Effects of technology to environment
- 3. “Technology can be defined as the products, tools and processes used to accomplish tasks in daily life. According to Use of Technology, technology is the application of science to solve a problem. Technology involves the application of engineering and applied sciences to solve the practical problems of human lives.”
- 4. The Effects are Categorized into: - NaturalEnvironmentImpacts -HumanHealthImpacts
- 5. Each outcome category aggregates a large amount of information associated with the environmental consequences of a technology.
- 6. Human Health Impacts Technology can have a large impact on users' mental and physical health. Being overly connected can cause psychological issues such as distraction, narcissism, expectation of instant gratification, and even depression.
- 7. Impacts on the Natural Environment This category focuses on the effects a technology may have on organisms, their habitats, the life supporting capacity of natural ecosystems, and on biodiversity. Of particular concern is the loss of endangered and rare plant and animal species, and destruction of endangered and limited habitats.
- 8. Three principal impact pathways should be considered when assessing impacts in this category: Habitat loss or alteration through land clearance (e.g. as a consequence of raw material demand or development of a site).
- 9. Physical disruption of habitat; for example, the construction of pipelines that inhibit the migration of animals.
- 10. The chemical contamination of the environment through the release of wastes that have a direct toxic effect on flora and fauna (e.g. pesticides) or that alter the functionality of an ecosystem through such processes as eutrophication (e.g. the discharge of nutrients or other chemicals with high biological oxygen demand (BOD) and acidification).
- 11. Enhance global warming (i.e. greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxides).
- 12. Deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, for example chlorofluorocarbons.
- 13. Exposure to hazardous chemicals - Inhalation (e.g. air pollution), dermal contact, ingestion of contaminated food and water (e.g. pesticide residue) of hazardous chemicals and of radioactive material.
- 20. Sources: EPA WEBSITES - The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) is an agency of the U.S. federal government which was created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. DENR http://www.globalissues.org/issue/168/environmental -issues