BHARATI VIDYAPEETH INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY
TYEJ-5I:2022-23
MICROPROJECT SUBJECT: Environmental Studies (22447)
TITLE OF THE MICROPROJECT: Report on Environmental
Issues
PROJECT SUBMITED TO: Mrs. Shital Deshmukh
PROJECT SUBMITTED BY:
1. Sumedh K. Mane (272311)
2. Shubham Dabholkar (272303)
3. Aakash Jamanik (272302)
4. Anish Jangam (272310)
5. Rohit Bandal (272306)
TEACHER’S SIGNATURE
1
CONTENTS
Sr. no.
PARTICULARS
Page no.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Introduction
Various Types of Issues
Green House Effect
Climate Change
Global Warming
Acid Rain
Ozone Layer Depletion
Nuclear Accidents
Reference
3
4
5
7
10
12
13
15
16
Introduction
Environmental issues are effects of human activity on the biophysical environment, most
often of which are harmful effects that cause environmental degradation. Environmental
issues are defined as harmful effects to Earth and its natural systems due to the actions of
humans. Although climate change can also occur from natural causes, human behavior has
led to an increase in greenhouse emissions. While climate change is discussed frequently
now, it has been occurring since the Industrial Revolution.
With a massive increase in natural disasters, warming and cooling periods, and different
types of weather patterns, people need to be a lot more cautious with the way they lead
their lives in conjunction with the types of environmental issues our planet is facing. Various
environment protection programs are being practiced at the individual, organizational and
government levels with the aim of establishing a balance between man and the
environment.
Various types of Environmental issues
There are different types and causes of Environmental Pollution and the current
environmental issues that are causing catastrophic changes to require urgent attention.
Some of the major environmental issues which are also the global environmental issues are
as follows:
1. Green House Effects
2. Climate change
3. Global warming
4. Acid rain
5. Ozone Layer depletion
6. Nuclear accidents
1. Green House Effect
The greenhouse effect is a process that occurs when energy from a planet's host star goes through
its atmosphere and heats the planet's surface, but greenhouse gases in the atmosphere prevent
some of the heat from returning directly to space, resulting in a warmer planet. Earth's natural
greenhouse effect keeps the planet from having the below freezing temperature that it would have
if there were no greenhouse gases. Additionally, human-caused increases in greenhouse gases trap
greater amounts of heat, causing the Earth to grow warmer over time.
Anything radiates energy related to its temperature: the Sun—at about 5,500 °C (9,930 °F)—sends
most of its energy as visible and near infrared light, while Earth's average surface temperature—at
about 15 °C (59 °F)—emits longer-wavelength infrared, radiant heat. The atmosphere is transparent
to most incoming sunlight, and allows its energy through to heat the surface. Most gases in the
atmosphere are transparent to infrared, but the small proportion of the atmosphere that constitutes
greenhouse gases absorbs some of the heat emitted by the surface rather than letting it escape into
space. These greenhouse gas molecules then emit radiant heat in all directions, passing heat to the
surrounding air and warming other greenhouse gas molecules. Radiant heat going downwards
further increases the temperature of the surface, which then returns heat to the atmosphere in
a positive feedback cycle. Without Earth's natural greenhouse effect the Earth would be more than
30 °C (54 °F) colder.
A runaway greenhouse effect occurs when greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere through
a positive feedback cycle to such an extent that they substantially block thermal radiation (heat)
from escaping into space, thus preventing the planet from cooling. The runaway greenhouse effect
occurred with carbon dioxide and water vapor on Venus. It is unlikely that human-caused
greenhouse gas emissions alone could trigger a runaway effect on Earth.
The term greenhouse effect comes from a flawed analogy to greenhouses, which have transparent
glass that passes sunlight but retains heat by physically restricting air movement; radiative effects
are not involved.
Earth receives energy from the Sun in the form of ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared radiation.
About 26% of the incoming solar energy is reflected back to space by the atmosphere and clouds,
and 19% is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds. Most of the remaining energy is absorbed at the
surface of Earth. Because the Earth's surface is colder than the Sun, it radiates at wavelengths that
are much longer than the wavelengths that were absorbed. Most of this thermal radiation is
absorbed by the atmosphere and warms it. The atmosphere also gains heat by sensible and latent
heat fluxes from the surface. The atmosphere radiates energy both upwards and downwards; the
part radiated downwards is absorbed by the surface of Earth. This leads to a higher equilibrium
temperature than if the atmosphere did not radiate. An ideal thermally conductive blackbody at the
same distance from the Sun as Earth would have a temperature of about 5.3 °C (41.5 °F). However,
because Earth reflects about 30% of the incoming sunlight, this idealized planet's effective
temperature (the temperature of a blackbody that would emit the same amount of radiation) would
be about −18 °C (0 °F). The surface temperature of this hypothetical planet is 33 °C (59 °F) below
Earth's actual surface temperature of approximately 14 °C (57 °F). The greenhouse effect is the
contribution of greenhouse gases and aerosols to this difference, with imperfect modelling of clouds
being the main uncertainty.
Some Examples of Greenhouse Effects
1. Greenhouse gases:
A greenhouse gas (GHG or GhG) is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within
the thermal infrared range, causing the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases
in Earth's atmosphere are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous
oxide (N2O), and ozone (O3). Without greenhouse gases, the average temperature of Earth's
surface would be about −18 °C (0 °F), rather than the present average of 15 °C (59 °F).
2. Clouds:
Clouds play an important part in global radiative balance and thin cirrus clouds have some
greenhouse effects. They can absorb and emit infrared radiation and thus affect the
radiative properties of the atmosphere. Clouds include liquid clouds, mixed-phase clouds
and ice clouds. Liquid clouds are low clouds and have negative radiative forcing. Mixedphase clouds are clouds coexisted with both liquid water and solid ice at subfreezing
temperatures and their radiative properties (optical depth or optical thickness) are
substantially influenced by the liquid content. Ice clouds are high clouds and their radiative
forcing depends on the ice crystal number concentration, cloud thickness and ice water
content.
3. Aerosols:
Atmospheric aerosols are typically defined as suspensions of liquid, solid, or mixed particles
with various chemical and physical properties, which play a really important role in
modulating earth energy budget that will further cause climate change. There are two major
sources of the atmospheric aerosols, one is natural sources, and the other is anthropogenic
sources. For example, desert dust, sea salt, volcanic ash, volatile organic compounds (VOC)
from vegetation and smoke from forest fire are some of the
important natural sources of aerosols. For the aerosols that are generated from human
activities, such as fossil fuel burning, deforestation fires, and burning of agricultural waste,
are considered as anthropogenic aerosols.
2. Climate Change
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be
natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the
main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth,
trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.
Examples of greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and
methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example.
Clearing land and forests can also release carbon dioxide. Landfills for garbage are a major source of
methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main
emitters.
Due to climate change, deserts are expanding, while heat waves and wildfires are becoming more
common. Increased warming in the Arctic has contributed to melting permafrost, glacial retreat and
sea ice loss. Higher temperatures are also causing more intense storms, droughts, and other weather
extremes. Rapid environmental change in mountains, coral reefs, and the Arctic is forcing many
species to relocate or become extinct. Even if efforts to minimise future warming are successful,
some effects will continue for centuries. These include ocean heating, ocean acidification and sea
level rise.
Causes and Effects of Climate Change
Causes
Generating power:
Generating electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels causes a large chunk of global emissions. Most
electricity is still generated by burning coal, oil, or gas, which produces carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide –
powerful greenhouse gases that blanket the Earth and trap the sun’s heat. Globally, a bit more than a
quarter of electricity comes from wind, solar and other renewable sources which, as opposed to fossil
fuels, emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.
Manufacturing goods:
Manufacturing and industry produce emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels to produce energy for
making things like cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothes, and other goods. Mining and other
industrial processes also release gases, as does the construction industry. Machines used in the
manufacturing process often run on coal, oil, or gas; and some materials, like plastics, are made from
chemicals sourced from fossil fuels. The manufacturing industry is one of the largest contributors to
greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Cutting down forests:
Cutting down forests to create farms or pastures, or for other reasons, causes emissions, since trees, when
they are cut, release the carbon they have been storing. Each year approximately 12 million hectares of
forest are destroyed. Since forests absorb carbon dioxide, destroying them also limits nature’s ability to
keep emissions out of the atmosphere. Deforestation, together with agriculture and other land use
changes, is responsible for roughly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Using transportation:
Most cars, trucks, ships, and planes run on fossil fuels. That makes transportation a major contributor of
greenhouse gases, especially carbon-dioxide emissions. Road vehicles account for the largest part, due to
the combustion of petroleum-based products, like gasoline, in internal combustion engines. But emissions
from ships and planes continue to grow. Transport accounts for nearly one quarter of global energyrelated carbon-dioxide emissions. And trends point to a significant increase in energy use for transport
over the coming years.
Producing food:
Producing food causes emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases in various
ways, including through deforestation and clearing of land for agriculture and grazing, digestion by cows
and sheep, the production and use of fertilizers and manure for growing crops, and the use of energy to
run farm equipment or fishing boats, usually with fossil fuels. All this makes food production a major
contributor to climate change. And greenhouse gas emissions also come from packaging and distributing
food.
Powering buildings:
Globally, residential and commercial buildings consume over half of all electricity. As they continue to
draw on coal, oil, and natural gas for heating and cooling, they emit significant quantities of greenhouse
gas emissions. Growing energy demand for heating and cooling, with rising air-conditioner ownership, as
well as increased electricity consumption for lighting, appliances, and connected devices, has contributed
to a rise in energy-related carbon-dioxide emissions from buildings in recent years.
Consuming too much:
Your home and use of power, how you move around, what you eat and how much you throw away all
contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. So does the consumption of goods such as clothing, electronics,
and plastics. A large chunk of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to private households. Our
lifestyles have a profound impact on our planet. The wealthiest bear the greatest responsibility: the richest
1 per cent of the global population combined account for more greenhouse gas emissions than the
poorest 50 per cent.
Effects
Hotter temperatures:
As greenhouse gas concentrations rise, so does the global surface temperature. The last decade, 20112020, is the warmest on record. Since the 1980s, each decade has been warmer than the previous one.
Nearly all land areas are seeing more hot days and heat waves. Higher temperatures increase heat-related
illnesses and make working outdoors more difficult. Wildfires start more easily and spread more rapidly
when conditions are hotter. Temperatures in the Arctic have warmed at least twice as fast as the global
average.
More severe storms:
Destructive storms have become more intense and more frequent in many regions. As temperatures rise,
more moisture evaporates, which exacerbates extreme rainfall and flooding, causing more destructive
storms. The frequency and extent of tropical storms is also affected by the warming ocean. Cyclones,
hurricanes, and typhoons feed on warm waters at the ocean surface. Such storms often destroy homes
and communities, causing deaths and huge economic losses.
Increased drought:
Climate change is changing water availability, making it scarcer in more regions. Global warming
exacerbates water shortages in already water-stressed regions and is leading to an increased risk of
agricultural droughts affecting crops, and ecological droughts increasing the vulnerability of ecosystems.
Droughts can also stir destructive sand and dust storms that can move billions of tons of sand across
continents. Deserts are expanding, reducing land for growing food. Many people now face the threat of
not having enough water on a regular basis.
A warming, rising ocean:
The ocean soaks up most of the heat from global warming. The rate at which the ocean is warming
strongly increased over the past two decades, across all depths of the ocean. As the ocean warms, its
volume increases since water expands as it gets warmer. Melting ice sheets also cause sea levels to rise,
threatening coastal and island communities. In addition, the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, keeping it from
the atmosphere. But more carbon dioxide makes the ocean more acidic, which endangers marine life and
coral reefs.
Loss of species:
Climate change poses risks to the survival of species on land and in the ocean. These risks increase as
temperatures climb. Exacerbated by climate change, the world is losing species at a rate 1,000 times
greater than at any other time in recorded human history. One million species are at risk of becoming
extinct within the next few decades. Forest fires, extreme weather, and invasive pests and diseases are
among many threats related to climate change. Some species will be able to relocate and survive, but
others will not.
Not enough food:
Changes in the climate and increases in extreme weather events are among the reasons behind a global
rise in hunger and poor nutrition. Fisheries, crops, and livestock may be destroyed or become less
productive. With the ocean becoming more acidic, marine resources that feed billions of people are at risk.
Changes in snow and ice cover in many Arctic regions have disrupted food supplies from herding, hunting,
and fishing. Heat stress can diminish water and grasslands for grazing, causing declining crop yields and
affecting livestock.
More health risks:
Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. Climate impacts are already harming
health, through air pollution, disease, extreme weather events, forced displacement, pressures on mental
health, and increased hunger and poor nutrition in places where people cannot grow or find sufficient
food. Every year, environmental factors take the lives of around 13 million people. Changing weather
patterns are expanding diseases, and extreme weather events increase deaths and make it difficult for
health care systems to keep up.
3. Global Warming
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be
natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily
due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas), which produces heat-trapping gases. Since
the Industrial Revolution, the global annual temperature has increased in total by a little more than
1 degree Celsius, or about 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Between 1880—the year that accurate
recordkeeping began—and 1980, it rose on average by 0.07 degrees Celsius (0.13 degrees
Fahrenheit) every 10 years. Since 1981, however, the rate of increase has more than doubled: For
the last 40 years, we’ve seen the global annual temperature rise by 0.18 degrees Celsius, or 0.32
degrees Fahrenheit, per decade.
The result? A planet that has never been hotter. Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have
occurred since 2005—and the 5 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2015. Climate
change deniers have argued that there has been a “pause” or a “slowdown” in rising global
temperatures, but numerous studies, including a 2018 paper published in the journal Environmental
Research Letters, have disproved this claim. The impacts of global warming are already harming
people around the world.
Now climate scientists have concluded that we must limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by
2040 if we are to avoid a future in which everyday life around the world is marked by its worst, most
devastating effects: the extreme droughts, wildfires, floods, tropical storms, and other disasters that
we refer to collectively as climate change. These effects are felt by all people in one way or another
but are experienced most acutely by the underprivileged, the economically marginalized, and people
of color, for whom climate change is often a key driver of poverty, displacement, hunger, and social
unrest.
Causes of Global Warming
Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants collect in the atmosphere
and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface. Normally this
radiation would escape into space, but these pollutants, which can last for years to centuries in the
atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter. These heat-trapping pollutants—
specifically carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and synthetic fluorinated gases—
are known as greenhouse gases, and their impact is called the greenhouse effect.
Though natural cycles and fluctuations have caused the earth’s climate to change several times over
the last 800,000 years, our current era of global warming is directly attributable to human activity—
specifically to our burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas, which results in
the greenhouse effect. In the United States, the largest source of greenhouse gases is transportation
(29 percent), followed closely by electricity production (28 percent) and industrial activity (22
percent). Learn about the natural and human causes of climate change.
Curbing dangerous climate change requires very deep cuts in emissions, as well as the use of
alternatives to fossil fuels worldwide. The good news is that countries around the globe have
formally committed—as part of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement—to lower their emissions by
setting new standards and crafting new policies to meet or even exceed those standards. The not-sogood news is that we’re not working fast enough. To avoid the worst impacts of climate change,
scientists tell us that we need to reduce global carbon emissions by as much as 40 percent by 2030.
For that to happen, the global community must take immediate, concrete steps: to decarbonize
electricity generation by equitably transitioning from fossil fuel–based production to renewable
energy sources like wind and solar; to electrify our cars and trucks; and to maximize energy
efficiency in our buildings, appliances, and industries.
Some major effects of Global Warming are as follows:
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Intense Drought
Rising Sea Levels
Storms
Heat Waves
Melting Glaciers and Warming oceans
4. Acid Rain
Acid
rain is rain or
any
other
form
of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning
that it has elevated levels of hydrogen
ions (low pH). Most water, including drinking
water, has a neutral pH that exists between 6.5
and 8.5, but acid rain has a pH level lower than
this and ranges from 4–5 on average. The more
acidic the acid rain is, the lower its pH is. Acid
rain can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic
animals, and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by
emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide,
which react with the water molecules in
the atmosphere to produce acids.
Acid rain has been shown to have adverse
impacts on forests, freshwaters, soils, microbes,
insects and aquatic life-forms. In ecosystems,
persistent acid rain reduces tree bark durability, leaving flora more susceptible to environmental
stressors such as drought, heat/cold and pest infestation. Acid rain is also capable of detrimenting
soil composition by stripping it of nutrients such as calcium and magnesium which play a role in
plant growth and maintaining healthy soil. In terms of human infrastructure, acid rain also causes
paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and weathering of stone buildings and
statues as well as having impacts on human health.
Causes of Acid Rain
Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the
atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents. The SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen
and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and other materials
before falling to the ground.
While a small portion of the SO2 and NOX that cause acid rain is from natural sources such as
volcanoes, most of it comes from the burning of fossil fuels. The major sources of SO2 and NOX in the
atmosphere are:
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Burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity. Two thirds of SO2 and one fourth of NOX in the
atmosphere come from electric power generators.
Vehicles and heavy equipment.
Manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries.
Winds can blow SO2 and NOX over long distances and across borders making acid rain a problem
for everyone and not just those who live close to these sources.
5. Ozone Layer Depletion
Ozone depletion consists of two related events
observed since the late 1970s: a steady lowering of
about four percent in the total amount
of ozone in Earth's atmosphere, and a much larger
springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone (the ozone
layer) around Earth's polar regions. The latter
phenomenon is referred to as the ozone hole. There are
also springtime polar tropospheric ozone depletion
events in addition to these stratospheric events.
The main causes of ozone depletion and the ozone hole
are
manufactured
chemicals,
especially
manufactured halocarbon refrigerants, solvents, propell
ants, and foam-blowing agents (chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), HCFCs, halons), referred to as ozonedepleting substances (ODS). These compounds are transported into the stratosphere by turbulent
mixing after being emitted from the surface, mixing much faster than the molecules can settle. Once
in the stratosphere, they release atoms from the halogen group through photodissociation,
which catalyze the breakdown of ozone (O3) into oxygen (O2). Both types of ozone depletion were
observed to increase as emissions of halocarbons increased.
Ozone depletion and the ozone hole have generated worldwide concern over increased cancer risks
and other negative effects. The ozone layer prevents harmful wavelengths of ultraviolet (UVB) light
from passing through the Earth's atmosphere. These wavelengths cause skin cancer, sunburn,
permanent blindness, and cataracts, which were projected to increase dramatically as a result of
thinning ozone, as well as harming plants and animals. These concerns led to the adoption of
the Montreal Protocol in 1987, which bans the production of CFCs, halons, and other ozonedepleting chemicals.
Causes of Ozone Hole
The primary cause of ozone depletion is the presence of chlorine-containing source gases (primarily
CFCs and related halocarbons). In the presence of UV light, these gases dissociate, releasing chlorine
atoms, which then go on to catalyze ozone destruction. The Cl-catalyzed ozone depletion can take
place in the gas phase, but it is dramatically enhanced in the presence of polar stratospheric
clouds (PSCs).
These polar stratospheric clouds form during winter, in the extreme cold. Polar winters are dark,
consisting of three months without solar radiation (sunlight). The lack of sunlight contributes to a
decrease in temperature and the polar vortex traps and chills the air. Temperatures hover around or
below −80 °C. These low temperatures form cloud particles. There are three types of PSC clouds—
nitric acid trihydrate clouds, slowly cooling water-ice clouds, and rapid cooling water-ice (nacreous)
clouds—provide surfaces for chemical reactions whose products will, in the spring lead to ozone
destruction.
The photochemical processes involved are complex but well understood. The key observation is that,
ordinarily, most of the chlorine in the stratosphere resides in "reservoir" compounds, primarily
chlorine nitrate (ClONO2) as well as stable end products such as HCl. The formation of end products
essentially removes Cl from the ozone depletion process. The former sequester Cl, which can be
later made available via absorption of light at shorter wavelengths than 400 nm. During the Antarctic
winter and spring, however, reactions on the surface of the polar stratospheric cloud particles
convert these "reservoir" compounds into reactive free radicals (Cl and ClO). Denitrification is the
process by which the clouds remove NO2 from the stratosphere by converting it to nitric acid in PSC
particles, which then are lost by sedimentation. This prevents newly formed ClO from being
converted back into ClONO2.
The role of sunlight in ozone depletion is the reason why the Antarctic ozone depletion is greatest
during spring. During winter, even though PSCs are at their most abundant, there is no light over the
pole to drive chemical reactions. During the spring, however, sunlight returns and provides energy to
drive photochemical reactions and melt the polar stratospheric clouds, releasing considerable ClO,
which drives the whole mechanism. Further warming temperatures near the end of spring break up
the vortex around mid-December. As warm, ozone and NO2-rich air flows in from lower latitudes,
the PSCs are destroyed, the enhanced ozone depletion process shuts down, and the ozone hole
closes.
Environmental Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion are as follows:

Effects on Human Health:
Ozone layer depletion increases the amount of UVB that reaches the Earth’s surface. Laboratory and
epidemiological studies demonstrate that UVB causes non-melanoma skin cancer and plays a major
role in malignant melanoma development. In addition, UVB has been linked to the development of
cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens.

Effects on Plants:
UVB radiation affects the physiological and developmental processes of plants. Despite mechanisms
to reduce or repair these effects and an ability to adapt to increased levels of UVB, plant growth can
be directly affected by UVB radiation.
Indirect changes caused by UVB (such as changes in plant form, how nutrients are distributed within
the plant, timing of developmental phases and secondary metabolism) may be equally or sometimes
more important than damaging effects of UVB. These changes can have important implications for
plant competitive balance, herbivory, plant diseases, and biogeochemical cycles.

Effects on Marine ecosystems:
Phytoplankton form the foundation of aquatic food webs. Phytoplankton productivity is limited to
the euphotic zone, the upper layer of the water column in which there is sufficient sunlight to
support net productivity. Exposure to solar UVB radiation has been shown to affect both orientation
and motility in phytoplankton, resulting in reduced survival rates for these organisms. Scientists have
demonstrated a direct reduction in phytoplankton production due to ozone depletion-related
increases in UVB.
UVB radiation has been found to cause damage to early developmental stages of fish, shrimp, crab,
amphibians, and other marine animals. The most severe effects are decreased reproductive capacity
and impaired larval development. Small increases in UVB exposure could result in population
reductions for small marine organisms with implications for the whole marine food chain.
 Effects on Biogeochemical Cycles
Increases in UVB radiation could affect terrestrial and aquatic biogeochemical cycles, thus
altering both sources and sinks of greenhouse and chemically important trace gases (e.g.,
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, ozone, and possibly other gases). These
potential changes would contribute to biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks that mitigate or
amplify the atmospheric concentrations of these gases.
6. Nuclear Accidents
A nuclear
and
radiation
accident is
defined
by
the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) as "an event that
has
led
to
significant
consequences to people, the
environment or the facility.
Examples include lethal effects to
individuals,
large radioactivity release to the
environment, reactor
core
melt." The prime example of a
"major nuclear accident" is one in
which a reactor core is damaged
and
significant
amounts
of radioactive isotopes are released, such as in the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and Fukushima
nuclear disaster in 2011.
The impact of nuclear accidents has been a topic of debate since the first nuclear reactors were
constructed in 1954 and has been a key factor in public concern about nuclear facilities. Technical
measures to reduce the risk of accidents or to minimize the amount of radioactivity released to the
environment have been adopted, however human error remains, and "there have been many
accidents with varying impacts as well near misses and incidents". As of 2014, there have been more
than 100 serious nuclear accidents and incidents from the use of nuclear power. Fifty-seven
accidents or severe incidents have occurred since the Chernobyl disaster, and about 60% of all
nuclear-related accidents/severe incidents have occurred in the USA. Serious nuclear power
plant accidents include the Fukushima nuclear disaster (2011), the Chernobyl disaster (1986),
the Three Mile Island accident (1979), and the SL-1 accident (1961). Nuclear power accidents can
involve loss of life and large monetary costs for remediation work.
Nuclear submarine accidents include the K-19 (1961), K-11 (1965), K-27 (1968), K-140 (1968), K429 (1970), K-222 (1980), and K-431 (1985) accidents. Serious radiation incidents/accidents include
the Kyshtym disaster, the Windscale fire, the radiotherapy accident in Costa Rica, the radiotherapy
accident in Zaragoza, the radiation accident in Morocco, the Goiania accident, the radiation accident
in Mexico City, the Samut Prakan radiation accident, and the Mayapuri radiological accident in India.
References
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_effect
https://byjus.com/biology/greenhouse-effect-gases/
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-warming-101
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_rain
https://byjus.com/chemistry/acid-rain/
https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what-acid-rain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_depletion
https://www.britannica.com/science/ozone-depletion
https://www.epa.gov/ozone-layer-protection/health-andenvironmental-effects-ozone-layer-depletion
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_and_radiation_accidents_and_in
cidents