Bills? It wasn’t my fault! Even though the Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred 21 years ago, its effects are still being felt to this very day. The Exxon Valdez was a oil tanker owned by Exxon Mobile Corporation that spilled over 10.8 million gallons of oil into the waters of Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989. After the waves washed the oil out to sea and in to shore, killing millions of marine organisms and birds it became the number one oil spill in the world in terms of damage to the environment.
Pollution from coal-fired power plants is released as fly ash, bottom ash and waste gases. Coal-fired power plants produce large quantities of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, the key pollutants in the formation of acid rain. Acid rain acidifies water bodies and harms forests and coastal ecosystems. Coal-fired power plant is the largest single source of atmospheric mercury emissions which is toxic to the developing brain, and exposure in the womb can cause health problems in children. Mercury released in the air gets into the waterways and is accumulated in fishes which are consumed by humans.
One major threat is that coral reefs are under huge stress due to the impact that human activities are having and in fact already 1/5 of the world’s coral reefs are so damaged that they are beyond repair. The increase of average global temperatures is leading to an increased rate of ice cap melting. This is due to global warming, making a global threat to all ecosystems including the coral reef. The reason for this is that the melting of the ice caps releases more fresh water into the oceans, reducing salinity making sea level rise. Due to sea level rising coral reefs are getting destroyed, as they cannot survive in water above 25m.
SO2, sulfur dioxide effects our trees and water systems and is the prominent cause of acid rain. Mercury- when Mercury enters our water systems it becomes harmful to our ecology (fish, plants, animals etc) and effects anyone who consumes part of the food chain. Nitrogen
2013).Pharmaceutical companies sometimes place active chemicals and waste into groundwater sources, in which almost all of the groundwater may be untreated which most likely cause contamination. (Herber, 2002). Abstract: Increase in the emissions of carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels is the largest cause of environmental down grading resulting not only in global warming but also causing acid rain which alters the pH balance of ground water. Water is a universal solvent; however, its dissolving properties are very sensitive to changes in temperature and pH. Global economic growth has, unfortunately,
The method of hydraulic fracturing has substantially increased as classical petroleum gas extraction is on the decline. The process of fracking has induced heavy concerns. Scientists have been led to believe that by digging deep into the Earth's surface numerous concerns may arise. Many U.S states that have been experimenting with fracking have experienced higher frequencies of earth quakes over the years. Furthermore, the influx of chemicals brought deep into the ground for extraction purposes have mixed with ground water, leading to lethal contamination of local drinking water.
2. Do background research – Utilizing at least one scholarly source, describe how variations in dissolved oxygen content in a body of water can affect fish populations. Answer = “Oxygen depletions are the most common cause of fish kills in ponds. (Aquaplant, 2014).” Based on my observation of the chart and what I read, the higher the dissolved oxygen levels the number of fish drops. Dissolved oxygen levels can also cause fish to suffocate and be more susceptible to diseases.
Many of the aquatic invertebrates are responsible for keeping the ecosystem clean by feeding on litters. Extinction of theses invertebrates would totally disrupt the balance of the ecosystem. The aim of this study is to bring awareness about the harmful impact global warming has on the local aquatic invertebrates and on the ecosystem at a global scale. The hypothesis for this study is that the biotic diversity of the slow moving water and fast moving water are driven by abiotic factors. To support this hypothesis, three predictions were made.
Conversely, Chemical plants can contaminate the pure water or create harmful diseases to humans and the Earth. The West Virginia chemical spill demonstrates the dangers chemical plants pose to our environment, and it is important to understand the devastating
Cadmium is a ubiquitous heavy trace metal toxicant and is well known as an industrial pollutant. Exposures to cadmium have been reported to reduce male fertility. Chromium is an important heavy metal which possesses several industrial applications Occupational exposure to chromium leads to alteration of semen status and may adversely affect the reproductive success of exposed workers. Lead is the most significant toxin of the heavy metals. Industrial decisions, such as the addition of lead to paints, dyes, and gasoline, have created an epidemic of lead poisonings.