F.Y.B.COM. SEMESTER II
FOUNDATION COURSE – II
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Q.9 Discuss the causes and effects of environmental degradation.
ANS:
Causes of Environmental degradation:
1. Industrialization and economic development-
The
industrial revolution that began in England in 17th century has gradually intensified
the misuse and abuse of natural resources. Profit oriented economy and
consumerism has further damaged the environment. The policy of use and throw
creates a huge industrial and environmentally hazardous waste. Economy is
mounting at the cost of ecology. The major concerns are pollution and scarcity
of natural resources.
2. Population explosion-
The
ever increasing population in developing or third world countries is a major
cause of environmental degradation. Population explosion results in increasing
demands and pressure on land, scarcity of resources and crises like water or
fresh air, less availability of land for agriculture or residence, large scale
cutting down of forests to meet the demands of the population.
3. Commercial agriculture and farm mechanisation-
Increasing
population leads to increase in demands for food grains and other crops. To
meet this demand mechanized and commercial farming is the only solution. It
includes use of artificial irrigation, hybrid seeds, pesticides, insecticides
and chemical fertilizers which are very harmful for the ecosystem of soil. This
in turn expands the desert land.
4. Urbanisation-
Industrialization
is always paired with urbanisation. Use of automobiles, emergence and expansion
of slums, increasing use of plastic electronic gadgets all results in air pollution
and problems of dumping waste. Inefficient disposal of waste is a threat to
environment.
5. Development projects-
Infrastructural
development projects like dams, bridges, railways or roadways all are built at
the cost of ecosystem in that area. All the projects lead to large scale destruction
of forest and fertile land leading to catastrophes like earthquakes, floods or
draughts. Uncontrolled mining also affects the land and ground water sources.
6. Government policies-
Inefficient
government machinery and policies supporting the builders lobby have resulted
in large scale destruction of forests and land cover for logging and other
allied activities.
Effects of environmental degradation
1. Pollution-
Emission
of harmful gases causes air pollution. Burning of fossil fuels like petrol and
diesel had risen in urban India. Inhaling polluted air has damaged the
respiratory systems of human beings and causing health scars like cancers, lung
infections, asthma, bronchitis etc. Water pollution is caused due to release of
chemicals from the industries and farmlands, making the water un- potable for
any use. Drinking this water can be fatal. Soil contamination enters human body
through food products and vegetation affecting the nervous system and digestive
systems adversely.
2. Global warming-
Increase
in the global temperature near the earth’s surface is termed as global warming.
It is also known as climate change. It is caused due to emission of green house
gases like carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), methane etc. Global warming
can have long term consequences like extreme weathers, melting of glaciers
leading to floods and depletion of fresh water resources and marine life.
3. Ozone depletion and its effects- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) are the
major reason for depletion the ozone layer. This layer in the atmosphere (24 Km
thick above the stratosphere) is responsible for preventing the harmful ultraviolet
rays from solar radiation. Depletion of this layer will enable those rays to
directly attack the human life on the earth causing serious damage including
skin cancers.
4. Acid rain- The emission of gases like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
from the automobiles when comes in the contact with the atmosphere transforms
into sulfuric acid and nitric acid which results in acid rain. This rain is
poisonous for forests, wildlife, marine life and humans.
5. Loss of livelihood- Environment and eco systems as discussed earlier are the
sources of survival and livelihood for humans and wild life. Degradation of
anyone resource can have a long term impact on the biotic components and
organisms. Apart from biodiversity getting extinct, human life also has ill
effects. Forests and marine life are sources of livelihood. Even water is the
major source of life. Development projects subsequently displace large amount
of human life whose end result is loss of livelihood and poverty.
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