Topic 8.3 - Humans and their effects on the environment

Rapid growth in the human population and an increase in the standard of living mean that increasingly more waste is produced.
- Unless this waste is properly handled, more pollution will be caused
Waste may pollute:
- Water- with sewage, fertiliser or toxic chemicals
- Air- with smoke and gases, such as sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain
- Land- with toxic chemicals, such as pesticides and herbicides, which may be washed from the land into the water
Sewage and fertilisers may cause eutrophication
- An increase in the concentration of mineral ions in the water stimulates the growth of algae and/or plants
- Eventually the growth of these plants results in some of these being unable to recieve sufficient light for photosynthesis and these organisms die.
- Therefore there is a large increase in the populations of organisms that feed on these dead organisms
- The respiration of these…

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