Page 2 - SSW: Human-Environment Interaction in North America

Positive and Negative Interactions
When humans settle in an area, they begin to interact with the environment in many different ways. They use the land around
them to help fulfill their needs. When people make changes to the environment, they modify it. These changes can have
positive and negative impacts.
Conserve energy
Recycle
Positive Impacts on the Environment
People can have a positive impact on their environment. Some
ways to do this are by cleaning up litter, protecting endangered
species, planting trees, and growing your own plants and
vegetables. Other things that can have a positive impact on
the environment are conserving water and electricity, using
reusable water bottles, and buying locally grown food. When
we use natural resources wisely, we positively impact the
environment.
It is a good idea to use natural resources more responsibly.
One example is implementing recycling programs in
communities. About 70 percent of all the garbage we throw
away can be recycled. The best way to keep our landfills and
garbage dumps from taking over the environment is to recycle
as many items as possible. People can work together to
Clean up litter
Garbage landfill
Plant trees
protect natural resources and have a positive impact on the
environment.
Various efforts have been made to conserve resources and
protect the environment in California. In 1999, the California
legislature passed the Marine Life Protection Act. This act
established marine-protected areas throughout the state
to protect marine animals, their natural habitats, and the
ecosystems in which they live. Organizations like Environment
California are working to create programs that promote clean
air initiatives, drinking water conservation, and the
development of cleaner energy sources.
Negative Impacts on the Environment
In many ways, people’s interactions with the environment can
be negative. We change the environment when we cut down
trees, remove stone, and use natural resources. Agriculture
and mining can also pose a threat to the environment. These
activities can change the landscape in ways that make it no
longer usable. Gold mining has had a significant impact on
the environment of California. While many people came to
California to seek their fortunes during the Gold Rush, some of
the methods they used to look for gold had a negative impact
on the environment that can still be seen today.
People also produce a lot of trash. Trash often ends up in
landfills and garbage dumps. Trash can also produce harmful
chemicals that can pollute the soil, water, and air. People have
to be careful to balance their needs with available resources
found in their environment. This helps people avoid having a
negative impact on the environment.
Pollution Week 8 of 32 • Page 3
Clearing the Air
When there is a fire, there’s usually smoke, and smoke
in the air can cause problems. Smoke that is a result
of burning fossil fuels can be especially harmful.
More than 25 percent of the electricity used in North
America comes from burning coal. In addition, we burn
enormous amounts of other fossil fuels. Here are some
ways that smoke and gases from burning fossil fuels
can be harmful.
• When fossil fuels burn, they give off greenhouse The Great Pacific
gases, which trap heat on the Earth and keep Garbage Patch 2019
it too warm.
• Acid rain is a result of gases that are trapped in the
air. When moisture collects, particles of chemicals
are collected as well. Acid rain can kill plants and
destroy metal and paint. How many different types of pollution can you think of? There may
• Smoke, or exhaust, can make it difficult for people be more than you think. There’s air pollution (outside and inside),
to breathe and sometimes causes skin sores. land and water pollution (trash and chemicals, like fertilizers), and
noise pollution (loud, unwanted noises, which can harm your ears),
For these and many other reasons, research just to name a few. Why should you care? Well, all of these pollutants
is being done to discover better ways to produce can affect your health and well-being. For example, air pollution
can cause short-term effects, such as headaches or allergies. It can
energy. Different car companies have released their also cause long-term effects, such as lung cancer and heart disease.
own versions of a hybrid car that has both a gasoline
engine and an electric motor. It uses less than half the Pollution also harms other living things on our planet. Water pollution
gasoline a normal car would but gets almost the same kills animals and harms our natural resources.
power. Consumers will start seeing many new kinds of So, what can we do about it? There are a lot of things that you
“cleaner” cars. In learning can do to slow down the effects of pollution on our planet. First of
to use their natural all, remember the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Reduce your
waste by not throwing as many things in the trash. Reuse things you
resources more wisely, don’t need anymore. Can you give away that old toy instead
people will have a better of tossing it in the trash can? Recycle materials like plastic,
place to live. paper, and aluminum.
You can also choose to purchase environmentally safe products.
Look at the glass cleaner you have at home. Does it have ammonia
in it? That could be harmful to your health. Look for products that list
all the ingredients. It’s not too hard to find
“green” products that are safer for us and
for the environment. But don’t throw those
old products in the trash or down the
drain! That waste is hazardous and can
cause land and water pollution. Your local
Department of Public Works can tell you
where and how to dispose of those things
properly. Take charge of your health and
the health of our planet. Everyone needs
to work together to make our planet
pollution-free.
Adapting to and Modifying the Environment
People adapt to their environment to meet
their basic needs and survive. This means
people change how they live based on their
environment. Everything from plants and
animals to the weather can change the way
people live. People must adapt to the climate.
They must change the ways they live based
on the climate where they live. People around
the world wear different clothes, eat different
foods, and live in different houses. People do Sattelite photo of
Salto Grande Dam
all of this based on their environment. The on the Uruguay and A soybean
jobs they do relate to their environment, too. Argentina border field in Brazil
Forestry, mining, and drilling are examples
of jobs that were created based on a place’s
natural resources.
People modify their environment to meet
their needs. This means they change the
place where they live. For example, people
build dams to provide water for growing food.
People also build homes and schools. They set
up irrigation and farming systems. They build
roads and bridges to travel from one area to
another. They cut down forests for lumber and
to make farmland for growing crops. All of
these interactions modify the environment in
some way.
Farmer repairing
irrigation system in
strawberry field