The emission of polluting gases is one of the most widespread environmental problems.
A problem is a disorder or problem that appears in a certain area of life and that must be solved so that normality can be restored. Problems, therefore, are difficulties or barriers that arise on the way to a goal.
Environmental , for its part, is an adjective that names what is linked to the environment (the physical, economic or other type of environment). The environment can also be understood as the atmosphere or nature in general.
What are environmental problems
Environmental problems , therefore, are setbacks or disturbances that occur in the natural environment . It may be the effect of pollution , such as an oil spill in the ocean or the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere.
Human beings are responsible for environmental problems. When the disorder occurs due to the action of nature, it is called a natural disaster (such as the eruption of a volcano).
The Chernobyl disaster
The failure of the Chernobyl nuclear plant that occurred in 1986 is a clear example of how human activity can cause serious environmental problems.
The explosion at this nuclear power plant released large quantities of europium oxide, boron carbide, uranium dioxide and other toxic substances into the environment, affecting hundreds of thousands of people.
Environmental problems affect the quality of life.
Most important environmental problems
Fortunately, there is increasing awareness among the general population that there are a series of environmental problems that must be "fought." Specifically, among the most serious current problems according to experts are the following:
-Climate change. For some specialists in the field, humans have caused such serious damage to the climate and the natural environment that this change is now irreversible. However, it is vital that all appropriate measures be carried out to reduce it as much as possible and so that the harmful consequences are minimal.
-Ocean acidification. Another of the current serious environmental problems is that the acidity of the ocean surface has increased alarmingly in the last two and a half centuries. Thus, it is considered that it has grown by approximately 30%, and that represents irreparable damage to aquatic species, since what this phenomenon does is cause serious damage to their skeletons.
– Deforestation . In the same way, we must not overlook the worrying destruction that has occurred in recent decades in terms of forests and forest masses. A situation that destroys a multitude of plant species, which destroys environmental wealth and endangers certain natural resources.
Other examples
The growth of the hole in the ozone layer due to polluting emissions from various industries is another example of an environmental problem. This hole prevents the ozone layer from filtering the ultraviolet rays that come from the sun , causing an increase in the risk of genetic alterations and skin cancer in humans.
Overfishing, pollution at all levels and the loss of biodiversity are other serious environmental problems we have in the 21st century.