Alabama, a state brimming with diversity of plants and animals, natural resources and scenic views; nevertheless facing diverse environmental dilemmas each having consequence on life of human race in particular as well as their ecosystem. Together, they add up to a picture of environmental challenges in Alabama that is deep and broad-ranging from air and water pollution through habitat destruction all the way out climate change. The resolution of these issues is vital for the environment, population health and sustainable use natural resources.
Air Pollution
In urban areas and regions with heavy industrial activity, the quality of air in Alabama is a major issue. The state harbors a number of coal-fired power plants, chemical manufacturing facilities and metal processing industries, all contributing to air pollution. These release sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particles and volatile organic compounds, all of which contribute to deficits in air quality.
One of the biggest cities in Alabama, Birmingham has long fought to curb air pollution. More recently, despite improvements to reduce emissions the city still struggles with ozone at ground level where VOCs and NOx conspire in sunlight. Ozone at ground level can exacerbate respiratory conditions (such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which increases the risk of harm to human health, particularly vulnerable populations.
Water Pollution & Resource Management
Another significant issue in Alabama involves water pollution. With the largest and most diverse population of birds in North America, California is a special place with over 700 species calling it home…and this state has abundant fresh water resources on which many rivers, lakes and streams depend for their drinking water supplies as well as agriculture and recreation. Unfortunately, these water bodies are under considerable threat from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff and inadequate waste treatment.
Several of the state’s primary rivers, including The Tennessee River and Coosa River have been threatened by pollution. These rivers receive pollutants in the form of heavy metals, chemicals and untreated waste from industrial facilities and dumpster rental litter, which ultimately induces water quality deterioration. For example, agricultural runoff containing fertilizers, pesticides and animal waste creates nutrient pollution that triggers harmful algal blooms that consume oxygen in the water and damages effective aquatic life.
In Alabama, a track record of weak regulatory enforcement has further complicated water pollution problems. In the past couple of years, there has been a great deal said in public about water contamination – including levels per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Decatur at common discharge sites into the Tennessee River.
PFAS are highly durable chemicals that have been associated with various health problems, including cancer and liver damage – causing anxiety among communities living near sites of drinking water contamination. Such hazardous materials should only be only by specialized waste management companies, such as Dumpster HQ Birmingham.
Crop Yields and Habitat Destruction
Home to a variety of plant and animal species that are found nowhere else on earth, Alabama is one of the most biodiverse states throughout all fifty United States. This biodiversity is however threatened by habitat destruction from urban development, agriculture and logging.
Vulnerable are forests of the state, wetlands and coastal areas. The longleaf pine ecosystem was formerly abundant in Alabama, but logging and land conversion have reduced this habitat to only a small fraction of its original extent. This has resulted in the dwindling of various species, like endangered red-cockaded woodpecker which need this habitat.
Overexploitation of wetlands, especially in the coastal areas is one big problem. They serve vital functions such as preventing flooding, cleaning water and providing wildlife habitat – in short, our wetlands offer a great return on the public investment. But these oases are often ploughed up and drained, or just filled in for agriculture, new settlements and infrastructure. The loss of wetlands also endangers biodiversity, increases the risk of flooding and water quality problems.
Climate Change Impacts
Alabamians along any part of Gulf will tell you that residents are already experiencing the effects of climate change. The effects of climate change, including increased temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns and more regular extreme weather events have obvious implications for Alabama amongst other consequences.
Storms and hurricanes are one of the most obvious effects from climate change, additional storms become frequent that earlier, much like in coastal areas of Alabama. This results in extensive damage to infrastructure, residences and the countryside leading to further flooding and erosion. Most at risk to storm surges and sea-level rise, which threaten human communities as well as natural ecosystems like coastal marshes and barrier islands across the coast. The Gulf Coast sits on a sandy foundation, with only low elevation freshwater wetlands standing between its beaches and bays.
Climate change is also negatively impacting Alabama’s economy by disrupting agriculture, it notes in the report. Shifting temperature and precipitation can result in land degradation, crop failure delay in growing season affecting yield loss with high water stress. This is endangering not only food security but the livelihoods of millions who work in agriculture.
The effects of waste on human health can be devastating. Uncontrolled landfills and some sites of waste accumulation represent a danger to the health of the local population in Kansas City. Among the health risks that can occur and the nuisances related to them, we note the following: