Things To Ponder
Although some may disagree with the statement that our planet could be a wasteland if the people don't take a stand, the truth is that our planet is facing environmental destruction. We even have the facts to back it up. Read these, they might just make you open your eyes to the real world.
- Small amounts of contaminants from all over the land add up to cause pollution in our water.
- In the US, 41% of all insecticides are used on corn. Eighty per cent of these are used to treat a pest that could be controlled simply by rotating the corn for one year with any other crop.
- Everyone has some amount of dioxin in his or her body, and the average level is already high enough to endanger health.
- In 1987, the U.S. released 1.2 million tons of toxic chemicals into our atmosphere, 670,000 tons into our soil, and 250,000 tons into our water.
- Each year U.S. factories spew 3 million tons of toxic chemicals into the air, land, and water.
- In 1996 the Centers for Disease Control established a link between spontaneous abortions and high nitrate levels in Indiana drinking water wells located close to feedlots.
- High levels of nitrates in drinking water also increase the risk of methemoglobinemia, or "blue-baby syndrome," which can kill infants.
- The US contributes 45% of the pollution that causes global warming.
- Cars and other automobiles leak more oil into waterways than oil tankers do.
- Mercury from one thermometer can contaminate six Olympic-size swimming pools.
- Flushed medications like estrogen are causing fish to switch genders - male fish grow egg sacs, or female fish turn male.
These aren't the only alarming pollution facts, but these are enough to show that if action is not taken our planet faces almost certain destruction. Future generations will be left with a huge mess to clean up because of the carelessness of companies, factories, and people. Something must be done now.
