Human Impact on the Human Impact on the EnvironmentEnvironment

Population growth leads toPopulation growth leads to

IndustrializationIndustrialization– Burning fossil fuelsBurning fossil fuels– Non-renewable Non-renewable

resourcesresources– PollutionPollution– Increased COIncreased CO22 levels levels

Acid RainAcid Rain

Burning of fossil fuels Burning of fossil fuels releases sulphates and releases sulphates and nitrates into airnitrates into air

Sulphates and nitrates Sulphates and nitrates mix with water vapor in mix with water vapor in air and form sulphuric air and form sulphuric acid and nitric acidacid and nitric acid

Acidification of lakesAcidification of lakes

Lakes and ponds can Lakes and ponds can become so acidified become so acidified that no life can live in that no life can live in them!them!

DeforestationDeforestation

Population growth Population growth leads to the loss of leads to the loss of natural habitatsnatural habitats

Cut down trees to build Cut down trees to build new homesnew homes

Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity Loss of oxygen Loss of oxygen

producers and COproducers and CO2 2

eliminatorseliminators

Herbicides and PesticidesHerbicides and Pesticides

We spray pesticides We spray pesticides and herbicides with out and herbicides with out knowing the knowing the consequencesconsequences

DDTDDT

DDTDDT

Claimed to be a Claimed to be a miraclemiracle

No effect on humansNo effect on humans Can build up in the Can build up in the

environmentenvironment– Biological magnificationBiological magnification

BioaccumulationBioaccumulation

Accumulated to such Accumulated to such levels in top predators levels in top predators that it started having that it started having lethal effects.lethal effects.

Endangered many Endangered many species of birds, species of birds, Including our Bald Including our Bald Eagles. Eagles.

Ozone depletionOzone depletion

In the ’80’s it became In the ’80’s it became apparent that the apparent that the ozone layer was ozone layer was disappearingdisappearing

It was confirmed that is It was confirmed that is was directly caused by was directly caused by human activityhuman activity

CFC’sCFC’s

Carbon-Flouro-Carbon-Flouro-Carbons in aerosols Carbons in aerosols were leaking into the were leaking into the atmosphere and eating atmosphere and eating away the ozoneaway the ozone

Freon is also a CFCFreon is also a CFC

PollutionPollution

Water PollutionWater Pollution– Oil SpillsOil Spills– Gasoline spillsGasoline spills– Gets into drinking waterGets into drinking water

Exxon ValdezExxon Valdez

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Increase in CO2Increase in CO2 Increase in Increase in

greenhouse effectgreenhouse effect Increase in global Increase in global

temperaturestemperatures