Runoff into streams contaminates the water with animal waste which contains antibiotics and artificial growth hormones that are given to the animals to increase their size and to sustain their health. C. Pollution on soil is another problem that arises from factory farming. 1. Runoff contains high amounts of salts which degrade the soil and can contribute to
In this process acidic water flows over and through the ground and affects varieties of plants and animals. The water has become too acidic, and this creates a problem to the environment because all living things depend on water. Dry deposition is also a form of acid deposition, but refers to acidic gases and particles. “Half the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition”. The wind blows these acidic gases into building, cars, homes and trees.
The largest human cause of dead zones is nutrient run off from abundant use of fertilizers, animal waste and sewage. The runoff is a bi-product of our agribusiness, farming practices and growing population. Before immense land development the wetlands acted as a natural barrier and filter. The runoff would be depleted in the soil by the plants before it could reach the rivers and ocean. Human commercial activity and land development have destroyed the natural shield of the wetlands.
Land plants need phosphate as a fertilizer or nutrient. Humans affect the phosphorus cycle by moving phosphorus around and it becomes runoff. When it is in run-off, it can end up in large stores of water and the
To summarize what this article talked about it was a study done on the effects of soil degradation and the effects on the vegetation in areas around watering points and normal grazing lands. The study showed that in these ecosystems the overgrazing reduced the ecosystem diversity of plants in poor soils. It also talked about how overgrazing around certain areas can not only destroy the soil but it can also cause the destruction of certain types of species. Overgrazing differs in all areas of the world but it still has a common problem which is that when there is overgrazing no matter what type of environment you are in that environment will be
Water Quality and Contamination Report 1 Schrita Scott Water Quality and Contamination SCI207: Dependence of Man on the Environment Instructor Carrie Myers February 25, 2014 Water Quality and Contamination Report 2 Water Quality and Contamination Introduction: When it comes to water quality and contamination, first and foremost ground water is present below the surface in porous rocks and is prone to contamination by natural and human activities. Large amounts of chemicals like soap, detergents, fertilizers, pesticides, and pharmaceutical are often times discharged into fresh water aquifers almost daily. These contaminants leak into the soil in which it then dissolves into ground water. Different contaminants have different rates of solubility and degradation once they reach the underground water table, either by simple flow or by the downward movement of rain water. The ground water may become contaminated with both organic and inorganic substances which may include heavy metals like Cadmium, Chromium and Nickel, etc.
The Phosphorus Cycle is representative of the cycle of all biologically important mineral nutrients-those elements that have their origin in the rock and soil minerals of the Lithosphere, such as iron, calcium, and potassium. Humans have a serious intrusion into the Phosphorus Cycle that comes from the use of Phosphorus Cycle that contains fertilizers. Phosphorus is mined all around the world then made into fertilizers, animal feeds, detergents and other products. (Wright & Boorse) The third cycle that Humans impact in the Ecosystem is the Nitrogen Cycle. The Nitrogen Cycle is the process by which Nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms.
| Soil Erosion | Tree major practices | Rosa Flores 2/18/2013 | Three major practices that expose soil to erosion and how they can be corrected. Soil erosion is the loss of soil caused by particles being carried away by wind or water. Erosion moves the smaller particles first and hence degrade the soil to a coarser, sandier, stonier texture. The major causes of soil erosion are over-cultivation, overgrazing, and deforestation. They are creating problems to create a more sustainable society but it can be corrected.
“Their influence is known as the greenhouse gases, which are carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and water vapor”(“American Meteorological Society 2007”). These gases mixes with the sun ultraviolet rays, disburse into the earth atmosphere with harmful results. Carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels is one way the human activities effects the environment. Carbon dioxide from the exhaust of cars in heavily polluted cities, farming machinery such as tractors, and smokestacks of refinery companies are just some of the ways carbon dioxide gases are release into the atmosphere by human contributors. The nitrous oxide gases affect the aquatic ecosystem food web chains, which leads from the smallest phytoplankton up to the largest mammal, which is man.
Waste and Energy Sandra Jenkins, William Matos, Tony Brown, Steve Olberding ENV/100 May 26, 2014 Jennifer Ott Waste and Energy Plastics and pesticides are both a type of waste. The former is considered a solid waste and the latter is a categorized as hazardous waste. Where do these wastes come from and what kind of effect do they have on the environment either when they are used or disposed of? Oil and natural gas are fossil fuels that emit their own waste once used. The effects of their use on the environment can be far reaching and detrimental to health of humans, animals, and other organisms that inhabit the earth.