Polluting the Earth
Edger I. Baker
The
prose piece “Polluting the Earth” by Edger I. Baker illustrates about the major
pollution and its impact on the earth. He creates awareness about the four
major pollution that damage the world and present the duty of humans to keep
their environment clean. Through this essay he rings alarm to present the
dangerous situation in which humans left the world.
Technological developments and
growth in population leads to the increase of pollution in the world. The
former secretary general of U.N, U Thant warns the humans that if the
environment is not protected from contaminating, the earth will be endangered.
In the case of sea, oil spill in sea not only kill fish but also affect humans.
Different types of pollution which damage our earth are derelict landscape due
to mine, effluent from industries, dumping of garbage, poisonous gases from
factories. It poisons the air, food, water and its impact is not only on humans
but also on all living things. This essay concentrates on four different types
of pollution in detail. The writer gives example from his observations of
different pollution in Europe.
Farmland Waste:
Modern
agriculture needs fertilizers and insecticides in order to feed the growing
population. Though it feeds many, it damages the earth as well as the food
products. Rain water carries the fertilizers used in the land to river. Thus
water becomes de-oxygenated which affects fish and humans. Ironically the
fertilizers from the chemical industries are costlier than from the animals.
In
the case of insecticides, they leave the soil toxin for several years. This
poison will be preserved in food and animals and humans who eat that will carry
the poison in their bodies. Similarly the poisoned fish due to fertilisation
and insecticides carry the poison in its body. The birds which eat those fish
get poisoned too. Consequently many animals are termed as endangered. To avoid such danger America has banned such
insecticides.
Industrial Waste:
Industrialisation
has led lots of pollution to the world. The emission of toxic gas results in
the pollution of air and water. Due to it acid rain becomes a common one in the
modern world which affects the growth of trees. It also leads to the rise in
temperature which results in the melting of ice and rise in the water level of
the ocean.
Wastes in Sea:
Humans
use sea as a place to dump waste products. The Baltic Sea is the most polluted
one which lacks oxygen at the bottom due to sever pollution. 7000 tones of
arsenic are crumbled at the bottom of the Baltic Sea and no one knows the consequences
if once the acid is released. Sea is dumped with industry waste, atomic waste
which will endanger the sea lives.
Military Waste:
Though
nuclear test treaty was signed by many countries in 1963 even the permitted
underground testing leads to pollution. China and France did not sign the
treaty and exploded nuclear bombs and increase radioactive particles in the
air. It leads to the rise of leukemia and bone cancer. Chemical and biological
warfare will destroy the livings in the earth. They penetrate into soil and
results in permanent hazards to the humans.
Baker
concludes the essay by requesting responsible behaviour from the humans to
preserve our earth. Steps like taking measures to control scientific waste by
the scientists, IMCO (Inter-Government Marine Consultative Organisation) who
take initiatives to keep the ocean unpolluted, Clean Air Act to reduce air
pollution are showing humans interest to save earth. If public too care about
the earth and take necessary steps to protect earth, humans can keep the earth
clean for the future generations.
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