How technology affects the environment

The vast majority of the usual activities in our day to day produce contamination, whether acoustic, light or atmospheric, whose final receiver is the environment. Every time we use electricity, means of transport, medicines, cleaning products, heating or weating food, we produce, even if it is not directly, polluting waste.

Contamination varies according to a series of factors such as population growth, the degree of urbanization, industrial development, mechanization of agriculture or the use of natural resources. And among all its types, air pollution is particularly important. This pollution usually comes from the means of transport, industrial emissions or emissions from the city or the countryside.

These factors impact on the environment in many waysamong which are:

• Salinization, acidification, compaction, erosion or soil desertification.
• Contribution to Climate change and production of the pollutant fog on cities (Smog).
• Biodiversity affectationcausing a decrease in genetic variability.
• Water contamination and sedimentation.
• Forest deforestation.
• Waste of waste: Sometimes those who handle industries do not know how to get rid of these waste, so that they pour them into the poorest countries, which negatively affects the flora, fauna and the environment.

It has been proven that atmospheric gases concentration of Greenhouse effect It has increased largely since the industrial revolution. Thus, it has been seen that the average concentration of carbon dioxide has increased from 275 ppm before the industrial revolution, to 361 ppm in 1996. Methane levels have also doubled In the last century, from 1.8 ppm to 17 ppm in 1992.

An important source of carbon dioxide is the burning of large masses of vegetation to expand culture lands or the great use of fossil fuels to obtain energy, although the main source of carbon dioxide, nitrogen monoxide or emitted hydrocarbons are the means of transport. These and other chlorinated gases, in addition to contributing to global warming, also increase the hole (thinning) of the ozone layer.

The level of ozone present on continents such as Antarctica has already reached its lowest levels, which makes much of the glaciers of our planet are meltingcausing changes in the global climate. These changes assume that they have to face the containment works of the sea, migrations of people or species, changes in crops, hurricanes, heavy rains or extreme temperatures.

But the technology not only affects negatively to the environment, but also can contribute to your improvement And well used it can be a very important tool for environmental conservation. Some examples can be:

• Recycling: The advance of technology has allowed increasing the recycling processes of waste generated in different activities and it is still possible to innovate more in this field
• Technology allows greater technical and scientific knowledge of the environment, contributing to design and create goods or services that favor the conservation of the environment.
• Development of new energy forms that are friendly to the environment such as solar or wind energy
• Develop means of transportation that use more respectful fuels with the environment
• Develop systems that allow respectful elimination with the environment of chemical waste
• Develop systems that allow controlling energy at home or in the workplace

Many of these proposals must still be developed and investigated, but technology can also be an ally to reduce the risks associated with the decrease in the ozone layer or the carbon footprint.

Finally, as we want to continue helping the planet, and not only promoting the responsible and beneficial use of technology for this, we believe that these phrases of the environment can help you become more aware of their importance and, if you want, you can share them so that it continues to grow.

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