Greenhouse Gases and Its Effects on Environment and Human
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Here are some of the main types of greenhouse gases, along with their effects on the environment and human health:
1. Carbon dioxide (CO2):
– Sources: Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), deforestation, and certain industrial processes.
– Effects:
– Global warming: CO2 is the most abundant greenhouse gas emitted by human activities. Its concentration in the atmosphere has increased significantly since the industrial revolution, contributing to global warming and climate change.
– Ocean acidification: CO2 absorbed by the oceans reacts with seawater, forming carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of the water. This can harm marine life, particularly organisms with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons, such as corals and shellfish.
2. Methane (CH4):
– Sources: Agricultural activities (livestock digestion, rice cultivation), landfills, natural gas production and distribution, and biomass burning.
– Effects:
– Global warming potential: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a much higher warming potential per molecule than CO2 over a 20-year period.
– Air quality: Methane emissions can contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and smog, which can have adverse effects on respiratory health in humans.
3. Nitrous oxide (N2O):
– Sources: Agricultural practices (fertilizer use, livestock manure), industrial processes, and combustion of fossil fuels.
– Effects:
– Global warming potential: Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas, with a much higher warming potential per molecule than CO2 over a 100-year period.
– Ozone depletion: N2O contributes to the depletion of stratospheric ozone, which protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Ozone depletion can increase the risk of skin cancer and cataracts in humans, as well as harm terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
4. Fluorinated gases (hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride, etc.):
– Sources: Industrial processes, refrigeration and air conditioning, semiconductor manufacturing, and electrical transmission.
– Effects:
– Global warming potential: Fluorinated gases are synthetic compounds with extremely high global warming potentials compared to CO2. They can persist in the atmosphere for a long time and contribute significantly to global warming.
– Some fluorinated gases are also potent greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming and climate change.
The accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to global warming, which can have widespread and severe impacts on the environment and human health. These impacts include more frequent and intense heatwaves, changing precipitation patterns, sea level rise, loss of biodiversity, disruptions to ecosystems and agriculture, increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, and risks to human health from heat stress, air pollution, vector-borne diseases, and food and water insecurity.
