Minning
9th grade English-7th period
November 12, 2012
Impacts of Mining on the Environment
“(19,312 km) of rivers and streams in the United States are polluted by abandoned and current mining operations” (Environmental Science 3). However, this is only part of the entire effect of mining on the environment. Mining affects the environment and humans in many different ways. It may be necessary, but even though mining is the only known way to extract some resources, it is doing more harm than good by causing pollution, disfiguring the land, creating habitat loss, and it often, if not always, results in long term damages to the environment.
Mining is a major contributor to the pollution of air and water. According to the article “Mining and Quarrying Impacts”, “The extraction processes can ... contaminate air and water with sulfur dioxide and other pollutants, putting wildlife and local populations at risk”(1). Not only are these chemical pollutants harmful to the environment, but they can also affect human populations. It is also stated that the pollutants can travel by air and water. So, no organism is out of its path. Granted that some actions have been taken to reduce the amount of pollution, it still isn’t enough. In a village in the Keonjhar District it was stated that, “the level of suspended particles in residential area should not exceed 200 micrograms, and in industrial area 1500 micrograms. But in several areas [it’s] recorded 2,500 and 700 micrograms…” (Times of India 1). As a result of the high levels of pollution there, most of the villages close to the mining site have become uninhabitable and the residents have been forced out by the pollution. Also most of the wildlife has a lot less biodiversity now. Another part of mining that is a major contributor to pollution is mine fires. As it says in the article by Environmental Science, “There are hundreds of such mine fires [everywhere]. They emit a substantial amount of methane and carbon dioxide into
November 12, 2012
Impacts of Mining on the Environment
“(19,312 km) of rivers and streams in the United States are polluted by abandoned and current mining operations” (Environmental Science 3). However, this is only part of the entire effect of mining on the environment. Mining affects the environment and humans in many different ways. It may be necessary, but even though mining is the only known way to extract some resources, it is doing more harm than good by causing pollution, disfiguring the land, creating habitat loss, and it often, if not always, results in long term damages to the environment.
Mining is a major contributor to the pollution of air and water. According to the article “Mining and Quarrying Impacts”, “The extraction processes can ... contaminate air and water with sulfur dioxide and other pollutants, putting wildlife and local populations at risk”(1). Not only are these chemical pollutants harmful to the environment, but they can also affect human populations. It is also stated that the pollutants can travel by air and water. So, no organism is out of its path. Granted that some actions have been taken to reduce the amount of pollution, it still isn’t enough. In a village in the Keonjhar District it was stated that, “the level of suspended particles in residential area should not exceed 200 micrograms, and in industrial area 1500 micrograms. But in several areas [it’s] recorded 2,500 and 700 micrograms…” (Times of India 1). As a result of the high levels of pollution there, most of the villages close to the mining site have become uninhabitable and the residents have been forced out by the pollution. Also most of the wildlife has a lot less biodiversity now. Another part of mining that is a major contributor to pollution is mine fires. As it says in the article by Environmental Science, “There are hundreds of such mine fires [everywhere]. They emit a substantial amount of methane and carbon dioxide into
Cited: Clines, Francis X. “Mining Deep Underground Stirs Protest Above; Damaged Houses Altered Streams and Disappearing Wells Near Mines.” New York Times. 4 May 2001: A111. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. “Coal Decision Fails To Consider All Effects.” Scoop Media. 21 Aug. 2012. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 5 Nov. 2012 “Mines, Industries Choke Keonjhar District.” Times of India 24 Sept. 2009. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. “Mining and Quarrying Impacts.” Environmental Science: In Context. Ed. Brenda Wilmoth Lerner and K. Lee Lerner. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 570-573. In Context Series. Gale Opposing Veiwpoints In Context. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. “Opponents Fear Negative Impact Of Proposed Mining Near Ohiopyle.” Tribune-Review [Greensburg, PA] 30 Apr. 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 5 Nov. 2012.