ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION Dr. Kavitha.M.

S
Over population and deforestration
Landfill and Agricultural pollution
Burning of forest
Damage to soil

Damage to
plant

Contributes to
climate change
 CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change denotes the alteration of the environment which results from human
activities, such as improper disposal of wastes, combustion of fuels, the inadequacy of
forested areas, and other influential factors that increase the amount of Green House
Gases (GHG) in the atmosphere.
Officially, as defined by the UN Framework Convention on Climate change
(UNFCCC), it is the alteration of the world environment as a result of direct or indirect
human practices as well as the natural climate variability witnessed over comparable
years.
 TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
ENVIRNMENTAL DEGRADATION
oLAND
oWATER
oAIR

oHuman impact, however, has impacted the environment in a rapid and deleterious
manner, a revival from which cannot keep pace with the rate of degradation.
 WATER DEGRADATION
Water degradation or water pollution is mainly caused by the release of harmful
materials into water bodies rendering it unsuitable for the use by animals or humans.
A moving water body serves as a very effective mode of disposal of waste.
Many industries dispose off their wastes into many rivers and lakes. These industrial
wastes are often untreated and frequently contain harmful chemicals that can be
toxic to aquatic life forms and to animals and humans when consumed.
The use of chemicals in agriculture as manures, pesticides, and weedicides often result
in chemical contamination of nearby water bodies after rain or connected irrigation
systems. These chemicals are extremely harmful to the aquatic ecosystem as well as
for human consumption.
 WATER DEGRADATION
Water degradation in the oceans and seas is again a major concern. Most ships and
steamers discarded their wastes and refuse into the ocean water which led to the
contamination of the marine ecosystem.
Oil spillage from marine vessels, oil tankers and offshore wells has damaged the
ecosystem. Clean up of oil spills on the ocean surface is not an easy task and if
delayed can lead to the death of numerous aquatic life forms.
Off late there have been reports of increasing acidity of the ocean water due to the
formation of carbonic acid as carbon dioxide from the atmosphere reacts with the
sea water.
 WATER DEGRADATION

The higher acidity of the water hampers with the calcification process that many
species depend on like shells, corals, certain planktons, sea urchins, clams’ mussels and
others.
These calcifying species are indispensable for the marine ecosystem.
The increasing acidity of the ocean will result in the melting of the hard exoskeleton
of the calcifying species and may lead to local extinction of many species.
 LAND DEGRADATION
The soil offers a medium for the growth and cultivation of various plant species.
It also serves as the habitat for many animals and microorganisms that contribute
substantially to the ecological balance.
When the composition of the soil is contaminated due to the disposal of harmful waste
or the use of chemicals it becomes detrimental to the organisms that depend on the
soil for its sustenance.
One of the major reasons for the degradation of land is due to the disposal of waste
that cannot be degraded naturally like different forms of plastic materials, Styrofoam,
metal scraps etc.
 LAND DEGRADATION
These waste remains lodged in the soil and impacts the fertility of the soil.
Irresponsible dumping of biodegradable or organic waste can also lead to pollution
resulting in unusable land patches due to the dirt.
Mining is another reason that has led to the degradation of various areas.
Deep mining creates deep and open shafts that renders the land unsuitable for
farming or for dwelling.
The underground empty spaces created post-mining can lead to the creation of
various sinkholes which can in many instances be dangerous. The constant drilling also
makes the soil loose and encourages erosion.
DUMPING OF WASTE
 LAND DEGRADATION
Quarries also pose a threat to natural landscapes.
It is not just an impact on the physical features of the land, but the vibrations caused
by the drilling and explosives used can cause various health risks and render the land
unsuitable for use or habitation.
It also contributes to air pollution with the large amount of dust and gravel released
into the air every day.
The unchecked cutting of land and stones from hills encourages soil erosion and
landslides.
 LAND DEGRADATION
Although often overlooked agriculture too leads to land degradation.
Farming the same crop on a plot of land can lead to a loss of fertility.
Crop rotation can help to improve the soil quality, but it is not commonly followed
leading to a gradual decrease in the produce from the land.
The use of chemicals in farming as fertilizers or pesticides often leaves behind
harmful chemical residues that can in time find a way in to the food chain.
Apart from this overgrazing on a pasture land can lead to its gradual loss of
vegetation and fertility.
 LAND DEGRADATION
Over drafting of groundwater for irrigation and consumption can lead to various
environmental impacts.
One of the main impacts is a loss of ground moisture which is needed to sustain the
vegetation on it.
Apart from this land subsidence which means lowering of the land levels due to the
lack of support from the groundwater after it is drafted out.
This can damage the physical features of the land and effect the ecosystems it
supported.
 LAND DEGRADATION
Deforestation is a known cause of land degradation.
The cutting or felling of trees leads to the loosening of soil which aggravates soil
erosion.
That deforestation leads to loss of habitat for numerous animals and the extinction of
many animal and plant species.
 ATMOSPHERIC DEGRADATION
Atmospheric degradation is caused by air pollution and it is the main contributor to
the environmental issues that is leading to global warming.
The increasing air pollution has led to various health risks including climatic changes
all over the planet.
The impact of air pollution has a chain reaction causing the breakdown of other
ecosystems as well.
 ATMOSPHERIC DEGRADATION
The main contributor to air pollution is vehicular and industrial emission.
The smoke released from the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles and industries consists
primarily of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and
hydrocarbons.
All these gases are detrimental to the environment.
High concentration of Sulphur dioxides in the air can lead to respiratory diseases in
man and animals and can cause the formation of Sulphur Smog when it is exposed to
sunlight.
Sulphurous smog is also referred to as London Smog. Sulphur dioxide gases are
released upon burning of fossil fuels containing Sulphur coal.
 ATMOSPHERIC DEGRADATION
Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas that has contributed to global
warming.
The carbon dioxide molecule has the ability to absorb and re-emit the infrared
radiation from the sun thus trapping the heat within the atmosphere.
The high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is also contributing to the
increasing acidity of the ocean water.
 ATMOSPHERIC DEGRADATION
Carbon monoxide another gas emitted during the combustion of fossil fuels is very
harmful for health.
Carbon monoxide has a greater affinity than oxygen in binding with the hemoglobin
molecules of the blood.
When the concentration of carbon monoxide is higher in the air then the blood is
unable o supply the required oxygen to the cells of the body leading to carbon
monoxide poisoning which if not treated soon can be fatal.
 ATMOSPHERIC DEGRADATION
Persistent Organic Pollutants or POPs are a group of toxic chemical compounds which
are considered as a global concern as they can be transported by air or water and
can affect the environment adversely.
The more prominent of the POPs is the Chlorofluorocarbons or the CFCs. This
compound is used in the production of refrigerants, aerosol sprays, blowing agents
for foams etc.
 ATMOSPHERIC DEGRADATION
Once the CFC compound is released into the atmosphere it moves to the upper strata
of the atmosphere where the Ultraviolet rays from the sun breaks the compound and
release Chlorine molecules.
The chlorine molecule then breaks the ozone molecule into smaller molecules thus
destroying the ozone layer that protects the earth from the harmful effects of the
sun’s ultraviolet rays.
It is not just the chemical compound that is released from the use of fossil fuels or the
use of organic pollutants that degrade the atmosphere.
 ATMOSPHERIC DEGRADATION
Odors are another form of atmospheric degradation that impacts the environment.
Unsanitary living conditions and reckless dumping of waste sewage can lead to odors
or stench that can deteriorate the living conditions in an area.
It can not only make breathing difficult due to the stench but can also lead to
diseases and attract flies and animals.
Release of particulate matter into the air like dust, sand, and gravel from construction
and mining industries is another way that degrades the atmosphere.
The presence of the particulate matter often makes breathing difficult and contributes
to the formation of smog over cities.
 ATMOSPHERIC DEGRADATION
Deforestation has led to the reduction of vegetation on the earth’s surface by a great
extent.
The clearing of land makes it more prone to soil erosion and loss of fertility.
However, one of the major impacts of the reduced number of trees is the reduction of
photosynthesis, the natural process of converting the harmful carbon dioxide to
oxygen.
This means a greater amount of carbon dioxide now remains trapped within the
environment.
 ATMOSPHERIC DEGRADATION
There are various natural processes that contribute to the environmental degradation.
Natural activities like volcanic eruptions can cause a large scale atmospheric and
land degradation.
Moreover, natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, wildfires, storms etc. can affect
the environment in many ways.
And most importantly, the living population are in a shake because of these various
environmental degradations.