Order of Articles

The Importance of Endangered Species by Alexis Gilbert

The Ill Effects of Poaching in America by Ellis Nobles

Alabama: Taking Steps to Conserve Wildlife by Caroline Scott

Global Warming by Hope Lemley

The Issue of Deforestation toward Mother Earth’s Forests by Walter Little

How Global Warming Affects Us by Hayden Mezick

Global Warming: A Global Issue by Andrew Peeler

Litter in the Southeast of the United States by Ashley Brewer

Littering in America by Kaylee Mayhew

Earth, the Global Trashcan by Brooke Benefiel

Water Pollution on the Gulf Coast by Webb Radcliff

Water Pollution in the Southeast by Barry Fontenot

Water Pollution: A Severe Dilemma by Jane Newby

The Destructive Effects of Water Pollution by Caroline Hennig

The Dangers of Water Pollution around Our Area by Lee Tonsmeire

Water Pollution and its Effects by Layne Watts

Rivers of Promise by Daly Wettermark

The Importance of Endangered Species by Alexis Gilbert

“What is a fish without a river? What is a bird without a tree to nest in? What is an

Endangered Species Act without any enforcement mechanism to ensure their habitat is

protected? It is nothing” (Jay Inslee). Many acts have been made to prevent the growing number

of endangered species like the Endangered Species Act and while they have been successful,

they have not completely stopped the endangered species list from getting longer. The article

“Endangered Species” estimated that “30 million species live on earth today” (“Endangered

Species”). It is estimated that more than “1,000 animal species are endangered” (“Facts about

Endangered Species”). Some of the species

have gone extinct because of natural

disasters or human involvement in their

habitat.

Some species become endangered

because of earthquakes or volcano

eruptions but others become endangered because of humans destroying their habitat or killing

them for medicinal reasons. For example, sharks are killed for their fins and rhinos are killed for

their horns because some people wrongly believe they have medicinal values. The main cause of

endangered species, however, is habitat destruction. When humans cut down forests, it might

take centuries to grow back and by then the ecosystem there has been almost completely

damaged. Another cause of endangered species is when humans try to keep down a population to

balance the ecosystem and actually damages the ecosystem instead. For example, in two parks in

Africa, the population of elephants was growing out of control. The people agreed to leave one

park alone and kill off some of the elephants in another park. In the park that was left alone,

nature had taken its course and the elephant population decreased naturally. In the park where the

elephants were killed off, the elephant population rapidly decreased and “remained in poor

condition” (“Why Is Biodiversity Important?”).

In the United States, there are 530 animals listed as endangered and threatened. In

Alabama alone, there are “107 threatened and endangered plant and animal species”

(“Endangered Species In Alabama). One of them is the Alabama red-belly turtle. It is very

important that this turtle not go extinct because it is Alabama’s state reptile. If this reptile goes

extinct, it will not look good for the state of Alabama.

There are many dangers that can happen if a

species goes extinct. An ecosystem is similar to

dominoes. Each species plays a role that can affect all

the other species. If one species goes extinct, then all

the species that it affects will decline in its population

and the ecosystem will weaken or topple. Like

dominoes, when one is knocked down, all the others are knocked down after it. If enough species

go extinct, then humans also will start to suffer because they rely on animals for food.

Since humans rely on animals for

food, species, at first, were protected not

for environmental reasons but only for

food sources. For example, the honeybee

population has been declining

dramatically over the years and has been

put on the endangered list. Bees pollinate

one third of our food which is fruits and vegetables. If bees were to go extinct, people would

starve of nutrients. Some theories on why the population has been declining are pesticides and

parasites. People can help the honeybee population by planting plants that honeybees love and by

not spraying pesticides when bees are around. Another example of endangered species that are

protected for food sources are marine animals. “Researches predict that nearly all seafood

populations may collapse by the year 2048 if marine and overfishing continue at a current rate”

(“Endangered Species: Timeline”).

Later on in the 20th

century, the U.S. congress started to protect endangered species

because of biological diversity. In 1905, “the National Audubon Society was established in the

United States to conserve and restore the Earth’s natural ecosystems”

(“Endangered Species: Timeline”). If we want to keep up a healthy

ecosystem, then endangered species need to be protected at all costs. The

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that if one plant species is lost, it

will trigger the loss of up to 30 other plant, insect, and animal species.

Endangered species indicate that our ecosystems are declining. For

example, “the northern spotted owl, listed as threatened in 1990, is an indicator of the declining

health of the ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest”(“Why Save Endangered Species?”)

Overall, endangered species affect everyone down to the tiniest organism. If they are not

protected then the world’s ecosystems are going to rapidly decline and food will become harder

to come by in the future.

Works Cited

"Endangered Species." N.p., 2 Dec. 2012. Web. 8 Dec. 2012. <http://worldgeography.abc-

clio.com/Search/Display/1444130?terms=endangered+species>.

"Endangered Species Timeline." N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2012. <http://worldgeography.abc-

clio.com/Search/Display/1519788?terms=endangered+species>.

"Facts Profiles." Facts about Endangered Species. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013.

<http://www.endangeredspecie.com/Interesting_Facts.htm>.

"Lists of Endangered Species: Alabama -EndangeredSpecie.com." Lists of Endangered Species: Alabama -

EndangeredSpecie.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

Masek, James. "Alabama Red-Belly Turtle." N.p., June-July 2004. Web. 9 Dec. 2012.

"Nature and Animal Conservation." - Global Issues. N.p., 10 Nov. 2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.globalissues.org/article/177/nature-and-animal-conservation>.

"Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?" Why Is Biodervisity Important? N.p., 6 Apr. 2011. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.globalissues.org/print/article/170>.

"Why Save?" Why Save? N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. <http://www.endangeredspecie.com/Why_Save_.htm>.

The Ill Effects of Poaching in America by Ellis Nobles

During the late fall and winter, Alabama hunters grab their bows and guns for another deer-

hunting season. Hunting keeps deer populations down and provides people with a sport during the

winter. It

is not all fun and games, however—there are many regulations that govern hunters all over America.

Aside from certain times of the year, there are also certain hours of the day one can hunt, and a hunting

license is necessary.

However, some people do not follow these rules, and they are called poachers. Poachers may kill

game with illegal weapons or means, out of legal hunting hours, or on private property. They may not

give the game fair chance as defined by the law, or they may be hunting an endangered species (“Hunting

Regulations & Info”). Poaching also includes stealing plants, which can be damaging to local

ecosystems. Regardless of how they are breaking the law, poachers are stealing from legal hunters,

sometimes landowners or national parks, and the environment.

The reasons for poaching in America have changed over the years. In past decades, poachers

broke the law for sustenance or for some extra meat to sell. Now, poaching is becoming more for big

bucks and ego. Ginseng roots, antlers and horns, or animal parts used in traditional medicines all sell for

tens of thousands of dollars on the black market.

Some poachers, however, are not

doing it for the money; they poach for their ego. A poacher may shoot a huge buck shortly before hunting

season begins, hide the body until it does, then brag about the trophy he now has on his wall (Patterson).

His early start and possible use of illegal weapons or means gives him an unfair advantage over legal

hunters. Because of poachers, more deer and other animals and plants are killed than is legal and than is

good for the environment; according to wildlife officials, for every animal killed legally, another is killed

illegally (“Poaching : Humane Society”). Alabama’s natural resources are being stolen by poaching

circles (“Operation GameWatch”), and actions should be taken.

Hunting rules and regulations are numerous in Alabama. They have recently become stricter and

the fines higher because of the many people who believe poaching is of no real consequence and are

accustomed to mild punishment. Previously, the fine for hunting at night—outside the legal hours—

ranged from $1,000−$2,000. Now, the fine has risen to up to $3,000, and violators face the possibility of

six months in jail and a “revocation of all hunting privileges for three years.” Similar changes have been

made to the fines and punishments of other violations (Rainer).

Reading these regulations is advisable, as is reporting any violations. The name of the poacher,

the area that is being poached, and a description of the person or his vehicle are all of great use to

authorities. Poachers are considered armed and dangerous (“Poaching Is Stealing”) to legal hunters, the

environment, and everyone they come near. They are dangerous to us all.

Works Cited

"Hunting Regulations & Info." ERegulationscom. Alabama Hunting & Fishing Digest, n.d. Web. 3 Dec.

2012.

"Operation GameWatch." Hunting / Angling Heritage | Alabama Wildlife Federation. Alabama Wildlife

Federation, n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2012.

Patterson, Rich. "Iowa's Deer Poachers: Stealing the Trophies." Game & Fish. Game & Fish Magazine, 4

Oct. 2010. Web. 4 Dec. 2012.

"Poaching : The Humane Society of the United States." The Humane Society of the United States. The

Humane Society of the United States, n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2012.

Poaching Is Stealing. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2012.

Rainer, David. "Fines for Game Violations Now Have Teeth." Fines for Game Violations Now Have

Teeth. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2012.

Alabama: Taking Steps to Conserve Wildlife by Caroline Scott

Fishing and hunting are arguably the two most favorite pastimes of many Alabamians.

However, one of the most pressing environmental issues also facing Alabama is the

conservation of the many types of wildlife that live here. In order to ensure that fishing and

hunting will continue to be a central part of many Alabamian’s lives, Alabama is taking strides

against wildlife depletion. Alabama conserves wildlife for the future through restoring and

conserving wildlife habitats, implementing education programs to teach about conservation,

placing limits on fishing, and enforcing limits on hunting.

One of the main ways wildlife is conserved in Alabama is through restoring and

conserving the habitats that house the many different species that live here. One way that

marine habitats are conserved is through designating seaweed beds with signs keeping out

boaters. Before many of these hubs of marine wildlife were discovered, they were unable to be

seen by boaters. By looking at aerial photographs of waterways, it is

very evident where motors have cut through the seaweed making

permanent scars in the bed. Now, they are marked off by signs

designating them as “no motor” zones. One example of conserving

wildlife through setting restrictive areas is the setup of wildlife

management areas for turkeys: specific areas where turkeys can and

cannot be hunted. An astonishing example of this involves a span of a

mere 10 years. In 1995, 874 wild turkeys were killed and recorded by

hunters in comparison to the 1,395 turkeys taken in the 2004 season (“Check Out WMAs for

Turkeys”). These numbers are a direct parallel to the actual turkey growth. Because there were

more wild turkeys, there were more turkeys killed. Since it is impossible to record the actual

number of wild turkeys, biologists must rely on the amount of turkeys killed to estimate the

number of actual turkeys. There are many organizations and programs in place in order to

conserve the habitats that provide a home to the many different types of wildlife in Alabama.

A major way that the idea of conservation is spread is through conservation education.

There are many programs available to teachers and students today including Project Wild. It is

a program that has many activities for students and teachers designed to teach youth about the

conservation of ecological systems and the wildlife they house. Aquatic Wild is a similar

program that is aimed at youth in order to teach them about the conservation of aquatic

ecological systems and habitats (“Conservation Education”). Another major organization for

conservation education on the Gulf Coast is the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. This organization’s

mission is to take the first steps in conservation of coastal ecosystems and habitats and

ultimately increase ecosystem services and habitat quality and quantity (Habitat Conservation

& Restoration”). These programs can help people, from students to adults, learn about good

habits to protect our wildlife and to preserve Alabama’s wild animals.

The main way that aquatic wildlife is conserved for the future is placing limits on fishing.

The Marine Resources Division manages the saltwater resources and estuaries along the Gulf

Coast. It monitors and assesses Alabama’s marine fisheries, does extensive research, and

enforces many of the laws surrounding marine conservation. The Wildlife and Freshwater

Fisheries Division conserves, enhances, protects, and manages the freshwater fishing resources.

The extensive freshwater resources include 23 public fishing lakes, 77,000 miles of streams,

rivers, the Mobile Delta, and 47 reservoirs, each larger than 500 acres that cover a total area of

551,220 acres (“Fishing Alabama”). Many species have strict seasons that you can catch them.

One main species is the abundant Red Snapper, but even a plentiful species still needs to be

protected through fishing seasons. Red Snapper season for the summer of 2012 lasted from

June 1st to July 10th, with a two per person limit with a minimum size of sixteen inches (“Red

Snapper Season”). For almost all species of fish, there is a minimum limit on the size that you

can keep. Alabama’s vast fishing resources are a

main area of focus for conservation.

Hunting various animals is a favorite

pastime of many Alabamians, and the main way

that wildlife are conserved for this activity is

through enforcing limits on hunting. These limits

vary from size of animal, time of year you can hunt, the areas and methods one uses to hunt,

and how many you can take in one season. Size of the animal is not as influential in hunting

because it is often a non-issue – either the animal is a young animal that you will not kill, or a

mature animal able and fit to be harvested. Conservation is often aided and put into action

through hunting seasons. One example is deer season. By the time deer season starts, the new

deer that were born in the spring are often able to survive without their parents. Even still, it is

illegal to kill a doe with a yearling fawn with spots. For deer, you can only take one antlered

buck a day. You can kill three antlered bucks in all three combined deer seasons, and one must

have at least four antler points one inch or longer on one antler. For deer, there are actually

three seasons within the one general time period of October-February, all using different

weapons- the earliest season includes bow and arrow, as well as hand-thrown spear. The

second season includes muzzleloaders, and the final season includes rifles and shotguns. There

are two seasons for most counties within rifle and shotgun season that either prohibit or allow

dogs to aid in the hunt (“Deer Hunting Seasons”). There are also many restrictions and seasons

on other animals including turkeys, birds, bobcats, squirrels, rabbits, and raccoons. These laws

are enforced strictly through local game wardens, and wildlife

can be recorded through tagging the animals killed and reporting

them to online resources. The information, including the ratio of

bucks to does killed, as well as average weights and antler sizes

from year to year, can be examined by wildlife biologists who can

give ideas on changing seasons or bag limits in order to conserve

wildlife in the most effective way possible. For example, if there

is a significantly less amount of deer killed in one area from year

to year, there might be a drought, disease, or food shortage. Gathering data can help wildlife

biologists pinpoint an area to study and figure out what is wrong.

Since the beginning of Alabama’s history, it has been regulating hunting and fishing.

More recently, as poachers and greedy hunters began to take more than their fair share of

game, the state has needed to take more drastic measures in enforcing these laws. Not only

have they become stricter, but they have also placed measures protecting the homes of these

animals, and have significantly increased the game count. As with the example of the wildlife

management areas of turkeys, these are very successful measures that can save the homes of

the animals that Alabamians are dedicated to protecting and serving. Alabama is extremely

dedicated on conserving both aquatic and land game, as well as their homes.

Works Cited

Barnett, Steven W. "Check Out WMAs for Turkeys." Check Out WMAs for Turkeys. Alabama

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Conservation Education." In Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.

"Deer Hunting Seasons." ERegulationscom. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.

"Fishing Alabama." Fishing Alabama. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.

"Habitat Conservation & Restoration." Gulf of Mexico Alliance: Priority Issues: Habitat

Conservation and Restoration. Gulf of Mexico Alliance, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.

"Red Snapper Season." Red Snapper Season. Red Snapper Season, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.

Global Warming by Hope Lemley

It is no myth: the average temperature on Earth is rising, and the rise cannot be explained

by natural causes alone. The overall temperature of the Earth has risen 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit

over the past century (“Audubon: Global Warming”). While the climbing temperature does not

sound serious to the average person, the rise in temperature has already had an enormous effect

on the planet.

Climate change is caused primarily by the build-up of greenhouse gases in the

atmosphere. These gases are not all bad; when light from the sun hits the earth, it bounces back

towards outer space. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap the heat and

keep it in the Earth’s atmosphere. Without these heat-trapping gases, Earth would not be

inhabitable. However, when too many greenhouse gases build up in the atmosphere, the overall

temperature of the Earth increases, changing weather patterns and wreaking havoc on

ecosystems.

While climate changes are natural and ecosystems have adapted through the millennia, if

the climate change is too rapid, then animals and plants will not have the chance to adapt. The

food chains in ecosystems are delicate, and one small change—especially at the bottom rung—

can have far-reaching effects. For instance, the temperature rise in Alaska has caused the

population of spruce bark beetles to boom; these insects chewed up 3.4 million acres of Alaskan

spruce trees from 1993 to 2003 (“Effects of Global Warming”), devastating the delicate balance

of the Alaskan ecosystem. Hundreds of species rely on the Alaskan forests for shelter and food.

The population of other species could dwindle, further harming the food chain. On the other

hand, species could migrate to another area with more forest, which would throw off the balance

of the indigenous population. Any small change on the food chain can affect every other level.

The evidence of global warming is strongest at the north and south poles, where the ice

caps are steadily melting. In fact, scientists estimate that temperatures at the ice caps are rising

twice as fast as overall global temperatures ("Global Warming Puts the Arctic on Thin Ice.").

The melting ice caps only perpetuate the problem of global warming; the snow and ice in the

Polar Regions has always acted as a cooling layer. When the ice melts, the Earth absorbs more

heat, accelerating global warming and

fueling the cycle.

Furthermore, the melting ice

caps have caused global sea levels to

rise. Already, small islands across the

globe, such as Guyana, are losing land to the encroaching sea (“Thinkquest: Library”). This not

only harms the land but the cultures and people as well, pushing communities out of their

ancestral homes.

The increasing volume of the sea, combined with higher temperatures, means that more

water will evaporate into the air, causing more rainfall and irregular weather patterns

(“Thinkquest: Library”). Again, some

animal and plant species may not be able to

adapt fast enough to this change.

Furthermore, storms, such as hurricanes,

are likely to become stronger and more

frequent. Natural disasters can have

devastating effects on both human

populations and wildlife.

In other places, such as Ethiopia, rainfall will become rarer and droughts will worsen.

Droughts are deadly to humans, plants, and animals alike; plants die, so there is not enough food

for people to keep farm animals, which further diminishes the overall food supply. When there

are not enough plants with roots to keep the soil in place, the soil erodes, causing desertification,

which, again, just perpetuates the food shortage.

Even if the citizens of the world stopped emitting greenhouse gases, the Earth would still

warm approximately another degree Fahrenheit. However, that does not necessarily mean that it

is too late. Depending on our choices, the planet could warm as little as 2.5 degrees or as many

as 10 degrees (“Global Warming Solutions”).

Before the industrial revolution, the atmosphere contained approximately 275 parts per

million of carbon dioxide, which means that 275 out of every one million molecules in the

atmosphere were carbon dioxide. Previously, scientists stated that that we should try to stabilize

greenhouse gas emissions at about twice the pre-industrial levels, or 450-550 parts per million

(ppm). Although scientists did believe that the atmosphere would be healthy at 550ppm of

carbon dioxide, 550ppm was primarily an arbitrary number, and no one knew exactly how that

particular greenhouse gas concentration would affect the planet; it seemed like a concrete,

attainable goal, though, and quickly caught on in the non-scientific community through sheer

repetition. However, as time went on and the polar ice caps began melting at an increasingly

alarming rate, the scientific community realized that their former goal of 550ppm was too high,

and if we did not lower the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, then the Earth

might suffer irreversible damage (“350 Science”).

Dr. James Hanson, of NASA, states that we should reduce global greenhouse gas

emissions even further, to 350ppm at most (Hansen, James). Through his meticulous research

and calculations, Dr. Hanson has come to the conclusion that if we do not lower the

concentration of greenhouse gases to 350ppm, we could to irreversible damage to our planet—

damage that has already started to manifest itself, as outlined in earlier paragraphs.

There are a variety of ways to reach this goal. Dr. Hansen advocates for the complete

abandonment of all fossil fuels. The researchers at Princeton University have suggested

“stabilization wedges,” which would mean reducing green house gas emissions from multiple

sources across all industries, rather than relying on major reform in one sector. Some of the

improvements they hail are vehicle fuel economy, the

increased use of wind and solar power, hydrogen

procured from renewable sources, natural gas, biofuels,

and nuclear power. Furthermore, trees absorb carbon

dioxide naturally, using it as fuel and releasing

breathable oxygen into the air as a byproduct.

Therefore, if we conserve Earth’s bountiful forests, we

will protect both the wildlife, which inhabit the forests,

and ensure that we have enough breathable air.

The average person can do a variety of things to help reduce his environmental footprint,

such as using fluorescent light bulbs, energy-efficient appliances, and using less air conditioning

in the summer and heating in the winter. By doing simple things like recycling, conserving

energy, and carpooling, every person can reduce his or her impact on the environment (“How To

Stop Global Warming”). It is not too late; we can still reverse some of the harmful effects of

global warming and return the concentration of greenhouse gases to a healthier level.

While there are drawbacks to all of these solutions (such as infrastructure issues and

costs), none of them are as serious as the deterioration of the planet and its inhabitants.

Everyone can make an effort to reduce his or her footprint by limiting fuel consumption and

preserving resources. Together, through individual efforts and international cooperation, we can

preserve our planet, thus preserving our way of life.

Works Cited

"350 Science." 350.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2013.

"Audubon: Global Warming." Audubon: Global Warming. Audubon, n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2012.

"Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet." Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. Earth Science Communication's Team at

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory / California Institute of Technology, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.

<http://climate.nasa.gov/>.

"Effects of Global Warming." National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 7 Dec. 2012.

"Global Warming Puts the Arctic on Thin Ice." Arctic Sea Ice. Natural Resources Defense Council, 22 Nov. 2005. Web. 7 Dec.

2012.

"Global Warming Solutions." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.

Hansen, James, M. Sato, P. Kharecha, D. Beerling, R. Berner, V. Masson-Delmotte, M. Pagani, M. Raymo, D. L. Royer, and J. C.

Zachos. Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim? Cornell University Library, 15 Oct. 2008. Web. 4 Jan.

2013.

"How To Stop Global Warming - Articles." How To Stop Global Warming - Articles. N.p., Oct. 2010. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

"Science." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 14 June 2012. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.

"ThinkQuest : Library." ThinkQuest : Library. Oracle, 2008. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.thinkquest.org/pls/html/think.library>.

"Understanding 350." 350.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2013.

The Issue of Deforestation toward Mother Earth’s Forests by Walter Little

The issue of deforestation in the world is serious. “Deforestation is the permanent destruction

of indigenous forests and woodlands; Deforestation has resulted in the reduction of indigenous forests

to four-fifths of their pre-agricultural area. Indigenous forests now cover 21%

of the earth's land surface. The Earth’s forests are decreasing in size very

rapidly” (“Deforestation 2”). About half of the forests that once covered Earth

are now gone. In one hundred years, the world’s rainforests could completely

vanish according to the rate it is traveling.

The most common cause of deforestation is agriculture. Farmers cut

down trees for more grazing room for the animals and more room for planting

crops. Other reasons include logging operations for the paper and wood industry. Also, forest fires and

overgrazing can cause young trees to stop growing, causing no forests (“Deforestation”). The affects

deforestation has on the environment is incredibly detrimental to

the future. Seventy percent of all land animals live in forests

(“Deforestation 2”). When the forests are cut, millions of species

have no place to reside. The dangerous part is they roam around

looking for a place to settle and end up being near human

civilization. This can cause some animals to attack humans or

destroy property.

Deforestation also affects the climate and future plant life. The tropical rainforest provides

oxygen for the world. Many scientists believe deforestation plays an exceptional role in global warming.

Also, the deforestation affects the soil under the trees. The leaves and branches of the trees protected

the soil from the sun. If the trees are cut down, the soil has no protection and dries out stunting the

growth of any new plants.

Deforestation also interferes with the water cycle. “Trees also help perpetuate the water cycle

by returning water vapor back into the atmosphere. Without trees to fill these roles, many former forest

lands can quickly become barren deserts” (Deforestation). This is

important for not only the forest environment but also the

surrounding human societies. Without the water cycle, plants nor

humans would have water and that area would eventually be

uninhabitable.

There is a positive future for the Earth. Of course the most ideal solution for this issue is to

eliminate the chopping down of trees. One solution could be to lower the demand of wood and use an

alternative like metal or plastic. Another solution could be to build more houses around the trees

instead of clearing the lots completely. “’Satellite imagery showed that 1,798 square miles (4,656

square kilometres) of the Amazon were deforested between August 2011 and July 2012,’ environment

minister, Izabella Teixeira said, ‘27% less than the 2,478 sq miles (6,418 sq km) deforested a year

earlier’” (“Amazon deforestation hits record low”). But of all those facts, the most important fact is this;

there is only one earth. If society continues to destroy the earth without a plan to rebuild, earth will be

uninhabitable for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Works Cited

"Amazon Deforestation Hits Record Low." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 28 Nov. 2012. Web.

07 Dec. 2012.

Collins, Jocelyn. "Deforestation." Deforestation., 01 Feb. 2001. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Deforestation." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.

How Global Warming Affects Us by Hayden Mezick

Global warming hurts people all over the world by possible disasters such as rising sea levels,

more powerful hurricanes, and longer lasting droughts across the world. If we do no change the way we

live today we may not survive for tomorrow. Global warming could bring many harmful changes things

to the Earth, and we need to do our best to stop that from happening.

The consequences of global warming will bring monstrosities such as rising sea levels. Global

warming has already begun melting glaciers and the ice on continental Antarctica. Sea levels have

already risen one foot since 1845 and are predicted to rise three more feet by the end of the century. If

the sea levels rise then coastline cities such as Dauphin Island will one day disappear. Many people will

lose houses and be forced to move away from the hazardous coastline and

possibly cause overpopulation which could lead to more serious problems

such as famine and an economic crash (Jackson). If all the ice melts in

Antarctica then species such as the polar bear and many different species of

penguin such as the Emperor and King Penguin will lose their homes. If these

species lose their homes they will become extinct forever.

Rising sea levels is not the only consequence of global warming. A scientist named Don

Eastbrook said that global warming will cause more powerful hurricanes because the temperature in the

lower atmosphere will become warmer while the upper atmosphere simultaneously decreases in

temperature (Boykoff). The decrease in temperature

causes convection which could cause more powerful

and more organized hurricanes. More powerful

hurricanes will not occur immediately but over time it

will be hurtful to many coastline cities. These powerful

hurricanes could cause massive damage to any cities along the coast and kill many people, similar to

Hurricane Katrina that completely demolished the city of New Orleans. Many people died and the city is

still rebuilding the damage today. To live more efficiently people will have to increase recycling and stop

deforestation to decrease the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere which aids the greenhouse effect

which is one major cause of global warming. (Boykoff)

Another consequence of global warming is extended droughts. The raised temperatures will

cause the water cycle to slow and more droughts occur. Droughts will cause famine all over the world.

The lack of water will cause the lack of crops in fields to grow and eventually if the drought lasts long

enough humans will run out of food and possibly perish. Long lived droughts would affect the economy

horribly and send the human race spiraling to extinction. When we realize what we are doing to the

Earth, the use of harmful fossil fuels and not recycling trash needs to be reduced if not ended in order to

save the Earth. (Jackson)

Overall, global warming may not be completely stopped but at least we could do our best to

slow it down. Global warming hurts people all over the world. To help the environment we should do

our best to slow global warming with simple things such as recycling. If we are not able to reduce the

burning of harmful fuels and increase the recycling of metals and plastic we will make life much more

difficult for future generations to come.

Global Warming: A Global Issue by Andrew Peeler

What is global warming? According to Webster, global warming is “an increase in the earth's

atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an

increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution”

(“Global Warming About Our Definitions”). Global warming is becoming

one of the most talked about issues in the scientific and political

community. The scientific community continues to issue warnings about

the rising of temperatures due to the rise of greenhouse gas emissions. Researchers have stated that in

2011 overall emissions increased 3 percent and were predicted to jump another 2.6 percent (“Global

Warming & Climate Change”).

The warming of the earth has been occurring since the beginning of time without the help of

mankind. Scientists have said that the warming caused before humans was due to natural causes

(“Global Warming”). These natural causes warm the earth in cycles. One of these causes are sunspots.

Sunspots can increase the earth’s solar activity which causes short term warming. Another natural

cause is the way the earth rotates. The rotation wobbles a bit which exposes each hemisphere to

different amounts of solar radiation which can cause a change in temperature such as warming (“Global

Warming Natural Causes”). The natural causes are still there but are not large enough to cause the

damage we are seeing today. With mankind helping with the warming, the temperatures have been

rising much more rapidly. In the last 100 years the temperature of the earth has risen between 0.4 and

0.8 degrees Celsius. Scientists have also predicted that if the number of emissions keeps up the pace it

is at, the global temperature could rise between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius by 2100 (“Global

Warming”).

The warming today is caused by many different factors,

almost all of which can be related to human kind. One of the

major causes of global warming is the burning of fossil fuels

such as coal, oil, natural gas, peat, etc. When these fuels are

burned, the gases they release go up into the atmosphere and then, due to the greenhouse effect, they

are trapped and come back down towards earth. These gases heat up the earth which is global

warming. Another cause of global warming is methane that is released by cows, cars, and factories.

Methane does just what the gases released by the fossil fuels do and heat up the earth (“Global

Warming: What You Need To Know”). Carbon dioxide also causes the earth’s temperature to rise when

it is released. Carbon dioxide emissions were at an all time high in 2011 and were expected to go up in

2012 (“Global Warming & Climate Change”).

The rise in temperatures around the globe

has had horrifying effects on humanity. In the first six

months of 2012, 74 people were killed from extreme

heat. In 2011, 206 people died from extreme heat

which is nearly double of this decade's average. Also, the

gases being released that cause global warming increase

cardiac and respiratory diseases such as asthma (“Extreme

Weather”). The warming is also changing the

climate of the world which means that storm patterns

are affected. Extreme storms are happening because of this warming. These storms cause outbreaks of

disease, drowning, and can contaminate a community's drinking water. Besides extreme storms, the

warming melts ice caps and glaciers which cause the sea level to rise. If the sea level rises too much

then some coastal cities will flood.

There are many solutions to combat global warming. One of the solutions is “stabilization

wedges”, which is a suggestion to use technology, which will be available in the next few years, to

reduce greenhouse gases in different areas. Each wedge is a different way to reduce the gases being

emitted. Examples of wedges are increases in wind and solar power and improvements in vehicle fuel

economy and energy efficiency (“Global Warming”). Another suggested solution is switching to a

cleaner energy source rather than relying on gas and other fossil fuels to power everything. This

solution also reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and that will lead to less warming around the

world. Most solutions that have been thought of are on a larger scale rather than just the individual

person. One thing an individual could do is vote for leaders that are willing to combat global warming.

People can also carpool to work and school to reduce car emissions and can also turn out lights when

they leave a room in their house.

Global warming is caused by and impacts the inhabitants of Earth. Although global warming

impacts us, we are creating solutions to save our future as well as the Earth's. Although this issue may

not go away for a while, people are doing research and their part to see to it that the warming can be

stopped.

Works Cited

"Extreme Weather: Impacts of Climate Change." Extreme Weather, Climate Change. N.p., n.d.

Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Global Warming & Climate Change (Doha Talks, 2012)." Global Warming & Climate Change

(Doha Talks, 2012). N.p., 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Global Warming : Feature Articles." Global Warming : Feature Articles. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec.

2012.

"Global Warming : What You Need To Know : Discovery Channel." Global Warming : Discovery

Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Global Warming." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Global Warming Natural Causes." A Cooler Climate. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Global WarmingAbout Our Definitions: All Forms of a Word (noun, Verb, Etc.) Are Now

Displayed on One Page." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"LiveScience Topic: Global Warming: News, Facts, Causes & Effects." LiveScience.com. N.p., n.d.

Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

Litter in the Southeast of the United States by Ashley Brewer

Littering is a type of pollution that harms the environment, the wildlife, and the

economy. Litter is mainly misplaced garbage that comes from seven main sources: pedestrians,

drivers, household garbage cans, commercial dumpsters, construction sites, demolition sites,

loading docks, and trucks with uncovered loads (Union County Government). Littering pollutes

neighborhoods, decreases property values, and destroys county’s natural beauty. Litter is

something that overtime needs to be eliminated.

What is the point of littering? There is no point. People harm the environment for no

reason, and the only thing they get from it is a fine that they have to pay. The fines range

between $175 and $1,000. Along with the fine people who litter have to serve up to eight

hours in a litter abatement work program. Simple littering such as trash flying out of a pickup

truck costs around $175 along with court costs (“Littering Enforcement”). Intentional littering

such as somebody purposely throwing garbage out of a window onto the road could cost up to

a $250 fine (“Littering Enforcement”). Somebody

throwing large amounts of trash into a ditch or illegal dumpsite

would cost a person between $500 and $1,000 in fines (“Littering

Enforcement”). The amount of money people have to pay for

littering is not worth throwing trash onto the streets and ditches

of their community.

Alabama “The Beautiful” is a state that has some of the most litter in the United States.

According to the “Alabama Litter Laws” brochure about 50% of litter is “accidently” deposited

on our streets and highways (“Littering Facts and Statistics”). 96% of accidental litterers are

males while only 72% of accidental litterers are female (“Littering Facts and Statistics”). The

most popular type of litter is paper. Paper is 59% of the litter in Alabama with cans, bottles,

plastic, and other debris following behind it. Only 40% of litter is from vehicles while 60%

comes from other sources (“Littering Facts and Statistics”).

Overall in America, people have become aware of the harm that is caused by littering

but it is still not stopping some people. Over 75 percent of Americans have admitted to littering

over the past five years (“Littering Facts and Statistics”). Some of the most frequent litterers are

the people who eat at fast food restaurants because when the people finish eating their food

from the drive thru, they don’t have anywhere else to put the trash (“Littering Facts and

Statistics”). An example of how litter ruins property is when a person is trying to sell a house

the buyer sees less profit in litter-filled neighborhoods (“Littering Facts and Statistics”). People

who want to start a family do not want to buy a house that is in a neighborhood full of litter.

Also, when litter is dumped in certain areas it can kill or stunt plant

growth (“Littering Facts and Statistics”). Along with killing plants,

plant growth could cause disease in the plants which could kill the whole

crop. Another disadvantage of litter is that it kills millions of fish,

birds and animals when the species get tangled up in the litter. When they are tangled in

garbage and cannot get out, the species die. Humans also could become severely ill from litter

because litter carries germs which could easily spread to humans through rodents.

Litter clean-up costs local and state governments billions of dollars. Instead of spending

that money on cleaning up litter, the money could be used to construct roadside rest areas,

construct traveler information stops, or to repair the state’s roads and bridges. The pot holes

that you always see in the roads also could be repaired with the money that we spend on

cleaning up litter. Alabama expects to spend over six million dollars

on litter clean-up this year. Instead of spending tax dollars on

cleaning up litter, stop littering and save the money you spend on

taxes for other things that need to be repaired.

The state of Alabama is ranked number seven for the least amount of work done to

clean up litter in the United States. Litter is an environmental problem all over the United

States, but it is especially severe in the southern states. According to the study, seven of the

top ten states with the worst records of litter are below the Mason- Dixon Line. Once people

start to realize how bad and destructive littering is, the economy will get better.

Works Cited

"Alabama Drops Ball on Litter?" Al.com. Bob Lowry, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1219310168313700.x

ml>.

Ashworth, William, and Charles E. Little. "litter (environmental science)." Science Online. Facts

On File, Inc. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin=envrnstud1855&

SingleRecord=True>.

"EDITORIAL: Let's Clean up Our Act on Littering." The Huntsville Times. John Peck, The Huntsville

Times, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Litter." Litter. Lexington County Solid Waste Management, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Litter Trashes The Environment." About.com Environmental Issues. Earth Talk, n.d. Web. 10

Dec. 2012.

"Littering Enforcement." Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Louisiana Department

of Wildlife and Fisheries, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Littering Statistics | Knowledge Galaxy." Littering Statistics | Knowledge Galaxy.

Knowledgegalaxy.net, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.knowledgegalaxy.net/littering_statistics/littering_statistics.html>.

Littering in America by Kaylee Mayhew

According to Keep America Beautiful, “Over 51 billion pieces of litter are found on

United States roadways each year” (“Keep America Beautiful”). In other words, our roads

contain almost 7,000 pieces of litter per mile. The amount of litter produced in the United

States is absurd.

Keep America Beautiful also says, “Litter cleanup costs the U.S almost $11.5 billion each

year” (“Keep America Beautiful”). Multiple organizations are working to stop the issue of

littering. Littering is harmful to plants animals and people but it can be stopped.

Litter can be an enormous threat to our animals. Animals can swallow or get tangled up

in many of the items people leave behind in the environment. Every day, animals get entangled

in a careless person’s litter. For example, several seagulls have been found with a plastic 6Pack-

holder around their necks. The plastic rubs against the birds’ necks, cutting it. The seagulls die

because someone was careless.

Animals harmed by our litter can easily be avoided, by simply cutting up our plastic

before throwing it away. Although much of our

litter is thrown out on land, most of it is thrown

into the water, or ends up there because of rain.

Marine life is significantly impacted by litter in our

oceans. Animals can accidentally eat the trash in

the ocean while digesting natural food. Ingestion

can result in malnutrition or starvation when the

trash collects in the animal's stomach causing the animal to feel as if it were full. Is littering

really worth harming our animals?

Littering may not seem like a massive

issue to people. The thought crosses people’s

minds all the time. “Who cares what happens

to the animals, as long as it’s not affecting me?”

People may not think that littering affects them

when in reality it is a colossal danger to the

children of our country. People throw glass

bottles into the street and they break, and a child goes outside to play. The child is probably

barefoot, because he does not expect anything harmful will happen to them. When in reality it

is extremely likely that a piece of glass will go right into his foot.

Not only is it harmful to our children, but it is harmful to us as a country. The amount of

money our country spends each year just cleaning up the trash people carelessly throw onto

the streets is preposterous, almost $12 billion a year. This money could easily be spent on

something more useful to our country, but people refuse to wait a few minutes to properly

dispose of trash.

Cigarettes are one of the main objects that people throw into our environment. Keep

America Beautiful (KAB) is a national

organization, working to protect our

environment and end the act of cigarette

littering. KAB has implemented a

program called the Cigarette Litter

Prevention Program. It has a website that shows how a person can begin this project in their

own community. KAB is a remarkable national organization that will stop at nothing to keep

our wildlife safe and “keep America beautiful.” A local organization in Alabama is a program

called Adopt a Mile. Adopt a Mile allows any family, organization, or business to literally “adopt

a mile” on the Alabama roadways. Once a group has adopted a mile, it is their duty to take care

of it. The main duty is to clean up the trash that is thrown onto the side of the streets. The

Alabama PALS (People Against a Littered State) partnered with the Alabama Department of

Transportation to coordinate this program.

People who are unwilling to be a part of a specific organization can still help. A person

can always recycle plastic, paper, and cans. Wait until reaching a trash can to throw something

away. Pick up a piece of trash that someone else littered. Doing little things can make a great

change.

The efforts to end littering are amazing. The amount of people who are changing the

habit of littering to protect our environment is growing all the time. Littering is killing our planet

and it needs to be stopped. People everywhere are trying to end this issue, so do not litter and

save the environment.

Works Cited

"The Alabama Adopt a Mile Program." Alabama PALS. Alabama Department of Transportation, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2012.

Cathy. "Walking Green:10 Harmful Effects of Litter." Greenecoservices. N.p., 14 June 2008. Web. 08 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.greenecoservices.com/walking-green-10-harmful-effects-of-litter/>.

"Keep America Beautiful: Prevent Cigarette Litter." Keep America Beautiful: Prevent Cigarette Litter. PhillipMorrisUSA, n.d. Web.

11 Dec. 2012. <http://preventcigarettelitter.org/>.

Kilgore, Melissa. "Litter and Pollution." Litter and Pollution. Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.chintiminiwildlife.org/Education/LivingWithWild/Litter.htm>.

"Litter." Office of Environment and Heritage. NSW, 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/warr/litter.htm>.

"Litter Prevention." Keep America Beautiful:. Keep America Beautiful, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=focus_litter_prevention>.

"Littering Statistics." Statistic Brain RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2012. <http://www.statisticbrain.com/littering-statistics/>.

"Marine Debris Impacts." Home. USEPA, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2012.

"Littering." Union County Government. Union County, North Carolina, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

Earth, the Global Trashcan by Brooke Benefiel

The United States produces 40% of the world’s trash even though we only have 5% of the

population (“Fast Facts”). For many years we have been

dumping our trash in landfills and the ocean, but now we

are running out of space. In addition to this we are

carelessly using our natural resources which can be easily

conserved through recycling. The average person in

Alabama is producing 9.9 pounds of trash per day

compared to the nation’s average of 4.4 pounds per day (“Fast Facts”). Recycling is the key to

conserving our natural resources and saving our environment.

The average person in the United States produces an enormous amount of 1,609 pounds

of trash a year (“Recycling Statistics and Facts”). One of the main trash products that can be

easily recycled is paper. However, one hundred acres of trees

are being cut down per minute. This destroys many animals’

habitats and causes them to migrate to a smaller area.

However, when one ton of paper is recycled we save

seventeen trees, 275 pounds of sulfur, 350 pounds of

limestone, 9,000 pounds of steam, 60,000 gallons of water, 225 kilowatt hours and four cubic

yards of landfill space (“Recycling Statistics and Facts”). Every hour 250,000 plastic bottles are

being dumped into the overflowing landfills. One plastic water bottle will take on average 700

years to decompose. Since we are filling landfills faster than the trash is decomposing, we will

quickly run out of space. In addition there are practically floating islands of plastic trash that the

sun has melted together floating in our oceans. Some of these “islands” are so big they can be

seen from space. These “islands” kill an

estimated one million sea creatures every

year. Even though we have these floating

islands plastic happens to be one of the

easiest things to recycle. Just one recycled

bottle saves enough energy to power a light

bulb for six hours (“Recycling Statistics and

Facts”). Now imagine if everyone recycled their plastic bottles; it would save enormous

amounts of energy. However, there are other materials to recycle than plastic that would have

a major impact on the environment. For example, The Hershey Chocolate Company produces

twenty million Hershey kisses a day. The wrappers for these kisses use 133 square miles of

aluminum. If this aluminum was recycled the company could reuse it in less than sixty days

rather than mining for new aluminum which is dangerous, takes more time and causes major

soil erosion. Also recycling aluminum causes 97% less air and water pollution (“Recycling

Statistics and Facts”). Aluminum, plastic and paper are not the only things you can recycle.

Recycling electronic devices can be extremely energy efficient. One million recycled laptops can

power 3,657 homes for one year (“Fast Facts”). Also in 2007, 1.43 million cell phones were

retired, but only 10% of them were recycled. If all of the retired cell phones would have been

recycled then it would have saved enough energy to power 18,500 homes for a year.

(“Recycling Statistics and Facts”) Throwing these products into a recycling bin will save our

resources, forests, energy, land fill space and therefore our environment.

Recycling is easy and practical. It consists of categorizing trash into plastic, metal and paper

and then taking it to the nearest recycling drop off. In Mobile alone there are over fifteen

different places to take recycling material. The amount of trash the human population is

producing is overwhelming. Roughly one third of trash is being recycled which is better than

previous years but still needs to be improved (“Negative Effects”). Recycling is an effective way

to reduce the trash produced and help save our environment and conserve our precious natural

resources.

Works Cited

"Fast Facts About Recycling." AEC Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.

"Negative Effects on the Planet by Not Recycling | Inktechnologies.com." Inktechnologiescom

RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.

"Recycling Statistics and Facts." Recycling Statistics and Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2012.

Water Pollution on the Gulf Coast by Webb Radcliff

Water pollution has long-term effects on the world. Pollution is the introduction of

anything harmful to an ecosystem; this includes pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, detergents,

oil, plastic and many other materials (“The Ocean”). Out of all the types of pollution, water

pollution is the number one cause of ecological damage, hurting marine life and whole

ecosystems. Ecological catastrophes like the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

and many more have affected entire ecosystems along with the coastal areas nearby.

There are two main types of water pollution, groundwater pollution and surface water

pollution. Ground water pollution needs to be prevented because this is the water that people

drink and if it is contaminated then it can cause anyone who drinks it to become sick. The two

main causes for ground water pollution are from leaking landfills and underground storage

tanks. One example of groundwater pollution affecting a whole community took place in Love

Canal in Niagara Falls. Hooker Chemical Company dumped chemicals into a pit like a bowl and

then capped it off. Later, the Hooker Chemical land was developed by Niagara Falls. The seal

was broken and the toxic waste leaked into waterways and boils began appearing in yards. Kids

began getting chemical burns and then everything was traced back to the pollution created by

Hooker Chemical Company (Gates). Cases like Love Canal show how water pollution can harm

whole communities. One in ten Americans have been exposed to harmful chemicals through

their drinking water. This shows the widespread effect of pollution in the United States, which

needs to be stopped before it causes more damage (“Water Quality”).

Most surface water pollution is tied to surface runoff. Rainwater washes all sorts of

pollution, anywhere from spilled oil to road salt, into lakes, ponds, and rivers. These rivers lead

to oceans or other large bodies of water and can affect a much larger area than the places they

originate. For example, if someone were to litter, this trash could easily make its way into a

waterway and eventually out into the ocean. In the North Pacific there is an island of trash the

size of Texas called the Trash Vortex (“The Ocean”). This “island” is made up of all types of

litter, anywhere from trash bags to foam to old

fishing nets. All of this waste is very harmful to

marine life, killing many animals that mistake it for

food or get tangled up in the nets. All of this trash

adds up but anyone can make a difference by

doing something as simple as not littering and

picking up trash they see on the ground.

Other types of pollutants are not as deliberate. Fertilizers used by farmers can be

harmful to marine life. Once the fertilizer is swept into a lake or river it gives algae the nutrients

needed to grow. This algae absorbs the oxygen in the water and creates areas where no

marine life can exist. There are four hundred of these “dead”

zones around the world (“The Ocean”). One of these runs from

the Mississippi River Delta to the Northern Coast of Texas. This

Gulf Coast dead zone does not affect the Mobile area, but if we

do not do something to prevent it, we could create one in our

backyard. If farmers were to cut back on the fertilizers, it could help prevent these dead zones

and improve aquatic ecosystems. Whether it is deliberate or not, pollution is devastating to

ecosystems.

Some cases of surface water pollution are in the form of disasters. Two of the best

examples of this are Santa Barbara and Ixtoc spills. Santa Barbara pumped three million gallons

of oil into the Pacific Ocean, but this was nothing compared to the 140 million gallons spilled by

Ixtoc into the Gulf of Mexico. Although these catastrophes were world-wide crises, they are not

very common. Most of surface pollution takes place over a long period of time. In one case,

General Electric dumped polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) intoxicated waste into the Hudson

River in New York. By the time it was stopped, one

million pounds of PCB, which is known to cause cancer,

was poured into the river. Because of General Electric,

the Hudson River area receives the most money from a

Superfund in America. Another example took place in

Cleveland, Ohio. In this case, many different companies

polluted the waters of the Cuyahoga River. The river was polluted so heavily that it actually

caught on fire, which happened on more than one occasion (Gates). Pollution of surface water

can happen anywhere, even right off the Gulf Coast.

The BP oil spill had a huge impact on the Gulf Coast in southern United States. BP’s

Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20, 2010, killing

eleven workers. The explosion was caused by a leak 5,000 feet

below sea level that some workers claimed BP and Transocean,

the owner of the rig at the time, knew about but chose not to

fix due to the cost. Due to its immense depth, the spill was extremely difficult to cap, taking

eighty seven days and many tries to do so. Each day BP failed to cap the well, somewhere

between forty to seventy barrels were spilled. By the time the well was capped, 205.8 million

gallons of oil had been released into the Gulf of

Mexico. Once the flow of oil was stopped, BP

had to decide what to do with all the oil

floating around in the Gulf, covering a six

hundred square mile area. They tried to use

dispersants to get rid of the pollution. The EPA

however, found out that these chemicals were harmful to the ecosystem and put a stop to it,

but not before BP had released 600,000 gallons (“Deepwater”). Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,

Mississippi, and Texas all felt the effects of the oil on their beaches and coastal marshes. Tar

balls began washing up on the beaches, varying in sizes. These tar balls were clumps of oil

mixed with sand, shells, and other materials (Handwerk). BP employed workers to clean the

beaches and placed booms to try to stop the oil from reaching the shore. Even with all of BP’s

efforts, around 78,000 square miles of fisheries were forced to close, over a third of the Gulf’s

total fishing waters (“Deepwater”). Local businesses were hurt due to the lack of tourists and

restrictions on fishing. BP gave twenty billion dollars to local residents in claims to try to

compensate for their losses. Two years after the disaster, the coast is still seeing the effects of

the spill (“Deepwater”). One hundred pounds of tar balls washed up on the beach after

Hurricane Isaac. Many scientists believe that sixty percent of the oil is still on the bottom of the

Gulf which is where these new tar balls originated (“Alabama”). The oil spill was a catastrophic

example of water pollution and has greatly affected the Gulf Coast.

There are many different types of water pollution, all having negative effects on the

environment. This pollution can affect a small community or even a whole region of a country.

The BP oil spill had a huge impact on the Gulf Coast leaving many people with financial

problems. There are ways you can help, one is through WaterSense. WaterSense is an

organization that produces labels and products that help conserve water. WaterSense along

with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) help protect the environment and control

pollution (“Sustainability”). The EPA also provides trained environment professionals, including

scientist and engineers who help create tools and regulations that help to maintain clean water.

Although these organizations do a tremendous amount to protect water pollution, it is still our

job to make a difference.

Earth’s surface is about seventy percent water but only one percent is available for use

(“Water Sense”). We need to keep that one percent clean. We can do this by cutting back on

all types of water pollution, mainly littering. An easy solution to this is picking up trash and

preventing it from entering waterways. Water is not an infinite source which means it needs to

be protected and kept clean. If everyone just performs a few small acts a day, the amount of

pollution can be greatly reduced.

Works Cited

"Alabama." Press-Register. AL.com, 10 Sept. 2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Deepwater Horizon oil spill (2010)." World Geography: Understanding a Changing World.

ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 7 Dec. 2012.

Handwerk, Brian. "BP Oil Spill's Sticky Remnants Wash Up Sporadically On Gulf Beaches."

National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 22 Mar. 2012. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.

"Sustainability Information." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.

"The Ocean." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.

Gates, Alexander E., and Robert P. Blauvelt "water pollution." Science Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Water Quality and Availability: Timeline." World Geography: Understanding a Changing World.

ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 7 Dec. 2012.

"Water Sense." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2012.

Water Pollution in the Southeast by Barry Fontenot

Today in the United States there are many problems and water pollution is one of them.

Water pollution is horrible all over the United States. In the south water pollution is horrible in

some places. In Mobile there are some places that are horrifying such as the Mobile Bay, some

rivers, and the Gulf of Mexico. These places are constantly being polluted. If you drive on the

bay way or cause way and just look into the water there is an abundance of trash. People use it

like the garbage can. The most common types of water pollution in Mobile and the South are

sediment run-off, trash, and oil spills.

The most common type of water pollution is waste and sediment run off. Some of the

most common types of sediment run off come from rain water. The sediment from the streets,

rooftops, and dirt pits soon flows into rivers, the bays, and oceans. This can cause the water to

change colors and become muddy. Therefore it can put chemicals into the water and can get

into the wildlife’s food chain. “As the runoff flows over the land or impervious surfaces (paved

streets, parking lots, and building rooftops), it accumulates debris, chemicals, sediment or other

pollutants that could adversely affect water quality if the runoff is discharged untreated”

(“Stormwater Runoff”). However the Black Warrior Riverkeeper is

a group of people that have gotten together and decided to

increase their focus on construction storm water issues to address

muddy water runoff that is harming our streams, wildlife habitat,

property, and drinking water (“Stormwater Runoff”).

Water pollution is getting worse in Mobile Bay. Every time I seem to go over the bay

way or to my bay house I see more and more trash. Where the Alabama River meets Mobile

Bay is a huge shipping channel. Up and down the shipping channel are places where the boats

load up all sorts of stuff such as crates, coal, wood, and many more things. These boats are

spilling out gas, oil, and other chemicals into the river, which then flows into the Bay how ever

run offs such as little creeks are all up and down the channel. If you head up the Alabama River

a little bit there is a creek called Three Mile Creek. Water that comes from the creek then goes

into the river then the bay. It is a nasty creek and has trash from the start of it to the end of it.

The Prichard Paper Mill is on this creek and all the chemicals run into the

creek. As the chemicals from these boats and the mill flow into the river

and bay it causes harm for our city and country. Sea food comes from the

bay and the gulf. If chemicals are getting into these fish and wild life it

could make them have diseases and it could end up hurting us or killing us.

During the summer of 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico an oil rig

exploded. When it happened it caused 4.9 million barrels of oil to flow into the south coast

(“Greater New Orleans”). BP has over 4.5 billion dollars to pay to the people (“Greater New

Orleans”). “Studies show that more than 82,000 birds; about 6,000 sea turtles; nearly 26,000

marine mammals, including dolphins; and an unknown, massive number of

fish and invertebrates may have been harmed by the spill and its

aftermath”(“Gulf Disaster”). It is probably one of the worst types of water

pollutions that could happen. It caused many fish and birds to die and ruined

some people’s businesses. The oil got into the food system for

the fish and caused a lot of them to die. Shrimpers couldn’t use

their shrimp boats because of the oil spill and many of them lost

their job.

Water pollution is slowly destroying the world. If everybody threw trash in the trash can

and not on the road or in the water then it would be one step better. We could also have

groups that go out on to the beaches and pick up trash. These types of water pollutions are

deadly and could destroy world. If water pollution keeps getting worse then it could kill a lot of

the fish and wild life that live next to these waters.

Works Cited

Catastrophe In The Gulf of Mexico: Devastation Persists." Gulf Disaster. Center for Biological

Diversity, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.

EPA Halts Federal Contracts for BP." The Times-Picayune. Bob Barr, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.

"Stormwater Runoff." Black Warrior River. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.

Water Pollution: A Severe Dilemma by Jane Newby

According to WaterAid America, “Seven hundred eighty three million people in the

world do not have access to safe water” (“WaterAid America”). These people are left with

polluted water. They are left with contaminated and unhealthy water. “In developing

countries 70% of industrial wastes are dumped untreated into waters where they pollute the

usable water supply” (“Water Resources”). These polluted waters are just another source of

water ruined for drinking and sanitation. Contaminated water causes illness and, for many,

death.

There are different types of water pollution. Some of them are surface water pollution,

oxygen depleting, nutrients, microbiological, suspended matter, and chemical. Surface waters

include oceans, river, and lakes. Oxygen depletion is caused from large amounts of

microorganisms using up all of the oxygen in the water. The microorganisms that can live

without oxygen overpopulate the ones that die without oxygen

and produce harmful toxins. A large sum of nutrients can cause

excess algae and other plant growth. These nutrients

contaminate drinking water and can cause fish and other marine

life without enough oxygen. Microbiological is pollution caused

by bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. These microorganisms are

harmful to marine life and humans. Suspended matter water

pollution is waste and materials floating in the water. Eventually

it falls to the ground as silt, which is harmful to life that lives on

the ground. An example of chemical water pollution is pesticides.

The use of pesticides in farming is to prevent weeds. When these pesticides run off into water,

it can poison the animals that eat them, and the animals that eat the infected animals.

Knowing the different types of water pollutions can help understand how to fix the problems of

it. (“Water Pollution.”)

Some of the main causes of water pollution are sewage, wastewater, littering, and oil.

Sewage and wastewater mostly come from developing countries because they are not sanitary;

they do not have access to clean necessities other countries have. Littering causes many

problems in the waters. It can harm the animals if they try to eat it or if it destroys their

habitats. Some of the trash that is dumped takes anywhere from two weeks to over four-

hundred years to degrade. The un-degraded trash piles up in the waters. In the Pacific

Ocean, there is an island of trash called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. (“Trash Islands.”) It is

growing constantly, because more and more trash is ending up in the ocean. Oil has many ways

of making its way to water. Oil is harmful because it does not dissolve, so it causes fish to

suffocate, blocks light, and harms birds’ feathers. By fixing these problems, we could reduce

water pollution. (“Water Pollution.”)

Recently, there was an oil spill in the Gulf of

Mexico, known as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill or the

BP oil spill. In the south, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,

Mississippi, and Texas were all affected. The BP oil spill

ruined recreational fun for many. Families and friends

had to be careful where they swam and went boating.

While for others it caused job problems. Local fishermen could not fish in the affected areas,

because the fish were dying and were infected by the oil. The thick oil is absorbed in the fish

because they have a high fat content. The oil is very toxic to their skin and gills, which causes

them to die. The birds were coated in oil, which causes them to lose buoyancy. The oil also

takes away their insulation in their feathers, so they cannot regulate their body temperature.

The sea turtles were all covered in oil, too. This disastrous oil spill affected the lives of many.

("How the BP Oil Spill Impacts Wildlife.")

The oil spill was a disaster for a long time, but the nitrogen pollution in the Mississippi

River and the Gulf of Mexico has been in effect for several years. “The largest source of

pollution to the Bay comes from agricultural runoff which contributes 40% of the nitrogen”

(“Nitrogen and Phosporous”). Nitrogen is essential for all living organisms. With all of this

nitrogen going into the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi River, it makes algae and other plants

grow uncontrollably. The out of control algae causes “dead zones.” The dead zone in the Gulf

of Mexico is about 6,000 square miles. (“Gulf Dead Zone.”) “The Mississippi River - which

drains the lands of nearly 40% of the continental United States, carries an estimated 1.5 million

metric tons of nitrogen pollution into the Gulf of Mexico each year. The resulting dead zone in

the Gulf each summer is about the size of Massachusetts” (“The Problem Solution”). These

spots have little to no oxygen. This is because the thriving algae are consumed by bacteria,

which leads to low levels of oxygen, because the bacteria are eating all of the oxygen. The lack

of oxygen causes marine life to die because they need it. (“Dead Zone.”)

Fixing these problems can be a minor step in your day. Using environmentally friendly

or organic household items can help reduce pollution in the water. A huge way to help the

problem is not to litter. If you see trash on the ground, pick it up and put it in a nearby trash

can. By doing this, you could be stopping trash from entering the

ocean, river, or lake. If everyone did not litter or if everyone picked

up trash, it could help the Great Pacific Garbage Patch from

growing. Farmers could help reduce nitrogen pollution by fencing

off animals, employing nutrient management, and improving

sewage treatment. Helping to reduce water pollution by doing

these tasks can make an impact on the waters.

Works Cited

"Nitrogen and Phosphorous." Chesapeake Bay Foundation - Saving a National Treasure - Chesapeake Bay

Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Dead Zone." About.com Marine Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"WaterAid America." WaterAid America. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Gulf Dead Zone." LiveScience.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"How the BP Oil Spill Impacts Wildlife." - National Wildlife Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"The Problem Solution." The Problem Solution | World Pollution Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Trash Islands." About.com Geography. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Water Resources." UN-Water Statistics - Water Resources. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Water Pollution." Water Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

The Destructive Effects of Water Pollution by Caroline Hennig

Summer has arrived. The young boy and his father’s annual tradition of going fishing on his

birthday is going to be different this year. Due to recent effects of an oil spill numerous amounts of fish

and other marine life have been killed. The state ordered that no one can fish until the population of

the fish increases. The devastated boy’s tradition with his father is impossible to keep alive.

One may ask, “What causes water pollution?” Things we consider luxuries such as an annual

holiday cruise can cause damage and pollutions to our water. “In one week a typical cruise ship

generates 210,000 gallons of sewage, more than eight tons of solid waste

and toxic wastes from common onboard operations” (Water Pollution Facts).

Water pollution can be caused by many other different factors. Oil spills and

human and animal wastes can cause water pollution. The water can also be

polluted from runoff after a rainstorm that washes chemicals, such as

fertilizers from farms, into the water. Mining activities and landfills can also pollute the water since

about 210 million gallons of petroleum enter the sea each year worldwide. 1.2 trillion gallons of

untreated sewage, storm water, and industrial waste are discharged into United States’ waters every

year. Roughly 25 percent of beaches close due to water pollution on any given year. Furthermore,

“about 20 percent of the land based petroleum that enters North American coastal waters ends up in

the Gulf of Mexico” (Grinning Planet). Water pollution is mainly caused by things we think benefit us

such as mining activities and fertilizers.

Many people tend to believe water pollution only occurs in third world countries, but actually it

unknowingly happens in front of our very own eyes. Water pollution can affect people in two ways.

One way is directly, where you physically come in contact with water and causes illnesses. The second

way is indirectly, which is caused by the consumption of food, most commonly sea life such as fish.

Water pollution can cause diseases in fish and other marine life. Humans can become sick by eating the

diseased marine life. Each year plastic waste in water and coastal areas kills up to 100,000 marine life,

one million sea birds, and countless amounts of fish (Water

Pollution Facts). Water can also become contaminated and

cause extremely harmful diseases in humans. These diseases

would lead to high medical bills and very likely lead to death.

Each year, roughly 250 million cases of diseases are caused by

water pollution, resulting in five to ten million deaths.

Examples of diseases from polluted beach water can be

diarrhea, vomiting, stomach aches and cramps, respiratory

infections. Polluted water can also lead to damages to the

liver, kidney, and nervous system. An increase in polluted water can also cause more breeding grounds

for mosquitoes that can carry malaria, a deadly disease. Some less harmful effects of polluted beach

water can be rashes, ear aches, and pink eye (Water Pollution Facts).

In addition, some water pollution can lead to “dead zones”. Dead zones, like the one in the Gulf

of Mexico, can be caused by nutrients from farms entering the water that boost the growth of algae.

The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is located from the beginning of the Mississippi River Delta and

ends at the upper Texas coast (CNN). The algae consume large amounts of oxygen, creating a large

space where no marine life can survive. The marine life, in result of the dead zone, comes closer to

shore to be able to live and breathe and also to escape the dead zone. This is extremely harmful when

dangerous marine life comes close to shore, because they can be harmful to humans. As the pollution of

water increases, so does the dead zone. In 2012 the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico was 2,889 square

miles, which is larger than the entire state of Delaware. Most of the pollution that causes this specific

dead zone is the Mississippi River which carries an estimated 1.5 million metric tons of nitrogen

pollution (CNN).

An example of a famous water pollution tragedy is the B.P. Oil Spill. After the BP Oil Spill on April

20, 2012, the White House said that it was the greatest environmental disaster the United States has

faced. Workers and marine life died due to the oil spill. Water in the Gulf instantly became toxic

because it only takes one quart of oil to make 250,000 gallons of water toxic. The United States lost

money and incredible amounts of oil and also had to pay workers to stop.

The BP Company paid a 4.5 billion dollar fine due to the oil spill (Popular

Mechanics). Fisherman, local restaurants and businesses lost their jobs and

lost money because the beaches were covered in tar and they were unable

to catch seafood to sell and eat. The BP oil spill leaked 205.8 million gallons

of oil, wasting 397.7 million dollars’ worth of oil. In other words, “One could

drive a Toyota Prius 184,181 times around the Earth using the lost oil” (The Deepwater Horizon Spill

by the Numbers). The BP tragedy is a form of water pollution that has greatly affected the Gulf Coast

region. It should be a motivator for those who live on the Gulf Coast to prevent further water pollution.

One easy way to reduce water pollution is to remember to never litter in the water or on land.

One can join clubs and organizations such as CCA, or Coastal Conservation Association, to help protect

our coast. In addition, do not overuse chemicals and fertilizers outside and always watch what you flush

down your toilets. It is always a good thing to pick up trash in, or near, a body of water. Do not over

water your plants because this may cause the fertilizers to flow into nearby water sources. It is never

too late to try and help the environment. No one wants to swim in trash and chemicals at the beach, so

be smart and do you part to help the environment.

Works Cited

CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"The Deepwater Horizon Spill by the Numbers." Popular Mechanics. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec.

2012.

"The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone." The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2012.

"Gulf of Mexico." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2012.

"Small Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone Likely Due to Drought | Earth | EarthSky." EarthSky. N.p., n.d.

Web. 09 Dec. 2012.

"Water Pollution Facts." Water Pollution Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2012.

The Dangers of Water Pollution around Our Area by Lee Tonsmeire

"Each year there are about 250 million cases of water-based diseases, resulting in

roughly five to ten million deaths a year"(“Worldly Water Pollution Statistics”). Our waters are

polluted which is causing deaths that we could prevent. Those deaths are five to ten million

deaths of innocent people that could have been stopped. Water pollution is becoming a major

problem in the United States, as well as all over the world. It all starts with taking care of our

environment and not polluting the waters that we use for drinking, or for recreation purposes.

In the United States of America water pollution around the East Coast has reached an

all-time high. The Mississippi River, which drains nearly 40%

of the continental U.S., is estimated to dump 1.5 million

metric tons of nitrogen pollution into the Gulf of Mexico.

The pollution going from the Mississippi River into the Gulf

of Mexico results in a dead zone in the Gulf that is about the

size of Massachusetts. Most people who travel to the beach

have absolutely no idea about the dead zone and its effects. (“Worldly Water Pollution

Statistics.”)

The dead zone is an area of polluted water that comes from the pollution in the

Mississippi River. The size of the zone can vary from 6,000 to 7,000 square miles. It starts at the

beginning of the Mississippi River delta and extends all the way up to the coasts of upper Texas.

The reason for the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is caused by a nutrient enrichment. The

nutrient overload in the dead zone leads to hypoxic water, water that does not contain enough

oxygen to keep the animals alive, which harms the wildlife in the Gulf. The Dead Zone is a

problem that we are facing because the Gulf of Mexico is a large source area for the seafood

industry. “The Gulf supplies 72% of U.S. harvested shrimp, 66% of harvested oysters, and 16%

of commercial fish.”(“The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone”) The dead zone harms us and the wildlife

inside of and surrounding the dead zone.

The dead zone is a problem that can be

fixed. There are many ways to prevent the

expansion of the dead zone in the Gulf of

Mexico. The first attempt that we can do as a

community to fix the dead zone is to use fewer

fertilizers in the farming industry. Using fewer fertilizers can prevent the excess nutrients from

leaking into the waters. We can also try to control animal waste so that it does not enter the

waterways. Another way we can try to prevent the dead zone from expanding is by monitoring

the septic systems and sewage pipes to reduce leaking into the water. (“The Gulf of Mexico

Dead Zone.”)

The amount of people who travel to the Gulf of Mexico during the months of May, June,

July, August, and throughout September come in thousands. Many of these people have no

idea the effects of water pollution. Water pollution can give them many diseases such as flesh

eating disease, bacterial diseases, staph infection, and many others. These diseases can be very

harmful to your skin and to your body. We can be harmed by water pollution directly and

indirectly. It can harm you by direct contact such as swimming or bathing in polluted water. It

also can affect us indirectly by consumption of food such as fish that have been swimming in

and around the polluted water. The fish that are affected by the polluted water then become

dangerous because they have dangerous chemicals inside of them and if they are eaten with

the dangerous chemicals it can be very harmful. Indirect contact is usually more harmful to

your body because it enters into your body directly.

Littering is also a problem that pollutes our waters. When boaters are out boating and

fishing they often have nowhere to put their trash so they litter by throwing it into the water

they are fishing or boating on. This puts the wildlife of the waters in danger. “Of the 260 million

tons of plastic the world produces each year, about 10 percent ends up in the Ocean”(“Plastic

Pollution”) This is harmful to the animals because they often think that the plastic is food and

will try to eat it. When the animals try to eat the

plastic many of them choke on it and die. Littering

harms the population of our wildlife.

Coastal Cleanup is an organization that helps

pick up all the litter around the shores and in the water on the coast lines in the Baldwin County

area. Coastal Cleanup helps the environment because it can help remove the harmful litter in

our water. “In its twenty-five year effort to clean up the coast, over 61,513 volunteers have

removed 1,169,844 pounds of trash from 3,917 miles of shoreline”(“Coastal Cleanup”) The

Coastal Cleanup organization helps clean our coast to make for better waters and healthier

animals.

Water pollution affects us even when we do not expect it coming. It can affect us during

dinner with the family on a seafood night or swimming at the beach. Water pollution can be

harmful to us and wildlife that is swimming in the oceans and rivers. Water pollution is a major

problem in the United States and around the world and we can prevent. I believe that if we

work together we can help stop water pollution.

Works Cited

"Coastal Cleanup." Welcome to the 25th Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup 2012. N.p., n.d. Web.

10 Dec. 2012.

"The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone." The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Plastic Pollution." « Coastal Care. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

"Wordly Water Pollution Statistics." The Problem Solution | World Pollution Statistics. N.p., n.d.

Web. 09 Dec. 2012.

"Water Pollution Diseases." Www.enviromentalpollutioncenters.org. Enviromental Pollution

Centers, n.d. Web. <http://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/water/diseases/>.

Water Pollution and its Effects by Layne Watts

Water pollution occurs when untreated pollutants either directly or indirectly enter

any body of water. There are numerous pollutants that enter the earth’s water bodies all over

the world including dangerous chemicals and litter (Rubin). Locally, the Gulf Coast experienced

a devastating oil spill polluting the Gulf of Mexico (“Gulf Disaster”). Dangerous chemicals and

litter come from various sources and have devastating effects on the environment and the

health and safety of people and animals (David).

Dangerous chemicals pollute our water either directly or indirectly and can have deadly

consequences. Factories and industries are a direct source. They have waste or by-products

from their production and although heavily regulated, some chemicals are illegally dumped or

accidentally enter urban water supplies. Water pollution occurs indirectly when rain water

carries chemicals and pollutants such as animal waste, fertilizers, soaps, and heavy metals from

the soil into lakes and streams (Rubin). The most

devastating effect of these pollutants is that they kill the

animals that live in or near these water ecosystems and

affect the food chain. Fish, birds, and dolphins have

washed up dead on beaches. Tiny organisms ingest

poisons such as lead and cadmium and are later eaten

by a larger organism or fish and the contamination carries all the way up the food chain to

humans (David). We can prevent this devastation by performing precautions such as picking up

the wastes from our animals and washing our cars in the grass or on a graveled area (“Water

Pollution Facts”).

Litter is another pollutant that mainly enters bodies of water indirectly. Trash, debris,

grass clippings and leaves are some of the litter found to pollute the waters (“Water Pollution

Facts”). Along the Mobile Bayway, copious

amounts of litter enter our waters due to the

carelessness of civilians. This litter can harm

or suffocate birds, fish and other aquatic life.

Too much trash can limit visibility for fish,

hindering their ability to find food and take

care of their young. Animals in the water can

be poisoned by toxins from garbage as well. For example, the glues and paints used in

wrappers and boxes end up in the water, causing harm to aquatic life. Too much litter in the

waters can also lead to oxygen depletion. When oxygen is depleted, there is not enough

oxygen in the water for the aquatic life to thrive (“The Effects of Pollution”). Litter in the waters

leads to the disruption of many aquatic ecosystems. To avoid this disruption, we can dispose of

our trash properly into garbage bins or preferably recycling bins. Volunteering to pick up

garbage along densely populated areas is another great way to prevent litter from harming our

ecosystems.

The 2010 BP oil spill is a local example of water pollution that had devastating

consequences. When the oil drilling rig located in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, millions of

gallons of crude oil spewed from the ocean floor making this event the worst oil disaster in

American history. The oil sheen spread across thousands of square miles and not only reached

the Alabama shores but also the coastlines of Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana. Within the

ocean, thousands of animals and ecosystems were affected

including plankton, dolphins and numerous species of fish.

As giant tar balls continuously washed ashore, the coastline

ecosystems were affected. Sea turtle eggs and birds nest

were found to be coated with oil. The oil soaked into the

eggs, harming and often killing the creatures. This oil spill

caused our waters to become more toxic, injuring

thousands of defenseless species (“Gulf Disaster”).

Water pollution, whether the source is direct or indirect, inarguably has a destructive

effect on the environment and all people and animals. Chemicals, litter and local disasters will

always pose a threat, but through strict regulations, volunteer work, and education, we can

make a difference in the state of our waters.

Works Cited

David, Michael,, David,, and Caroline. "Water Pollution." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/water_pollution_-_effects.html

"Effects Of Water Pollution." Clean Water Campaign. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

http://www.cleanwatercampaign.com/html/557.htm

"Gulf Disaster." Gulf Disaster. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/energy/dirty_energy_development/oil_and_g

as/gulf_oil_spill/index.html

Rubin, Dr. Ken. "Reply to ASK-AN-EARTH-SCIENTIST." Sources of Water Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/ASK/waterpol3.html

"Water Pollution Facts." Water Pollution Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

http://www.cityofbremerton.com/content/sw_waterpollutionfacts.html

Rivers of Promise by Daly Wettermark

Humans are, by nature, destructive towards nature and have been manipulating the

environment since they first learned to hammer with stones. Much of this destruction is

unavoidable if people are to live the

modern lives they do today.

However, when the level of harm

exceeds a level of healthy

moderation, it compromises the

future of natural resources. Natural

fresh water is the most notable of

these resources, and its preservation

has become a key issue in Alabama in recent years. The combined effects of increased pollution

and overuse of natural freshwater waterways have made the safety and longevity of the rivers

and lakes people have used for centuries unsure.

The issue of man-made pollution is a fairly recent development in human history. It

began with the Industrial Revolution of the 19th

century, in which factories produced mass

quantities of their products, and therefore mass quantities of waste (Wooford). Much of today’s

industrial waste comes from coal. The Gulf Coast has around 90 active coal mines today.

Unfortunately, up to this point there has been little law enforcement to prevent coal plant wastes

from leaking into the waterways (“Coal Mining”). When foreign chemicals and other substances

enter the lakes and streams, they acidify the water, making it toxic to animals and humans who

consume it (“River Pollution”). Even nontoxic substances entering the water produce excess

sedimentation, or the accumulation of particulate matter in water bodies. This lower water-to-silt

ratio results in shallow rivers that continue to fill in, creating hazardous environments for people

using the water recreationally as well as native species. Sedimentation blocks sunlight from

reaching the bottom of the water, killing bottom dwelling organisms that are vital to an area’s

ecosystem. (Atkins). The pollution of rivers needs

to be addressed before it contaminates the natural

waters permanently.

Another major factor in the destruction of

fresh water sources is simple overuse of rivers and

lakes that provide water for human use. Per capita,

water consumption has increased dramatically as

new technology makes it readily accessible in

most homes in the United States. In centuries past,

people did not use excessive amounts of water on

lawns or even baths because water was so hard to

come by in inland areas. Today, the average

American uses approximately 176 gallons of

water per day, either directly or indirectly (“Water Facts”). The increased water consumption

that began with modern plumbing comes at a price: the level of our rivers. Alabama began

collaborating with both Georgia and Florida in the 1990s to determine the amounts of water each

needs and can safely take from the rivers that flow through the three states. Without these

collaborations and regulations, each state could draw out vast quantities of water without

retribution and run the threat of drying the rivers out completely (“Tri-State Water”). Specifically

in Alabama, an average of 33.5 trillion gallons of water flow through surface water sources

annually (Hairston). This seems like a large number, but nearly 4 trillion gallons are taken from

these water sources each year for industrial and residential purposes in Alabama. This is around

10% of the freshwater supply, which, when removed, leaves the remaining water silt-filled and

murky (Hutson). As was previously discussed, this leads to further sedimentation and harms the

waterways. The amount of water taken from rivers is still fairly manageable at this point, but it is

important for people to understand the possible environmental impacts and work towards a goal

of minimizing the amount of water

taken from rivers.

The Alabama State Soil and

Water Conservation District was

established in 1939 to begin investigating and addressing both water and soil depletion in the

area. It has since worked to raise awareness of the value of our waterways and help to keep them

clean (“History”). These Government programs, as well as many smaller groups, work diligently

to make people understand their vital role in preserving the

waters. Citizens are slowly becoming more aware of the need

to take shorter showers, water their grass less, and not create

pollution that harms the waterways. An individual’s actions,

however seemingly small, can create large problems when

repeated and combined with actions of others. For instance, it

has been found that a significant amount of river pollution

consists of chemicals that come directly from people flushing

or improperly disposing of medications (Doheny). These

individuals are not intentionally trying to harm the freshwater

bodies into which the toxins flow, but are simply unaware or unconcerned with the effects.

Therefore awareness programs are vital to this cause, showing members of the general

population the importance of doing their part to save the lakes and rivers.

These methods work well helping keep the environment intact for nature’s sake.

However, there is still the issue of a growing American population and, therefore, a rising

demand for water that becomes increasingly difficult to satiate with traditional freshwater

resources. In recent years, scientists have worked to develop alternate ways to obtain fresh water

for people to use. One group from a university in the Netherlands discovered how to desalinate

water using electricity. If these researchers find that they are able to purify ocean water, which is

clearly a much more plentiful water source, it could be a huge breakthrough for freshwater

preservationists. Unlike many other

methods developed in recent years,

this should be a fairly inexpensive

process that could become a viable

alternative to draining the natural

rivers that helps our ecosystems

thrive (Zyga). What is now needed

is an increased awareness and support of these projects from Earth’s citizens to help them

continue to grow and expand their developments.

It is reassuring that so many people have realized the importance of natural resources and

are working to reduce pollution and moderate water use. People have strived for years to create a

healthy balance of conservation and consumption, and with new technology it is becoming

possible to acquire water with little to no environmental impact. Water is a staple to human life,

there is no doubt, but that does not mean it should be taken for granted. The Earth is precious,

and it is vital that it be protected and appreciated for years and generations to come.

Works Cited

Atkins, William. "Erosion and Sedimentation." Water Encyclopedia. N.p., 2012. Web. 04 Jan. 2013.

<http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/En-Ge/Erosion-and-Sedimentation.html>.

"Coal Mining: A Threat to Alabama Waters." Southern Environment Law Center, 2008. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.southernenvironment.org/cases/coal_mining_alabama>.

Doheny, Kathleen. "Drugs in Our Drinking Water?" WebMD. WebMD, 2008. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.

Hairston, James. "Water Resources in Alabama." Encyclopedia of Alabama. N.p., 2008. Web. 11 Dec. 2012.

"History." Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee. Alabama SWCC, n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2012.

<http://swcc.alabama.gov/pages/SWCC_history.aspx?sm=a_c>.

Hutson, Susan, Thomas Littlepage, Michael Harper, and James Tinney. "Estimated Use of Water in Alabama in

2005." US Geological Survey. N.p., 2009. Web. 04 Jan. 2013.

"River Pollution." Young People's Trust for the Environment, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.ypte.org.uk/environmental/river-pollution/35>.

"Tri-State Water Wars (AL, GA, FL)." Southern Environmental Law Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2012.

<http://www.southernenvironment.org/cases/tri_state_water_wars_al_ga_fl>.

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