The Changes in the Ocean and the Land Caused by Environmental Pollution

In this modern era, I am positive that everyone is aware of the current issues that are happening across the globe. Environmental pollution is one of the main threats to our planet. The rate of pollution has increased tremendously over the decade. The ocean covers more than seventy per cent of our planet’s surface and the majority of the pollutants going into the ocean come from the activities on land. In some developing countries, approximately seventy per cent of untreated industrial wastes is dumped into the oceans which pollute the oceans. As the population of this planet continues to grow, humans are putting a large amount of pressure on the Earth’s resources. In other words, our planet’s resources are heavily used for human activities hence the quality of our natural resources such as water and soil decreases. Therefore, poorer natural resources equal to environmental pollutions.

Technically, people across the globe are considered as neighbours as we all are connected by the oceans. Thence, it is our responsibility to improve and protect the environment from further damage. According to research, dead zones of oceans will potentially increase over the years. Dead zones are areas with low-oxygen content, also known as hypoxic zones which are caused by excessive pollution from human activities. This causes the death of many marines. In South America and Africa, sewage is the main cause of dead zones. The real question is, can these dead zones be revived? The answer to the question is, of course, it can. For instance, the Black Sea which is located between the Balkans, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Western Asia, once hosted one of the largest hypoxic zones. In the late 1980s, agricultural fertilizer runoff dropped by more than half due to the subsiding of agriculture from the collapsing of the Soviet Union. It took approximately three years for the waterways to recover and the overwhelming support for runoff management has helped to keep the Black Sea Alive. Agriculture researches have given tons of recommendations to lessen the farm runoff but of course, we humans, are stubborn and the advice has not been headed.

Next, the percentage of ocean tourism is steadily increasing over the years. As marine tourism expands, the impact of industry on coastal ecosystems and wildlife which includes land degradation and excessive use of natural resources also increases. In fact, cruise ships produce about 70,000 tonnes of water waste per year. Organisations such as WWF are approaching this situation by promoting the adequate use of both marine and coastal resources as well as increasing marine protected areas. We can play a part in this obstacle by improving environmental practice and supporting regulatory frameworks. For instance, encouraging smart coastal planning and zoning of critically important areas. To put it in simpler words, we, consumers can contribute to ocean conservation by putting pressure on companies that uses unfriendly environmental practices.

Moving on, land pollution is a grave problem that leaves a negative impact on humans, animals and the Earth itself. Without taking any measures, permanent changes to the land can occur. One of the main reasons why land pollution is occurring around the world is because of deforestation. Deforestation is the destruction of forests to make the land available for other purposes. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, about 7.3 million hectares of forests are lost each year. Based on the research done by National Geographic, forests cover about thirty per cent of the world’s landmass. Deforestation occurs due to the high demand of consumers for items such as oil from palm trees and also to harvest timber to create commercial items such as papers and furniture. There are several ways to tackle this deforestation issue, one of them is to promote sustainable choices. By using fewer items, eating sustainable foods and using recyclable products, we all can be a part of this movement towards zero deforestation. We have to voice out our opinions for the forests matters. When more people join the movement and demand the forest conservation, companies and the government will listen. Other than that, we have to educate our family, friends and the community about how our daily actions can impact forests around the world.

Furthermore, air pollution also has become a popular issue in all parts of the world. Air pollution is defined by the mixing of particles and gases that can reach harmful concentrations both outside and indoors. Soot, smoke and methane are just a few examples of common air pollutants. In 2016, bad outdoor air caused an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide. Air pollution also has been linked to chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Other than that, air pollution can also lead to short-term problems such as sneezing and eye irritation. Small particles in the atmosphere pose higher health risks because they can be breathed deeply into the lungs and may cross into the bloodstream. Fortunately, countries like China are tackling this problem. China is making strides in cleaning up smog-choked skies from years of rapid industrial expansion. We can reduce air pollution in many ways, one of them includes using public transportations. This might look like a small solution but it does leave a positive impact on the environment. The more people use public transportation, the fewer the cars there are on the road, and the fewer emissions there are. As a consumer, we should start purchasing items with the energy star label. The energy label indicates that electronic products and air conditioners have been tested to ensure they meet the latest standards for energy savings.

To sum things up, environmental pollutions should be reduced and stopped if possible. We all are inhabitants on Earth hence every person has something to contribute to advance effective pollution prevention awareness. In other words, environmental protection is basically a natural extension of caring ourselves, loving our children, and ensuring a sustainable future for our upcoming generations. We all should accept the responsibility for the success of the local environmental protection programs by actively participating in making a better atmosphere. We can help each other to combat pollution in our immediate environments. No pollutants equal to no pollution. There are small changes we all can start doing that can potentially make a difference, both in the long and short term.