B3 - Human impact on the environment

Population of the world is currently growing due to modern medicine and farming methods which have reduced the number of people dying from disease hunger
Our increasing population puts pressure on the environment as we take the resources we need to survive. More people are also demanding a higher standard of living so we use more raw materials but we also use more energy for manufacturing processes. This means we're taking more resources from the environment more quickly.
1. Many raw materials are being used up quicker than they're being replaces. So one day they'll run out
We're producing more waste. Harmful pollution can be caused which affects water, land and air.
1. Water - sewage and toxic chemicals from industry can pollute lakes, rivers,oceans affecting plants and animals that rely on them for survival. Chemicals used on land (fertilisers) can be washed into water.
  1. Land - we use toxic chemicals for farming (pesticides) We also bury nuclear waste underground and we dump a lot of household waste in landfill sites.
    1. Air - smoke and gases released into the atmosphere can pollute the air (sulphur dioxide - acid rain)
More people means less land for plants and animals
1. Humans reduce the amount of land and resources available to other animals and plants. The main activities are building, farming, dumping waste and quarrying for metal ores

Resource summary

	Created by Lily O'Brien over 7 years ago