Q.19. Discuss the impact of environment on human beings.
Ans. Impact of The Environment Upon Humans: -
Polluted air, water and soil exerts a very negative impact on the health, aesthetic and cultural pleasures, and economic opportunities of humans.
The various segments of the environment (air, water and soil) may host harmful biological and chemical agents that can have a significant impact upon the health of humans. A wide range of communicable diseases can be spread through the segments of the environment by human and animal waste products.
The widespread use of chemicals in agriculture and industry has introduced many new compounds in the environment. They may spread through air, water and soil as well as through the food chain, and thus can pose a potential threat to human health.
Uncontrolled dumps, littered streets and highways etc. give aesthetically displeasing effect of improper solid-waste disposal. The cultural as well as aesthetic heritage is also under threat from pollution. The Taj Mahal, frescoes of Ajanta, Statue of Liberty, the Dal Lake in Kashmir, etc. have withstood the onslaught of the pollutional elements for centuries, but are now in the increasing danger of being destroyed by the constituents of a polluted atmosphere.
Thus, a polluted environment poses a threat not only to human health, but also to aesthetic and cultural enjoyment and economic well being.
Q.20. Discuss the impacts of urbanization on environment. (AKTU. - 2008-09)
Ans. Impact of Urbanization On Environment: -
Human activities are responsible for the landdegradation of forests, croplands and grasslands. The productive areas are fast reducing because of urbanization i.e. the developmental activities such as human settlements and industries.
Humans alone have the potential to gather resources from beyond their immediate surrounding and process them into different and more versatile forms. This has made humans to thrive and flourish beyond natural constraints. As a result of which the anthropogenic (man-induced) pollutants have overloaded the system, and the natural equilibrium is disturbed.
Early human populations left behind very few things which were not readily broken down and absorbed by the environment. As these things were so few in number (quantity), no significant impact was felt on the environment.
With the dawn of the industrial revolution, humans were better able than ever to satisfy their needs for air, water, food and shelter. So, humans turned their attention to other needs beyond those associated with survival. Automobiles, household appliances, processed foods and beverages, etc. have now become so popular as to seem necessities, and meeting these acquired needs had become a major thrust of modern industrial society. These acquired needs are usually met by items that must be processed or manufactured or refined; and the production, distribution and use of such items usually results in more complex residuals and/or wastes, many of which are not compatible with or readily assimilated by the environment. As the acquired needs (or luxuries) increase so will the complexity of the production chain, and mass and complexity of the pollutants generated.
Thus, the impact of modern humans upon the environment is of major concern.
Q.21. Mention the various human activities that cause degradation of natural resources. (AKTU. - 2012 - 13)
Ans. Among all the life forms that have lived and are living on this earth, human beings have caused serious transformation of natural resource base to subserve various requirements of human society. The interventions are manifold. Often these are intended to obtain maximum from the mother earth, and in the process, have wrought severe disturbances to the balance in the bio-geo-physical systems. These have reduced the earth's capacity to absorb adverse effects and have impaired its regenerative ability to restore the losses suffered through exploitation. On the other : hand, there have been deliberate destructive actions, such as those during the world wide wars which have caused serious damages to the natural defences of this planet. More important interventions are as follows:
1. Deforestation
2. Farming
3. Economic activities : Mining, etc.
4. Developmental works : Settlements, Transport and Communication.
Q.22. What is the impact of urbanization and industrialization on land?
Related Questions -
Q. Discuss the adverse impacts of urbanization and industrialization on environment. (AKTU. - 2009 - 10, 12 - 13)
Ans. Fifty per cent of the world’s population lives in urban areas and this figure is expected to go up. Urban areas constantly need more land for settlements, infrastructure, industries, leisure activities, etc., which increase the pressure on land. More and more agricultural land gets converted into urban colonies.
We see solid waste piled up on many urban streets. Outside cities, there are large dumps of waste brought from the city. It is estimated that about two million hectares of land have been degraded due to waste disposal and landfills.
Urban agriculture has been expanding globally over the past 25 years. In Sao Paulo in Brazil and Havana in Cuba, for example, urban home gardens have been very successful. While urban agriculture provides locally grown food and helps recycle organic matter, it can also cause soil and water pollution if chemicals are used.
Urbanization coupled with industrialization, has brought many benifits but has cause many environmental problems as well. The challange of urbanization in accommodating the need and by products of dense population, both in developed and developing countries include traffic and congestion, air pollution, noise pollution, water pollution, sanitation facilities housing (i.e. development of slums), electricity, transportation, etc.
