Introduction
The increase in the number of species over a certain ecosystem over a given period is itself population growth. Numerous factors cause population growth either in human beings or in animals. Nevertheless, the increase in population has its own advantages and disadvantages.
While population growth can lead to cheap labor in human beings, it can also lead to pollution, ecosystem change and competition over minimal resources. Population growth varies from one place to another depending on the economic status of the inhabitant species. For example, in areas where poverty dominates, the level of births is arguably high while in industrialized countries, birth control mechanisms exhibit, leading to controlled population growth.
Population growth increases proportionally with the existing opportunities like food, water and shelter. Nonetheless, when population is high, people tend to fight over resources like water, food, oil and other natural resources. Consequently, all manner pollution, environmental degradation and contamination result.
Environmental consequences can cause diseases and sometimes death of species. It is therefore good for any government to act in a manner that will control population growth in their respective countries. Some of the elements used to normalize population growth include death and birth rate control.
Where population growth is high, so are death rates. Sometimes death rates can act as a population control measure. However, this element is not an effective control measure. The most effective population control measures comprise of enactment of birth control policies. The paper examines the causes and effects of population growth in human beings.
Population Growth Cause Traffic Congestion and Air Pollution
Population growth has many negative than positive effects. For example, high population means many people own cars. This is a positive effect since; cars increase comfort and ease traveling from one place to another. However, with the increase in the number of cars on roads, traffic congestion occurs. Under this scenario, transport system becomes a burden to many who want to reach their workplaces earlier enough.
Moreover, exhaust fumes from the high number of cars lead to air pollution hence, environmental degradation. Additionally, these cars emit thick and cloudy fumes full of dangerous gases responsible for ozone depletion. Statistics carried out by environment ministries and non-governmental organizations indicate that, since 1990s, population growth has led to overcrowding of cars on roads hence terrible traffic jams.
Furthermore, these people own cars that fume dangerous gases to the atmosphere hence air pollution. For example, environmental scientists record high percentages of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO2) gases released from cars as responsible for global warming.
In addition to global warming, these gases are dangerous to human health. They create fatal respiratory diseases and some people can contract cancerous diseases, which affects their health status. Transport researchers note that, when there is traffic congestion, cars release high percentage carbon monoxide due to low traveling speeds. (Lewyn, Para 1-6).
Population Causes Water Pollution
In any living scenario, water is one of the most important basic needs. Human beings have varied water use demands. For example, people use water to generate electricity, to transport goods from one place to another, do recreational and use it in other commercial transaction rationales. For these reasons, water becomes part of human living. However, there is a problem with water when population growth occurs.
This is because; water consumption rate increases and consequently, pollution result. Water pollution is a state where human beings perform activities, which end up contaminating water with other dangerous particles. For example, increased population numbers rely on agriculture for survival. In agricultural practices, people use chemicals like pesticides, fertilizers and other herbicides to protect crops-predators.
During rainy seasons, rainwater sweeps these chemicals into water catchments thus, polluting water. On the other hand, reliance of industries to create a living to the growing population has adverse water effects. On many occasions, the release of industrial sewerage into rivers and lakes cause water pollution.
Domestic activities like bathing, washing of clothes, washing of utensils and other household equipments lead to water pollution as well. Furthermore, the problem enhance when water users become many, thus creating competition. Even in flushing toilets, the scarcity of water caused by overpopulation can lead to waterborne diseases, which in turn, affect human beings negatively. (Krantz, Kifferson Para. 1-10).
Population Growth and the Ecosystem
Because of population growth, all manner waste products; biological, chemical and mechanical lead to ecosystem change. Human practices within a certain environment lead to ecosystem change. The high numbers of human beings consume the available vegetation leaving an ecosystem changed.
Likewise, in order to create shelter, people cut trees and build houses thus, destroying vegetation. On the other hand, building manufacturing industries change the ecosystem of a given place, in addition to air and water pollution. Human activities like road construction, charcoal burning, and pollution change the ecosystem of a certain place. (Green Facts Para. 1-19).
Conclusion
It is apparent to note that; population growth has adverse effects on the environment. Through population growth, there is an increase in the number of cars on roads, which end up causing traffic congestion and air pollution. Traffic congestions force vehicles to move at relatively low speeds thus, emitting dangerous gases to the atmosphere.
These gases are air pollutants, which participate in global warming. On the other hand, human activities through water lead to water pollution while on the other hand; other human activities geared to economic stability can cause ecosystem change. It is therefore the responsibility of any sitting government to enact policies aimed at controlling population growth for the good of the few living species.
Works Cited
Green Facts. Scientific Facts on Ecosystem. 2005. Web.
Krantz, David, Kifferson, Brad. Water Pollution and Society. (n.d). Web.
Lewyn, Michael. Congestion, Pollution and Freeways. Planetizen. 2009. Web.