Some places are even taxes the plastic bags, which I don't get. How would taxing the use of plastic bags make it any better for our health or the environment? I would not allow the use of plastic bags at all. I would also create a huge fine for anyone that is deliberately throwing any kind of plastic bags or any trash at all on the ground. I know that they are already littering laws however, I would make it a larger fine so people would really be hesitate to throw plastic bags or trash anywhere other then where it should be.
Companies have deposited their waste in the lake, which has caused the lake to be shut down because humans are getting sick and even dying from the polluted waters. Viruses, pathogens, chemicals and toxins are all part of this pollution, which affects recreation, jobs, and habitats of animals. Fishermen have not spent money fishing for sport due to the drastic reduction of the salmon population at Lake Huron. Recreational hours at the lake have also seen a drastic decrease. This devastation affects a majority of the U.S. being one of our largest sources of fresh water, and will only continue to deplete, as companies carelessly dump their waste into the lake.
Pesticides are used to kill unwanted pests, but are polluting the water with toxic chemicals that can have large halflifes, which means they stay in the water many years causing harm to plants and animals who depend on fresh water to survive. Storm drains carry unfiltered water into the bay, which can carry harmful substances like pesticides, oil, lawn trimmings, and trash. Many species of fish and wildlife, including endangered species, are declining in population. Water pollution is a serious problem that the state of California needs to address. Introduction Storm water runoff is unfiltered water which flows across impervious surfaces and goes into creeks, rivers, lakes, and the ocean (“Stormwater Runoff”, 2010).
In this environmental disaster, 10 cubic meters of water and 4.5 million cubic meters of potentially toxic slurry were spilled into virtually untouched forest, lakes and rivers. If something like this happens at the Pebble Mine, then most of the fish and wildlife in Bristol Bay would be in danger of being killed. A species that would be greatly affected by this is the sockeye salmon. More than half of the world’s population of these fish lives in Bristol Bay. This means that the survival of this species would be threatened.
These emissions can become acid rain and if it can damage a tree, it can and does damage coral. According to the Coral Reef Alliance; the world’s oceans have had “approximately 525 billion tons of carbon dioxide” dumped by human activity within their waters. [ (Coral Reef Alliance, 2012) ]. The site also goes on to state that the destruction of Mangroves,(which have been harvested for lumber) and the loss filtering saltwater swamps due to farming have caused quite a bit of stress on coral reefs. Then there are the odd ways we humans go about “enjoying the ocean”.
A spill in any of the deep sea areas would reduce the biodiversity of that area through reductions of bird populations, fish-stocks and populations of marine mammals. All of which are already under severe threat of over fishing and habitat disturbance without this imposed threat. Furthermore the contamination of coastal and coral ecosystems will all lead to to damage on the livelihoods of fishermen and people involved the local tourism. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has been described as the worst environmental disaster in the United States, releasing about 4.9 million barrels of crude oil making it the largest accidental marine oil spill. Most of the impact of this was experienced by the marine species.
“Apparently the mass of the plastic particles is six times more than the mass of the natural plankton in the area.” This large expanse of ocean has become unhealthy for the animals that feed around the Gyre. “The plastic is found at depths of up to 30 meters. It is literally creating a landmass.” Because not all the plastic’s as it breaks down, and releases large amounts of toxic substances into the water of the Pacific Ocean. Not to mention that the Sea birds and other marine animals mistake these sand like plastics as food, and aren’t able to digest the plastics resulting in a large number of deaths of these animals. We all can contribute in helping the slow the growth of “trash Island” so some call it.
It’s a waste because clean water is not an abundant resource and it will eventually run out. The amount of water used per year for fracking needs to be monitored. Earlier this year in Northern Ohio, over 400,000 residents were left without safe water due to widespread contamination. Residents were even advised not to shower due to the
30-50 percent on the fluids used to perform fracking as left behind. These fluids are harmful to the environment and cannot be broken down. Chemicals from fracking just sit in large pools above ground where they evaporate into the air. It releases harmful VOCs which are volatile organic compounds which contaminant air, acid air, and ground level ozone. When someone does research on hydraulic fracturing, a majority of the stuff that comes on it is negative
Fracking also created huge natural losses such as it crates pollution, destruction of forests to create its pipe lines. The pipe lines they use are also not long lasting as there is gas vapors in water because of leakage in pipe lines. From every twenty pipe lines, one is leaking that increases pollution. Gas burners used to store natural gas creates noise pollution more than a jet engine. It also have connection to increasing sexual diseases.