Any chemical present naturally or artificially in the air, water, or soil therefore they are considered an environmental chemical. Many chemicals in the environment are either beneficial or harmful to ecosystem species. In this article, we shall see what these chemicals are and how they affect or contribute to the environment.
We can divide these chemicals into two major categories for our convenience, as follows:
- Naturally occurring environmental chemicals
- Artificial or artificial environmental chemicals
Natural Environmental Chemicals
The chemicals that we can get from natural sources are Carbon dioxide, Oxygen, Arsenic, lead, Mercury, and Copper. We can quickly get them from air, soil, and water reservoirs. Now, we can see how we will get in-depth details of these chemicals.
Carbon Dioxide’s Occurrence, hazards and solutions:
Carbon dioxide is present in the environment naturally at a value of 0.04%. It is also obtained from the metabolic process in the human body. Another source of Carbon dioxide is the burning of fossil fuels. It is essential to living organisms as it is the reason for plant’s existence in the ecosystem. The burning of fossil fuels at an excessive rate is causing an increase in the natural amount of carbon dioxide. This increase is leading to global warming and the greenhouse effect; hence, we are facing an average 1-degree increase in temperature every year. This also poses a threat to marine ecosystems, leading to a decline in the amount of absorbed oxygen. This is also causing a change in the patterns of atmospheric phenomena like rain, the melting of ice caps, and the acidification of oceans.
- We can reduce these issues by working on the following points:
- Using less energy from fossil fuels
- Lessening the production of greenhouse gasses
- Using public transport instead of personal
- Planting more trees
Oxygen’s Occurrence, hazards and solutions:
Oxygen is one of the most critical chemicals on earth. It is necessary for living organisms’ survival. We can find oxygen naturally in the atmosphere, from photosynthesis, and from the earth’s crust. Oxygen is used by living organisms to breathe. The increase in oxygen concentration can lead to breathing problems, dizziness, vision problems, and issues related to the combustion of materials. In contrast, the low level of oxygen could lead to the death of living organisms. We can deal with these problems by planting more trees and maintaining the amount of CO2 and oxygen.
Lead’s Occurrence, hazards and solutions:
lead is one of the most harmful elements in nature. Lead can be found in water, air, and soil in different forms. This is also in industrial waste materials. That can be found in some paints as well. It is also in the lead batteries. It is harmful because it can accumulate in bones, brain, liver, and kidneys, leading to the disorders and diseases of these organs. It affects both children and adults equally. We can save ourselves from its adverse effects by keeping ourselves clean and away from lead-containing paints and lead batteries. We have to reduce its usage if we want our ecosystem to be balanced.
Arsenic’s Occurrence, hazards and solutions:
Arsenic is a chemical that is found in nature in air, water reservoirs, and soil. It is also found in metal alloys, wood preservatives, and paint pigments. We can get in touch with it by drinking water contaminated with arsenic, eating foods containing arsenic, and having surfaces painted with paints containing arsenic as a constituent. This can lead to problems related to the nervous system, respiratory system, and cardiovascular diseases. We can keep ourselves safe from it by reducing its usage in paints and switching to alternate things for it, by drinking pure and boiled water, and by taking food pure from arsenic compounds.
Mercury’s Occurrence, hazards and solutions:
Mercury is a shiny silver substance found in nature. It can be found in solid or liquid form. Inhaling mercury can lead to serious health issues like respiratory problems, headaches, skin cancer, and neurological problems. We can deal with these issues by applying some common tips, like placing mercury in containers or boxes of glass.
Artificial or artificial environmental chemicals:
Artificial chemicals are primarily synthetic. They benefit and harm the environment equally. Here are some of the artificial elements.
- Plastic
- Synthetic fibers
Plastic:
Plastic is one of the largest synthetic chemicals used worldwide. However it is used to make plastic bags, bottles, toys, and many other things that humans use every moment. But it is posing some serious threats to the ecosystem. However Plastic can be taken up by aquatic animals as food, which leads to their deaths. Plastic is a non-biodegradable element, which is causing land pollution. We can overcome these issues if we reduce the use of plastic.
Synthetic Fibers:
The other central element is synthetic fiber. It contains Nylon, Polyester, and textile fibers. These are mostly used in clothing. They are also non-biodegradable, causing an imbalance in the ecosystem. We must find an alternative to these fibers to secure a better future.
Conclusion
Our environment is vast and continuously evolving, so many chemicals are found, and many more are hidden. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. If we use these chemicals carefully, then there will be fewer chances to get in the circle of their bad effects.
