Prevention is the key to keeping the environment’s health in good condition. There are several environmental issues that are caused due to pollution, overexposure to hazardous materials, and the dumping of wastes that have no place in the ecosystem. These issues are responsible for air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, wildlife pollution, and land degradation.
Another aspect of environmental protection is recycling. This involves recycling everything that is not absolutely necessary to make new products and commodities. It also involves making use of things that are left over after the manufacturing process is completed. Recycling also ensures that there are less waste and thus less pollution in the environment. This also helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The third aspect is the environmental adaptation. It refers to ensuring that changes to the ecosystems are minimal when environmental issues arise. This also involves the creation of alternative energy sources and the use of green technologies in the manufacture and distribution of items that would otherwise be considered non-green.
The management of environmental issues includes educating the general public about the hazards they may be exposed to through their surroundings. These include the risks of chemical spills, toxic fumes, toxic wastes, electromagnetic radiation, and ultraviolet radiation, and other hazardous factors.
Certain public health risks are also responsible for creating environmental issues. Examples of these include lead poisoning, asbestos exposure, chemical, and biological contamination, and exposure to radiation. Health issues that could be related to environmental concerns are malnutrition, respiratory disorders, birth defects, congenital anomalies, and chronic diseases.
Some of the solutions for environmental issues include the installation of environmental devices and systems like filters on appliances. It also includes the reduction of waste and also the maintenance of the environment in a healthy state. Water pollution can be reduced by the construction of desalination plants and can also be dealt with through the collection and proper treatment of wastewater. In order to address land degradation, farmers are encouraged to plant trees and plants that can absorb nutrients.
In order to keep the environment healthy and intact, all aspects of environmental protection need to be implemented. All the elements have to be in place in order to preserve the ecosystem and protect against the adverse effects of man’s activity.
One of the biggest environmental concerns is water pollution. Many countries have already made the effort to improve their sewage systems and to increase the supply of clean drinking water. However, the pollution that can be caused by natural disasters such as heavy rains, flooding, drought, and landslides is increasing as people are more aware of their environmental responsibilities.
There are many different causes of pollution such as factories, vehicles, garbage, waste disposal, industrial effluents, and more. Industrial pollution refers to pollutants that occur due to the production and processing of materials used in a commercial or industrial setting. Industrial effluents come from the manufacture of chemicals and fertilizers and are found in the water and air around the industrial area.
Some of the major environmental issues that affect the environment are the use of chemicals in agriculture and other industries. This includes fertilizers and pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, herbicides, and the burning of fossil fuels.
There are many organizations and agencies that are responsible for the prevention and reduction of environmental concerns in the community. These organizations include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Environmental Protection Science Institute (EPA-DPI), Environmental Protection Bureau, International Labor Organization, United States Department of Transportation, World Wildlife Fund, and others. Environmental issues can also be addressed by the voluntary efforts of communities.
Infographic created by Yak Mat, an access matting company
