Environmental Pollution: It's Everywhere and It's Terrible

Environmental pollution exists in all areas of the world, and it can even affect your health. Whether you’re worried about the air quality around you or are looking to save some trees, there are plenty of ways to fight back against pollution and get involved in helping out the environment at large. From recycling to reusing, there are plenty of things you can do in your everyday life to ensure that our planet stays healthy and safe for generations to come.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AFFECTS EVERYONE

The effects of pollution reach every corner of our planet. They don’t stop at property lines or take a break because it’s inconvenient. Air, water, soil, and creatures big and small are all vulnerable to pollution’s damaging effects. That includes you! If we don’t work to solve these issues now, future generations will inherit damaged ecosystems that make life unbearable for humans. We can be part of the solution by taking action on a local level as well as supporting companies that are working to green their businesses.

OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

The ozone layer is a region of Earth’s stratosphere that acts as a protective layer from UV radiation. The depletion of ozone has been on scientists’ radars for more than 20 years, but they still don’t know why it’s happening. The thinning ozone layer is most noticeable over Antarctica, but parts of North America, Europe, and Asia are also seeing damage. In some regions, increased UV exposure can lead to an increase in skin cancer cases among humans.

THE VERY REAL DANGER OF AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution isn’t something we hear about as much as water pollution, for example, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a serious issue. In fact, according to estimates from WHO (the World Health Organization), it is estimated that 2 billion people around the world are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution every single day. Air pollution can lead to or exacerbate a number of health problems like asthma, respiratory infections and heart disease. The World Health Organization estimates that seven million people die each year due to exposure to environmental pollutants.

HOW PLASTIC WASTE IS LITERALLY DESTROYING THE PLANET

We have created a society in which we live our lives with plastic waste everywhere. In 2014, nearly 300 million tons of plastic was produced globally — eight times more than in 1964. A report by Eunomia Research & Consulting found that by 2050, there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish. For instance, some 8 million tons of plastic leaks into our oceans every year—the equivalent of one garbage truck filled with plastic every minute of every day. Without action to clean up these sources of pollution, it is projected that by 2025 there will be more plastics than fish (by weight) in our oceans. And most significant, oceanic microplastics absorb chemical pollutants like PCBs; toxins then move up through food chains to consumers’ plates . . .

Plastic debris from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch has been shown to contain harmful chemicals such as DDT, DDE, BPA, PFOS, PFOA and heavy metals such as mercury. These substances may enter the body through consumption of seafood or even by eating mussels collected near polluted areas. What’s worse is that the half-life for many synthetic compounds used in common items such as paints and cosmetics ranges from months to years—so marine life could continue absorbing toxic chemicals for decades after their use has been discontinued.

So what can you do? Start by cutting back on your use of single-use plastic items such as straws, cups and utensils! Be aware when shopping too!

WHAT CAN I DO?

Our impact on our environment is something that should make all of us consider ways we can live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. No matter how big or small your environmental footprint may be, it’s important to know that there are some simple ways you can take steps toward a more sustainable way of living. One suggestion is to start composting! Composting takes scraps like fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells, coffee grounds, etc., and turns them into rich soil for plants.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A SOCIETY

Each of us plays a crucial role in how we care for our environment. We each use natural resources (i.e., water, electricity, land) to carry out daily activities. Without careful consideration for our needs, our society would likely crumble into disarray. Although it might sound like an overstatement, each one of us has an enormous responsibility to ensure that these resources are not abused or wasted.

CONCLUSION

Although many parts of the world have made strides in reducing pollution, there’s still a long way to go. While people are generally aware of air pollution, water pollution is less visible—so we tend to forget about it. This may be because it can impact our health; according to Water Environmental Federation, over 1 million deaths a year are caused by unsafe drinking water.

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