Environmental Problems
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Transcript Environmental Problems
Environmental Problems
Potential to damage the Earth’s
diverse habitats which can lead to
the extinction of species
Pollution
Presence
of dangerous levels of substances in the
environment
Types of Pollution
Solid
waste (garbage) especially hazardous
waste
Chemical waste – pesticides,
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), PCBs used in
appliances and paints
Radioactive wastes – nuclear power plants
Resource Depletion
Using
up or depleting natural resources
-Renewable: used over and over (fresh
water, solar energy, some trees)
-Non-renewable – cannot be replaced or
takes a long time to renew (oil, coal,
minerals
Renewable can become nonrenewable
rain forest – loss of habitat
Rich soil – takes thousand of year per
centimeter to form, washed away in less
than year.
Ground water – more drawn out than
replaced naturally
Tropical
Depletion due to Alien Species
Introduction
of species not native to area
Drive out native species
Depletion due to overpopulation
Human
population doubling every few
decades
5.2 billion in 1900 – project 14 billion
by 2100
Habitat Destruction
Impacts
biodiversity (variety of life)
Deforestation – clearing of forests which leads to
habitat loss.
Wetland destruction – loss of flooding control and
habitat
Marine habitat – man-made disasters such as oil
spills, pollution