The environment is everything that surrounds us. It encompasses all the natural, living, nonliving, and artificial things. Environment can also be defined as our surroundings with all its living and non-living things such as air, water, soil, plants and animals.
Humans are mainly responsible for the destruction of the environment. The impacts of human activity on the environment are from the time of our very earliest ancestors. Since then we have all been modifying the environment as per our convenience, and at this point, today, we are losing all the valuable natural resources which cannot be gained back.
The human effects or the factors contributing to the loss of the environment are:
- Pollution
- Deforestation
- Overpopulation
- Disposal of wastes
- Wastage of natural resources
All these factors lead to acid rain, increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, acidification of lakes, depletion of the ozone layer, climate change, global warming, extinction of species, etc.
Also Read: Environmental Issues and Solutions
This was a brief introduction to human impacts on the environment. Stay tuned with BYJU’S to learn more in detail about the Environment and the effects of Human Activities on the Environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions on How Does Human Affect The Environment?
How do humans pollute the environment?
The wastewater and sewage pollute the water bodies. The smoke from vehicles, power stations and industries pollutes the air. Plastic waste, chemical waste, radioactive waste and biomedical wastes pollute the soil.
What is deforestation and why it is done?
The cutting of a large number of trees is known as deforestation. It is done to clear the forest land for agriculture, and human settlements.
What is overpopulation?
An increase in population beyond the resources can sustain is termed overpopulation. It puts pressure on the environment
What is acid rain?
The reduction in pH of rain due to the presence of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide gases in the air is called acid rain. These gases are released during the burning of fossil fuels.
What is climate change?
Climate change refers to the changes in climatic conditions in various parts of the world, characterised by long summers, intense winters, frequent storms and heavy rainfall. This causes the destruction of livelihood and agriculture.
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