The state of the environment is an issue that affects us all. Pollution, deforestation and climate change are severely impacting the air, water and soil we depend on for survival. Air pollution has become widespread due to industrial activities and the burning of fossil fuels, while land clearing and irresponsible farming practices have led to deforestation. As a result, our water sources are becoming increasingly contaminated, and soil degradation is occurring globally. Many reports are available on the state of the environment, for example.
EPA’s Report on the Environment (ROE)
State of the Environment – berksnature.org
Air quality
The quality of the air we breathe has a significant impact on our health, which is why the issue of air quality has been a pressing environmental concern for many years. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tracks air quality throughout the United States and makes its findings available to the public.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) frequently monitors air quality using Air Quality Index (AQI) readings. The AQI is a scale from 0-500, with 0 meaning the air quality is excellent (no pollutants present) and 500 indicating the air quality is very poor (high levels of contaminants present).
The AQI is figured out by taking several different factors into account, such as:
- The amount of ground-level ozone in the air
- The concentration of particulate matter in the air
- The concentration of carbon monoxide in the air
- The amount of sulfur dioxide in the air
- The level of nitrogen dioxide in the air
The AQI is calculated by taking an average of all readings for each criterion. For example, the weighting (ozone is given more weight than carbon monoxide) is factored in for each criterion.
In general, an AQI reading that is below 100 is considered good. This means that the levels of all pollutants are low and not posing a significant health risk. An AQI reading that is between 100 and 200 is moderate. This means that the levels of some pollutants are starting to elevate but are not yet posing a significant health risk. An AQI reading between 200 and 300 is unhealthy for sensitive groups. People with respiratory or heart conditions may experience symptoms at these levels. And finally, an AQI reading above 300 is unhealthy for everyone. This means that even people without respiratory or heart conditions may experience symptoms at these levels.
What do these AQI readings look like in different parts of the United States? Unfortunately, the numbers could be looking better. In recent years, there has been a gradual increase in the number of days where AQI readings have been above 100 (considered moderate) and a corresponding decrease in the number of days where AQI readings have been below 100 (considered to be good). This trend is evident when we compare data from two major cities: Los Angeles and New York City.
In Los Angeles, the number of days per year where AQI readings were below 100 increased from an average of 36 days between 1980 and 1984 to 48 days by 2016. In New York City, this figure went up from an average of 26 days between 1980 and 1984 to 38 days by 2016. So while both cities have experienced a gradual rise in the number of days where AQI readings are above 100 (implying poorer air quality), Los Angeles has seen a much sharper increase than New York City. Los Angeles now has twice as many days where AQI readings are above 100 as in 1980!
Water quality
Although our oceans are vast, humans have still managed to have a negative impact on the water quality. Industrialization, pollution, and climate change have all decreased water quality over the years.
The concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water is one of the most critical indicators of water quality. DO is vital for marine life, and a decrease in DO levels can have disastrous effects on aquatic ecosystems.
It’s sad to say that water quality has been declining all over the world. A study published in Science in 2017 found that global DO levels had decreased by more than 2% since the 1950s. This might not seem like a lot, but it’s enough to cause severe problems for marine life.
The problem of ocean “dead zones” is one of the most noticeable consequences of deteriorating water quality. These are areas of the ocean where the dissolved oxygen level is so low that marine life can no longer survive. Dead zones can have many causes, but agricultural runoff is one of the most significant.
As human populations have increased, we have relied more and more on fertilizers to increase food production. However, these fertilizers often contain nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which can pollute waterways and lead to algae blooms. When these algae die and decompose, they consume oxygen faster than they can be replenished, leading to dangerously low DO levels.
Dead zones are a huge problem for many reasons: they harm marine life, human health, and economies. For example, dead zones can make seafood less nutritious and cause human shellfish poisoning. They also hurt fisheries by killing fish and damaging habitats. In conclusion, healthy oceans are essential for people and wildlife, and we must do more to protect them.
Soil quality
Soil is the thin layer of organic and inorganic matter that covers the Earth’s rocky surface. It is one of the most important natural resources, as it is necessary for plant growth. Healthy soils provide vital ecosystem services, such as filtering and storing water, cycling nutrients, and sustaining plant growth.
Unsustainable land management practices have resulted in a decrease in soil quality in numerous areas around the globe. This has caused soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and contamination with toxins and pollutants. These trends are harming food security and the environment.
There are physical, chemical, and biological indicators of soil quality. Physical indicators are texture, structure, porosity, and water-holding capacity. Chemical indicators are pH, organic matter content, and fertility. Biological indicators are microbial activity, earthworm populations, and biodiversity.
There are several ways to enhance soil quality: conservation tillage practices (no-till farming), cover crops, reduced chemical inputs (fertilizers and pesticides), composting, and rotational grazing.
Soil Generic Assessment Criteria for Human Health Risk Assessment
What is exceedance?
Exceedance is a term that describes the surpassing or exceeding of a predefined limit, typically concerning an environmental variable such as air quality. It is a concept commonly used in engineering and environmental Science, which refers to events that cause a threshold value to be exceeded for an extended period.
The impact of human activity
The way we humans interact with the world around us is in a constant state of flux, as are the consequences our actions have on the environment. It is crucial to stay abreast of these trends so that we can make sound decisions about how to safeguard our planet. Let’s take a more detailed look at some of the most significant environmental data trends.
Pollution
Pollution is a huge global problem that society is facing today. It’s an environmental issue present worldwide and endangers human health and the environment.
All types of pollution share a commonality: they result from human activity. Emissions from factories, power plants, cars, and other human-generated sources can create pollution. Some forms of pollution are more visible than others; for instance, smog and air pollution can be seen and smelled, while water pollution is often only noticeable with testing.
Pollution has a variety of harmful effects. It can cause respiratory problems, heart disease, cancer, congenital disabilities, and other health problems in humans. Additionally, it can lead to wildlife population decline, ecosystem damage, and climate change.
While it will take a worldwide effort to cut down on emissions and clean up existing pollution, individuals must also make changes to their lifestyles to help protect the environment. Because pollution is caused by human activity, we must make choices that will prevent further damage.
Deforestation
Deforestation is the clear-cutting of forests, regardless of the method used. The primary reason for deforestation is to convert forest land into agricultural land or other uses such as grazing, ranching, and logging. Deforestation happens all over the planet, but tropical rainforests are especially targeted because of their high value to the timber industry. Other causes of deforestation include Urban sprawl, mining, and dam building.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that each year, between 0.7 and 1 billion hectares of forest are degraded or deforested (FAO 2010). This is an area the size of Sudan or Alaska. According to the World Bank’s Forest Cover Change database, between 1990 and 2005, over 6 million hectares of forest were cleared annually (World Bank 2008). This is an area larger than Costa Rica.
If we lose forests, it will have significant implications for both people and the environment. Forests are essential to our daily lives; they give us food and fuel, help regulate our climate and freshwater supply, and are home to many of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems.
Forests currently cover just over 30 per cent of the world’s land surface (FAO 2015a), but they are home to more than 80 per cent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity (Sanderson et al. 2002). Deforestation rates have increased significantly in recent years; according to FAO data, between 1990 and 2000, the global area covered by forest decreased by 5 million hectares per year – an average annual deforestation rate equivalent to 48 football fields every minute (FAO 2015b).
Reduced Biodiversity
Biodiversity is a term that has become increasingly important as the world continues to experience rapid changes in its ecosystems. It is an area of study that focuses on the variety of living organisms present within a given ecosystem and the interactions between these organisms and their environment. Biodiversity is essential for a healthy and productive planet, as it helps to maintain the balance of nature and provides us with food, medicine, and other resources.
Climate change
Climate change is the long-term shift in temperature and typical weather patterns in a given area. It could refer to a particular location or the planet as a whole. Climate change has been linked with severe weather events such as more frequent and intense hurricanes, floods, downpours, and winter storms. Furthermore, rising ocean waters due to melting polar ice have begun to damage coastlines due to increased flooding and erosion. The current cause of climate change is mainly human activity, like burning fossil fuels like natural gas, oil, and coal. Burning these materials releases greenhouse gases into Earth’s atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun’s rays inside the atmosphere causing Earth’s average temperature to rise.
The future of the environment
Sustainability
The ability to sustain a particular process or state indefinitely is what we call sustainability. In ecology, sustainability refers to an ecosystem’s capacity to maintain ecological processes and functions–such as producing resources that humans find helpful–over the long term. For human societies, sustainability means preserving our well-being in the future, which requires taking care of natural resources, consuming less, and using renewable resources whenever possible.
Renewable energy
As the world looks for ways to reduce the impact of climate change, renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly popular. Solar, wind, and hydroelectric power are all forms of renewable energy, and they’re all becoming more popular as technology improves and costs decrease.
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind power made up approximately 11% of all electricity generated in the United States in 2017, a slight increase from 2016’s 10%. These types of renewable energy are increasing and are predicted to continue expanding in the near future.
Hydroelectricity is another significant source of renewable electricity and has been growing in popularity in recent years. In 2017, hydropower constituted approximately 7% of total US electricity generation, up from 5% in 2010.
Even though renewables are increasing fast, they only make up a small percentage of the world’s total energy consumption. In 2016, renewables accounted for over 10% of global primary energy use. Nevertheless, this number is projected to increase in the next few years as countries look to lessen their dependence on fossil fuels.
In conclusion, the state of the environment is a complex issue. It requires a concerted effort from governments, businesses, and individuals to ensure that it is preserved for future generations. We must all strive to reduce our environmental impact and be conscious of the resources we use to protect our planet. Educating ourselves and others on the importance of taking care of our environment is also key in ensuring that these efforts have a lasting effect.
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