environmental informative essays
DESCRIPTION
Collection of informative essays on environmental topics that concerned the class.TRANSCRIPT
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.
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