Environmental Degradation: Sources and Dimensions: Impacts of human economic activity on the biosphere

Abstract

Entire biosphere, particularly the organic world, is subjected to constant change due to the result of human economic activity. These changes include reduction in areas of vegetation, acidification and alkalization of soil and water, industrial wastes including high toxic substances, pollution of air, soil and water of the ocean due to combustion of large quantities of fossil fuels leading to increasing carbon-dioxide concentration which is capable to change the heat regime of the globe (Laskorin, 1983). Consequ-ences of such changes are already having a marked effect throughout the world. This is the obvious result of our technological advancement in which there is no place for conservation measures. Moreover, it is extremely difficult to assess accurately the long-term consequences of man's activities on nature because of the inter-connectivity of various systems of natures. Noticeable change in any one of them is sufficient to disrupt the ecological equilibrium and alter the structure of other systems. As a result of anthropogenic activities, the chemical composition and physical state of atmosphere and oceans have begun to change. It will gradually influence the other components of biosphere.