Our Environment

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Some substances such as metal, glass, plastic, etc. which cannot be decomposed by the living organisms are non-biodegradable wastes. These substances are non-biodegradable because the micro-organisms do not have enzymes that can digest these substances. Therefore, we classify them as non-biodegradable wastes. Other substances such as paper, vegetable wastes, etc. that can be easily broken down by enzymes are biodegradable wastes.

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Biodegradable substances affect the environment in the following ways:
(i) The biodegradable substances such as tree leaves, plant parts, and kitchen wastes can be used as humus after composting. This will enhance the soil fertility.
(ii) The biodegradable substances mainly contain carbon. These substances after decomposition release that carbon back into the atmosphere.

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Non-biodegradable substances affect the environment in the following ways:
(i) They contaminate soil and water resources as they cannot be decomposed by micro-organisms.
(ii) These substances, when accidentally eaten by stray animals, can harm them and can even cause their death.

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Atrophic level is the level of species in an ecosystem on the basis of the source of nutritionsuch as producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, etc.
The producers form the first trophic level as they manufacture food. The primary consumers form the second trophic level, the secondary consumers form the third, and the tertiary consumers form the fourth trophic level.
Trophic levels:
Various trophic levels are connected through food chains. For example, in an aquatic food chain, phytoplanktons are the producers, zooplanktons are the primary consumers, and small fish is the secondary consumer and so on.
Aquatic food chain

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Decomposers include micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi that obtain nutrients by breaking down the remains of dead plants and animals. They help in the breakdown of organic matter or biomass from the body of dead plants and animals into simple inorganic raw materials, such as CO₂, H₂O, and some nutrients.

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Ozone is a colourless gas that acts as a screen for ultraviolet radiation. It is continuously formed at the higher levels of the atmosphere due to the action of UV rays on molecular oxygen. The high energy UV radiations break down O₂ molecules into nascent oxygen.

Then, this free oxygen atom combines with an oxygen molecule to form ozone.

In recent years, the amount of ozone in the atmosphere is getting depleted.
This ozone depletion causes a greater amount of ultra violet radiation to enter earth’s atmosphere. This has an indirect effect on theecosystem.(Ecosystemincludes both the biological community and the non-living components of an area). It results in the death of many phytoplanktons, thereby affecting the process of photosynthesis. Plants utilise atmospheric CO₂to make their food. In the absence of plants, the levels of CO₂in the atmosphere will increase, which would in turn lead to an increase in global warming.
The depletion in the ozone layer also increases the frequency of infectious diseases as it suppresses the immune systems of both human beings and animals. The frequency of skin cancer also increases in human beings because of the direct exposure to ultraviolet radiations.

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The problem of waste disposal can be solved by proper waste management including the collection, transport, processing, and disposal of the waste materials.
The problem of waste management can be solved by the following given measures:

• Use separate bins (blue and green) for disposing non-biodegradable and biodegradable wastes.

Different garbage bins for disposing biodegradable
waste and non-biodegradable waste

• Reduce the usage of non-biodegradable products such as plastics.

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(c)Fruit-peels, cake, and lime-juice
(d)Cake, wood, and grass

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(b) Grass, goat, and human

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(d) All of the above

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Various trophic levels are connected through the food chains. If all the organisms of any one trophic level are killed, then it will disrupt the entire food chain.
For example, in a food chain, if all the plants are killed, then all the deer will die due to lack of food. If all the deer are dead, then soon the tigers will also die. Due to the death of these animals, the decomposer’s population will rise in that area.
This is just an example of one food chain. However, in nature, food chains are not isolated. They are interconnected in the form of food web. Therefore, killing all the plants of an area will not only affect the deer, it will also affect other herbivores such as goat, cattle, sheep, etc.

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Organisms of all trophic levels are equally important and are an integral part of the ecosystem. If all the producers are removed, then it will affect all the herbivores as it is their primary food source. Death of herbivores will soon affect the primary carnivores and so on.
Now let us suppose that all the deer (herbivores) are killed in a region. This can lead to an increase in the number of producers. At the same time, there will be an increase in the number of other herbivores such as rabbits, goat, sheep, etc. due to less competition. This will also lead to the increase in population of only consumers of these increased herbivores. Thus, the balance in the ecosystem gets disturbed if any of its component organisms are removed.

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Biomagnification is the increase in the concentration of pollutants or harmful chemicals within each step of the food chain. The levels of biomagnification will be different at different trophic levels. For example, in a pond of water, DDT was sprayed and the producers were found to have 0.04 ppm concentration of DDT. Since many types of planktons are eaten by some fishes and clams, their body accumulates 0.23 ppm of DDT. Sea gull that feeds on clams accumulates more DDT as one sea gull eats many clams. Hawk, the top carnivore, has the highest concentration of DDT.
Biomagnification

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Non-biodegradable substances affect the environment in the following ways:
(i) Since the non-biodegradable substances cannot be broken down, they get accumulated and thus contaminate the soil and the water resources.
(ii) These substances, when accidentally eaten by some stray animal, can harm them and can even cause their death.
(iii) These substances occupy more space in the landfills and require special disposal techniques.
(iv) These materials can accumulate in the environment and can also enter the food chain.

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Generation of only biodegradable waste will have a positive impact on the environment. There will not be any pollution caused by the non-biodegradable wastes. The problem associated with waste management and disposal will also not occur. The population of decomposers will increase to breakdown the extra biodegradable waste generated.
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Ozone depletion occurs widely in the stratosphere. However, it is more prominent over the Antarctic region and is known as the ozone hole.

Diagram representing ozone hole
Consequences of ozone depletion:

• It causes skin darkening, skin cancer, ageing, and corneal cataracts in human beings.
  
• It can result in the death of many phytoplanktons that leads to increased global warming.

To limit the damage to the ozone layer, the release of CFCs into the atmosphere must be reduced. CFCs used as refrigerants and in fire extinguishers should be replaced with environmentally-safe alternatives. Also, the release of CFCs through industrial activities should be controlled.