An Environmental Issue

Abria Harris
Professor H. Taylor
English 101

Roderick Frazier Nash discusses in his proposal titled "Island Civilization: A Vision for Human Occupancy of Earth in the Fourth Millennium" that humans are the main cause of the environmental issues that are present today. One environmental issue that contributes to the need for Nashs’ “island civilization” is water pollution. Although water pollution can occur naturally from events such as floods, heavy winds, and run offs, humans can also act as pollutants. Heavily populated regions are the main areas where there is water contamination in result of urban run-off. Big cities, where there are high populations and ports, are the primary sources that spread the toxin-filled water to other ports. An example of how badly contaminated water can harm large bodies of water is the Boston Harbor.

The Boston Harbor is a well-known port city that has been thriving since as early as the 1600’s. The Harbor has been through much neglect over the past few centuries; it has been used as a tea pot, as a battle ground, and as a toilet. Everything that is being mixed into the water is infecting, as well as killing, the inhabitants of the water –based ecosystems. The infected species that are used as food sources will infect the consumer, thus infecting the higher levels of the food chain. Apart from the endangering the food chain, the acid levels of the rain are altered.

Water and natural gases mix together in the air and creates rain that is low in acid. The atmosphere can’t endure all of the chemicals that are released into the air from vehicles and factories. The gases that are emitted from man-made machines causes high levels of acid in rain which, of course, produces acid rain. Acid rain has the capability of eroding metal, stone, flesh, etc.; basically almost anything that the rain comes in contact with.

            Disregarding the needs of the planet could lead to the end of the existence of the human race. Not only is the existence of mankind in jeopardy, the existence of the whole world is at risk of being completely destroyed. Every harmful (or beneficial) change to the environment has an effect on humans. Results may not be noticeable at first, but they will arise. Luckily, the government has come a long way from how situations were handled a few centuries ago. Better sewage systems have been developed and acts have been passed in order to try to maintain clean, healthy water. It is up to mankind to begin to change their habits so that the government’s attempts to preserve the world’s water resources will not be in vain.

http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/waterpollution/