Effects of science on the environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Effects of science on the environment - Essay Example Science has introduced various forms of environmental pollutions. The thesis of my research attempt is to look into the relationship between science and environment and analyze this relationship to be able to conclude whether or not science harms the environment. Modern environmental pollution is attributed to burning of fossil fuels, which is used to run industries and increase in industries. It is also attributed to transport of raw materials and machines. One of the principal environmental concerns is the conduct of oil industries and the multinational companies in the oil producing area. The oil industry is involved in a number of activities that lead to direct environmental pollution. These activities range from exploration, refining, production and transportation. These activities have lead to both social and ecological disturbances. Pollution from pipeline oil leaks and seismic surveys that cause explosions are some of the negative effects of the science on environment. Most o f the scientific wastes are none biodegradable. Offshore drilling oil leaks, flaring refinery effluents and drilling floods are known to cause terrible negative impact on the environment. This has resulted in land alienation and extreme disruption of natural terrain due to oil exploration and oil drilling. Oil related infrastructure and installations are known to cause deforestation which leads to desertification (Molina and Zaelke, 5). Most of The oil exploration and drilling activities happen on virgin land with natural vegetation causes significant changes in the natural ecosystem. Gas flaring has been having tremendous environmental impact from these multinational companies. According to World Bank, gas flaring had contributed greenhouse gases on the atmosphere of the earth than any other source by 2002. Moreover, these gases are not used as fuel. According to a research done in 2010, over 191 billion cubic feet of the gases produced at the time, 145 billion cubic feet were flar ed. All this happened at the detriment of the environment. Gas flaring is known to contribute to climate change, which is one of the biggest global threats in the world today. Climate change is said to cause skin cancer, food insecurity and other significant diseases. Climatic changes and extreme weather conditions like El Nino are said to cause a rise in the cost of living directly or indirectly. Gas flares are known to contain toxins like benzene. This means that rain water becomes contaminated (EPA, 9). They pollute the air leading to respiratory challenges and health conditions like bronchitis and asthma. Science has been causing environmental degradation. Gas flaring has led to alteration of vegetation and destruction of soil nutrients due to the presence of chemicals in the rain water (Hester and Harrison, 87). Scientific activities continue to pump destructive gases into the ozone layer leading to depletion of the ozone layer. This has had an adverse effect on cultivation whi ch is a source of livelihood for mankind (Molina and Zaelke, 5). Places, which were fertile, are now covered with stubborn grasses and natural vegetation has been replaced by emerging resistant species. Intense heat, which has resulted from these flared gases, has caused the vegetation in affected areas to become extinct. The destruction brought by science is gradual and possible that is why the impacts caught the world unawares. The world has become to appreciate the