What we are doing to the environment

Every day we are harming our environment. With a growing population, we are producing far more waste than the earth can cope with. We are also causing pollution in other ways.

Soil pollution

Using pesticides, herbicides on crops for farming and filling landfill sites with rubbish contaminate the soil. The harmful chemicals from all these things slowly seep into the soil and kill the nutrients inside the soil which is needed to grow plants. 

Water pollution

Those same pesticides and herbicides also travel through the streams and rivers to contaminate the water. Did you know that nearly a billion people do not have access to clean, drinkable water?

Air pollution

Burning fossil fuels and toxic gases in factories is contaminating the air that we breathe. 3.5 million deaths occur every year due to air pollution.

How do human beings affect the environment?
See how we make a positive and negative affect on our environment.

Global warming

The ozone layer is to protect the earth from harmful radiation. It is a layer of greenhouse gases to keep the planet warm. The gases are Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide they keep the heat in like a greenhouse. We are creating more gases, Carbon Dioxide from factories and cars so the earth gets warmer than it should get and changes the weather patterns - winds and hurricanes & heavy rain. Ice caps may melt and water levels will rise creating flooding. Lack of rain in the drier parts of the world will make it even harder to grow food.

BBC Bitesize - How do humans affect the environment?
Humans affect the environment in positive and negative ways. Watch the video then answer questions on what these things are.