Biodiversity has a range of definitions that all revolve around a variety of living organisms in a given area. According to the U.S. Office of Technology Assessment, it is the variety and variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes in which they occur. There is no exact number of the current species on the earth but an estimate of the worldly species. The introduction of the five million species to the earth gives a variety of wastes.
Excretory waste is an example of this waste. Every living organism removes wastes that are not needed in the body and cause pollution to the environment. Competition for the available natural resources may cause the extinction of some of the species. This is a waste to the available natural resources and the species. The death of some of the species causes both air and water pollution. Decaying matter produces gas fumes mainly sulfide dioxide gas among others, which combines with water to form acid rain which is harmful to both the ‘dry land’ species and aquatic species.
Waste is not all useless. For example; animal waste is of great importance to vegetation. It contains plant nutrients and minerals such as calcium and potassium that enhance the healthy growth of vegetation. Rotting and decaying of organic waste from these species produces manure for vegetation growth. Through the respiration of these species, plants use carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. This ensures a complete cycle of purified air to the environment for use by different species.
Mercury is a heavy metal of which some of its forms are highly toxic. It occurs naturally in the environment in different chemical forms. It is a liquid at room temperature and slowly forms vapor in the air. Natural processes such as volcanic activity and weathering and human activities such as mining and fuel use can release mercury into the environment. Methylmercury and elemental mercury are poisonous to the nervous system.
Methylmercury can affect the unborn baby during pregnancy. Human beings are exposed to methylmercury through diet, particularly fish, and to elemental mercury vapors from tooth fillings and at certain workplaces. Governmental and Non-Governmental bodies have set up the daily mercury intake levels considered to be safe but some people may consume more than these levels. Moderate consumption of fish is not of great concern. Mercury is also harmful to the environment due to its accumulation in organisms. Its levels increase along the food chains and with age.
However, mercury is important. It can be recycled to reduce its effect on the environment. It is used in the extraction of gold and silver from ores, in thermometers and manometers, in lights and switches, and dental amalgam fillings. There are control measures used to reduce mercury releases to the environment. These include; reducing the use of mercury-containing products and raw materials, replacing products and processes that use or contain mercury with those that do not, effective waste management, setting mercury emission limits, environmental standards, and restrictions on use. (GreenFacts, 2004)
A green economy is seen as strong enough to put people back to work, lift them out of poverty and begin to secure climate. According to Jones, after six months of training one should give back the investment by paying taxes. We should support the development of renewable energy sources such as wind solar and geothermal energy because no one can cut their supply. Turning to renewals cuts carbon emissions and enables climate stability. (Jake Brewer, n.d.)An example of shear zones is the crustal tectonics and Runn of Kutch of 1819 is an example of an earthquake that occurred due to shearing. (Seetharam, n.d.)
Work cited
Seetharam K. n.d. Earthquakes-Nature and Predictability. Web.
GreenFacts. (2004). Scientific Consensus Report. Executive Summary of the Global Mercury Assessment. vol 2.
Health effects of Methylmercury. Web.
Jake Brewer. Green Employment. n.d. Web.