Air pollution is the presence, of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. The presence of these toxic chemicals poses threats onto the surrounding environment but to the human population.
What has caused the issue?

Over use of toxic chemicals and gaseous substances has increased this issue. Continuous use of human activities such as mining, construction, transportation, industrial work, agriculture and melting metals are causes of this issues. Although there are natural processes such as volcanic eruptions and wildfires may also pollute the air, but their occurrence is rare 
What are the effects of the issue?

Air pollution has serious effects on the human health. Depending on the level of exposure and the type of pollutant inhaled, these effects can vary, ranging from simple symptoms like coughing and the irritation of the respiratory tract to acute conditions like asthma and chronic lung diseases. Skin problems and irritations can develop due to prolonged exposure to several air pollutants, and a variety of cancer forms may develop after inhaling air contaminants.
What have humans done to help or hinder the issue?

-     low emission zones stop dirtier vehicles travelling in an area and reduces pollution

-      City tolls often reduce road use as most people won't pay to travel 

-      Access regulations for vehicles

-      Incentives and encouragement for cleaner vehicles 

-      Information campaigns

-      Controls on coal use as improving energy efficiency can be achieved by having less fuel burned, equaling less emissions 

-      Use of electric trains
1. https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/

2. http://urbanaccessregulations.eu/low-emission-zones-main/what-else-is-being-done-to-reduce-air-pollution

What is the issue?
 

Over the past 200 years, the burning of fossil fuels, including coal and oil have caused the concentrations of heat-trapping “greenhouse gases” to have a high increase in our atmosphere. Similar to glass panels of a greenhouse, these gases prevent heat from escaping space. The greenhouse gases keep the planet’s surface warmer but as these concentrations continue to increase in the atmosphere, the Earth’s temperature is growing above past levels.

It has been predicted that if greenhouse gases continue the average temperature at the Earth’s surface could rise from 3.2 to 7.^oF by the end of this century (Agency, 2008). 

The majority of greenhouse gases are made up of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. The gases are released during the decomposition and combustion of fossil fuels, for example coal, oil and natural gases which is used to produce electricity, heat and is used for transportation. 

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions  

  

What are the effects? 
 

Step 1: Solar radiation reaches the Earth's atmosphere - some of this is reflected back into space.

Step 2: The rest of the sun's energy is absorbed by the land and the oceans, heating the Earth.

Step 3: Heat radiates from Earth towards space.

Step 4: Some of this heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keeping the Earth warm enough to sustain life.

Step 5: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and land clearing are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

Step 6: This is trapping extra heat, and causing the Earth's temperature to rise (Autralian Government , 2018). 

What have humans done to help or hinder the issue?
 

Humans have tried to reduce the way that they live, for example by recycling and reusing waste.

Use less hot water

Catch public transport or walk to places instead of driving is helping to reduce the amount of Carbon dioxide.

Plant more trees

Encourage others to the same.

 

What is the issue? 

Whaling is when they are brought into the boat and killed for human resources such as candles, bases for perfume and soaps and lubricants. The issue with Whaling is that because of the amount of them that were captured, the number of whales left became very close to extinction. 

Whales are treated by climate change, pollution, ship strikes and more. When adding in the whaling industry also it isn’t very hard to send the entire species extinct. 

What has caused the issue? 

The issue was that the Japanese ‘research’ program killed more than 10,000 Minke whales over the last 25 years, and instead of recording down the data and using it for research they sold the whale meat for human consumption. 

What are the effects of the issue? 

·  The effects of this issue is that the population would have gone extinct if it kept going 

·   The lack of whaling means that now less by products of the act are being made. 

·   Laws were in forced which cost a lot of money. 

·   If whale species grow back to their original numbers, because the ocean has adapted there could be many negative effects in the marine ecosystem. The whales could eat all of the fish, leaving less for the other species of larger animals to eat. 

·  In total over 37,200 whales have been killed for commercial sale since the 1986 ban on whaling.  

·  1000 and more whales are killed by countries like Japan, Norway and Iceland every year. 

·  Whaling affects the ecosystem, whales are vital to the food chain as they stabilise the food flow and help to maintain a healthy ocean. As the number of whales decrease this threatens the food chain. 

What have humans done to help or hinder the issue? 

·  Since the big issue with Japan over whaling, laws have been enforced in order to help save the whale populations and keep their species alive. 

·  There are organisations such as ‘sea Sheppard’s’, ‘the international whaling commission’, ‘green peace’ in order to watch over the whales and to make sure that countries such as Japan, Norway and Iceland are abiding by the laws. 

·  There and campaigns that include shutting down whaling fleets and scuttling illegal whaling vessels. 

The main problem caused by water pollution is that it kills organisms, for example, fish, crabs, birds and sea gulls, dolphins, and many other animals. 

· the physical disturbance of land due to construction of houses, industries, roads, etc.; 

· chemical pollution from industries, mines, etc.; 

· inadequate sewage collection and treatment; 

· Increase in fertilisers to grow more food. ... 

· Litter, which causes disease and has a negative visual impact. 

What are the effects of the issue?

Infectious diseases can be spread through contaminated water. Some of these water-borne diseases are Typhoid, Cholera, Paratyphoid Fever, Dysentery, Jaundice, Amoebiasis and Malaria. Chemicals in thewater also have negative effects on our health. 

 

 

 

https://www.paypervids.com/animal-extinction-causes-effects/ 

What is the issue? 

nuclear warfare  is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is used to inflict damage on the enemy. 

What has caused the issue? 

Countries wanted more power. To feel like the most powerful country in the world. 

What are the effects of the issue? 

The amount of radioactivity generated by a nuclear explosion can vary considerably depending upon a number of factors. These include the size of the weapon and the location of the burst. An explosion at ground level may be expected to generate more dust and other radioactive particulate matters than an air burst. The dispersion of radioactive material is also dependent upon weather conditions. this can completely obliterate surrounding areas to the drop site. the air is toxic for years after, and plants and anything else can get destroyed 

What have humans done to help or hinder the issue? 

Humans have played a big part in nuclear testing/warfare. with large countries having disagreements and nuclear bomb threats, there has been an increase in nuclear testing in the case of war breaking out. this is very bad for the environment. The soil can not be planted in again because it has been exposed to radioactive substances, the air is deadly/toxic, and so on. there are many organisations that help out to stop nuclear testing such as the Clamshell alliance and Friends of the earth 

What is the issue? 

The issue is fossil fuels and how they are contributing to global warming. 

What has caused the issue? 

This issue has been caused by fossil fuels being burned in ovens, cars and even fireplaces. The fossil fuels themselves are not the problem, however it is how the fossil fuels are used which is the problem. 

What are the effects of the issue? 

This issue affects the entire world, as toxic gasses caused by the burning of these fuels will travel into the ozone layer and across the entire world. This creates holes in the ozone layer, and global warming, as the gasses fill the atmosphere with hot air and warmer weather. The gasses also pollute the air. The oxygen levels affect the world, as with less oxygen, the world begins to heat up. 

What have humans done to help or hinder the issue? 

Humans have done nothing but hinder this issue. Only a few people have even tried to fix this issue, but they were called hippies and rejected. The entire world is in danger, with icebergs in the Antarctic melting and raising the sea level. People have driven cars and cooked in ovens that use coal, with no second thought. If everyone were to lower their use of every day appliances, then the world would not be burning at such an alarming rate. 

Links: 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earths-oxygen-levels-can-affect-its-climate-180955572/ 

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/sealevel.html