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Environment & Ecology Challenges and SolutionsThe following are a list of environment & ecology challenges and solutions. Click on a heading to read the full description of the challenge, add a solution or comment, and rate the challenge importance. Submit a new environment & ecology challenge by clicking on the Add a Challenge button. The most popular environment & ecology challenge are listed first. Voting on a challenge may move it up or down on the list. 21 39
  Chemical contamination of seedsSolutions (5)Seeds are increasingly coated chemically as a delivery system for chemicals and biologicals to the field and as a means of avoiding protest against excessive crop spraying. Thus chemicals enter the gr... 6 19
Environmental hazards of chlorine-bleached paper productsChlorine bleaches of woodpulp produce dioxins, one of the most toxic chemicals, as the by-product. Dioxins are also suspected cancer-causing agents. Dioxins in the effluent waters affect ecosystems in...1 11
Destruction of wildlife habitatsVery few natural areas remain in the world and even these are threatened by increasing pressure for land to be put to other uses by fast-growing human populations. Wildlife habitats are lost by physic...0 8
Celibrate the RainIt's quick and easy to retrofit a 55-gallon drum into a rain barrel. Rain barrels get water out of over-burdened municipal stormwater and sewer systems - alleviating flooding, nonpoint source pollutio...5 13
Air pollutionSolutions (2)Air pollution is the result of the discharge into the atmosphere of foreign gases, vapours, droplets and particles, or of excessive amounts of normal constituents, such as the carbon dioxide and suspe... 4 11
Oil spillageSolutions (2)Every year 1.2 billion tonnes of oil cross the seas in tankers. Since navigation is a human endeavour, there will always be human error. Oil spills are an utterly predictable cost of doing business, b... 1 8
Environmental impacts of oil extractionThe fossil fuel chain of destruction begins with the quest for new reserves of oil and gas. This search often results in the construction of roads and other infrastructure in previously undisturbed wi...0 6
What ways to acheive zero waste in very socitey without much of financial constraitComments (1)The world is facing alot of challenge such as Ozone Layer Depletionand Waste Management together with environmental pollution. 3 8
Biological pollutantsBiological wastes range from human and animal wastes, to compost and other plant material, to pathogenic microorganisms. Sources include homes, animal laboratories, hospitals, farms, paper mills, and ...2 7
Accidental large-scale contamination of the environmentSolutions (1)Ecological disasters, nuclear or otherwise, present major risks to the life, health and well-being of populations. The Bhopal and Chernobyl disasters are just two examples among many which are still v... 1 5
Radioactive & Hazardous WasteSolutions (1)How do we dispose it?? Need containers to transport it to space. Then sent it traveling to the sun. Were it can be disposed of. #2 build a spacecraft to go around the planet earth collecting space ... 0 4
Nitrogen compounds as water pollutantsComments (1)The huge increase in nitrogen loading of the environment has had a number of consequences. There has been a large rise in the nitrogen levels of drinking water supplies, resulting mainly from agricult... 4 8
Environmental hazards from loggingThe total demand for forest products is expected to double every ten years. Clearing forests is often considered a pre-requisite for economic development in countries where large forest tracts still e...15 18
Soil erosion by windSolutions (1)Soil erosion by wind may occur wherever dry, sandy or dusty surfaces, inadequately protected by vegetation, are exposed to strong winds. Erosion involves the picking up and blowing away of loose fine ... 5 8
Unpredictability of earthquakesSolutions (2)Although the regions of greatest seismic activity are clearly defined and although there are scientific theories on what causes earthquakes, it is very rarely possible to forecast the time and place o... 1 4
Destruction of wildernessWilderness areas are large natural environments (in excess of 5,000 acres) together with their plant and animal communities, that have been substantially unmodified by humans and in particular by huma...1 4
Threatened wetland habitatsFens, wetlands and peatlands are under threat due to drainage for agricultural use. Other activities that are having a significant effect on these areas are peat extraction for the horticultural indus...11 14
Coastal water pollutionComments (1)Pollution of coastal waters may arise from various sources, such as: the discharge of sewage and industrial waste from coastal outfalls; the dumping of wastes at sea; the discharge of sewage and rubbi... 1 4
Threatened alpine and high polar tundra habitatsAlpine and polar tundra habitats are easily disturbed in late spring and summer during the thawing of the surface layers of soil, above an impermeable layer of ice. If vegetation is disturbed erosion ...0 2
Carbamate insecticides as pollutantsThe first carbamic acid derivatives having insecticide properties were synthesized in 1947. The most commonly used carbamate insecticide in agriculture is carbaryl. It is a systemic poison which produ...13 15
Unsafe hazardous waste disposalComments (1)As the amount of hazardous waste produced increases annually, places and methods of disposal that are scientifically, technologically, politically and environmentally safe are becoming more difficult ... 2 4
Urban overcrowdingSolutions (1)Since 1950, the number of people living in urban areas has jumped from 750 million to more than 2 500 million people. Currently, some 61 million people are added to cities each year through rural to u... 2 3
Erosion of biological diversityThe variety of natural life forms, whether eco-regions, habitats, species or gene pools, is being endangered by human activity. It is this variety which ensures the regeneration of harvested resources...2 3
Lead as an environmental pollutantLead, easy to shape and a good conductor, is one of the most serious of environmental pollutants. It has adverse effects as it accumulates in the body, especially for children and pregnant women. It c...1 2
Cadmium as a pollutantCadmium occurs in zinc-lead-copper ores. Zinc ores constitute the main industrial source of cadmium and the metal is fractionated during the smelting or electrolytic processes employed for the refinin...0 1
Insecticides as pollutantsSolutions (1)Three major types of insecticides are used by farmers: organochlorines, organophosphates, and carbamates. The organochlorine compounds are being replaced as it becomes evident that they cause extensiv... 1 2
Air pollution from shippingSolutions (2)Whilst air pollutant emissions from land-based sources are gradually being brought into line with non-exceedance and health standards, the emissions from ships continue unabated No limits exist for t... 0 1
Indiscriminate destruction of weedsGardeners and farmers indiscriminately destroy weeds in spite of the present urgent and worldwide need for conservation and diversification rather than elimination and extinction of plant and animal l...0 1
Brominated flame retardantsAll brominated fire retardants seem capable of creating environment and health problems. The class called polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are some of the most commonly used: in the plastics in applia...0 1
Accelerate the change in Automobile industrySolutions (2)The Problem is: - create a common decision about automobile purchases. - the decision would be: never buy another car that is responsible for CO2 emissions, at all. No pollution depending on this sour... 1 2
Biological air pollutantsProliferation of airborne fungus spores, pollen grains and microorganisms<P> Moulds, bacteria and insect-derived matinal produce disease and hypersensitive and allergic responses in many individuals. ...1 2
DroughtSolutions (2)Severe drought is a natural event that results from disruptions of the water cycle, and that, in turn, interferes with the cycle of nutrients and flow of energy in ecosystems. During periodic onslaugh... 1 2
Environmental hazards of nuclear weapons industryEnvironmental problems of long standing plague the nuclear weapons industry. Besides soil and water contamination by radioactive materials, some sites suffer contamination by conventional hazardous ch...5 6
Spread of Australian Brown Apple MothSolutions (2)California goes through some kind of crisis, not being able to get rid of the apple moths, which represent a real danger to agriculture. The sticky traps put there to capture the moths are not enough... 2 3
Chlorofluorocarbons as an environmental hazardChlorofluorocarbons are used in industry for cleaning electronic components, filling refrigerators and air-conditioning systems, producing plastic foams, and propelling aerosol sprays. CFC's slowly di...2 3
Methane Gas Capture and Decreasing Time for Improved Sewage TreamentTo speed up the decomposition of sewage either in large sewage treatment plants or in home septic plants and economically capture Methane gas from sewage plants. Reducing the time required for sewage...1 1
Agricultural pollutionBy-products and wastes from agriculture pollute water, soil, and air. The use of pesticides and fertilizers in food production also produce a range of dangerious pollutants. The waste from cattle, pig...1 1
Pollution by aircraftThe increasing size of aircraft, the emission of black smoke during take-off, and the density of air traffic at major airports, have directed attention to pollution by aircraft. Airports are usually s...1 1
Pollution of inland watersInland waters are usually freshwaters, like lakes and rivers, but also include brackish and saline bodies of water. They get polluted in two ways: (1) by pollutants being applied anywhere within the a...2 2
Air pollution from forest firesThe extensive dry season forest fires of Southeast Asia and South America between 1996 and 1998 created blankets of acrid smoke affecting population centres across a wide region, raising urban dry-sea...7 7
Environmental impacts from miningSolutions (1)Mining affects the environment and associated biota through the removal of vegetation and topsoil, the displacement of fauna, the release of pollutants and the production of mine overburden. Mining po... 1 1
Occupational hazards of benzeneBenzene gives off very toxic, inflammable vapours and grave risks are thus associated with its industrial use. It exerts the acute narcotic action common to many hydrocarbons and has a local irritant ...1 1
Lack of Adequate Protections for National ForestsSolutions (1)The Sierra Club has raised concerns that the Tongass National Forest may be vulnerable to road-building. The Tongass is the world's largest remaining temperate rainforest and provides ample space not... 4 3
Destruction of wilderness by recreational vehiclesSolutions (2)Recreational vehicles generate noise and traffic and pollution that degrade or destroy the natural ecosystems of wilderness areas. The use of recreational vehicles requires the building of more and wi... 1 0
Asbestos in Children's ProductsSolutions (4) Comments (1)In the past decade, asbestos has been found in common, supposedly non-toxic children's products: everything from crayons, to sidewalk chalk, to modeling clay. Companies frequently claim that their pr... 1 0
MiceSolutions (2)Who hasn't found a mouse in the house? Aside from the unpleasant wariness that many feel toward rodents in their midst, homeowners may worry that mice will bring disease into their homes -- or breed ... 2 1
Chromium as a pollutantChromium and certain chromium compounds are known carcinogens. Long-term exposure of workers to airborne levels of chromium higher than those in the natural environment has been associated with lung c...2 1
Chlordane pollutionChlordane is a mixture of over fifty synthetic chemicals. It has been used as a pesticide, particularly for termite control in houses, and on crops, notably corn. Use of chlordane was stopped mainly b...1 0
Energy producing housesThere are already houses that are called "passive". This means their energy consumption is very low. There are houses that are full of domotica, and there are houses that are entirely built according...2 1
Chloroform as a pollutantChloroform affects the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys. It was used as a surgical anaesthetic for many years before its harmful effects on the liver and kidneys were recognized. Short-term ...2 1
Abuse of antibiotics and vaccines in factory farmingAntibiotics are used on a tremendous scale in factory farming to suppress the spread of diseases amongst animals which are housed so densely. Whilst this means that the animals are generally disease-f...3 2
Factors affecting population of endangered speciesComments (1)I have searched many sites to find out the detail data on "factors affecting population of endangered species", but i can,t find such data. So the problem here, how can find the detail data on these f... 4 3
Chemical pollutants of the environmentAs modern man's dependence on chemicals for societal benefits has grown, the potential for widespread pollution or contamination has also increased. There are now some 70,000 chemicals on the commerci...2 1
Aerosols as industrial hazardsAerosols are suspensions of solid or liquid particles in gas. Humans release aerosols when they burn wood or fossil fuels certain chemical pollutants into the atmosphere. Toxic aerosols may be release...5 3
Permafrost melting and releaseing carbon dioxide and methaneOne of the problems with global warming is the resulting melting of northern permafrost's in Canada and Alaska and Siberia resulting in thousands of megatons of carbon dioxide and methane being releas...2 0
Destruction of wetland environmentsWetlands are under threat from drainage, reclamation projects and a deterioration in water quality due to human development efforts, particularly in agriculture and industry. There is an increasingly ...6 4
DeforestationSolutions (2)Forests and woodlands are being degraded or destroyed and natural ecosystems reduced or fragmented, further threatening biodiversity. Many factors contribute to deforestation: timber production and cl... 4 2
Mountain Pine Beetle Destroying ForestsComments (2)Forests are changing from green to red as the Mountain Pine Beetle wrecks its havoc on British Columbia forests. Many blame the beetles onslaught on warmer temperatures due to global warming. The bee... 2 0
Toxic Ash DumpsSolutions (2)Did you know that there are toxic wet ash dumps in the U.S.? 584 of them, in fact. They're spread out in 35 states. Essentially, ash from coal-fired power plants collects, with wet dumps proving pa... 8 5
Reclaiming Coastal DesertsSolutions (2) Comments (1)The effect of global warming increases desert area and raises sea levels. Proposed is a widespread long term action of introducing vegetation from the coast, in-land. Desalinization can be used to su... 4 0
Degradation of mountain environment by leisure activitiesMountains are very popular places to visit, but are their ecosystems are so delicate that they cannot survive much tourist activity. In addition, moneyed visitors expect luxuries that deplete the envi...5 1
Destruction inherent in developmentSolutions (2)Every act of development, planned or unplanned, involves at least two acts of destruction: one in the ecosystem and one in the societal system of man. Planned development involves the destruction of f... 6 2
Long-term impacts of chemical and biological warfareSolutions (1) Comments (1)All weapons of war are destructive of human life, but chemical and bacteriological (biological) weapons stand in a class of their own as armaments which exercise their effects solely on living matter.... 8 0
Uncontrolled urban developmentBy the year 2000, over half of the world's population will be crowded into 3% of the earth's land mass. This trend towards urbanization is divided unequally with 17 out of the 20 largest cities in the...8 0
Noise pollutionSolutions (1)Noise pollution, operationally defined as 'unwanted sound', has become an environmental contaminant of massive proportions. Noise causes annoyance, frustration, impediment of learning and general stre... 0 0
Simple, novel and efficiient way to handle municipal wasteMunicipal waste is a big problem in the third world country like India. The waste consists mainly of kitchen wastes from households, papers, polythene bags and other plastic materials. This also inclu... |
Architects of a New Dawn - Solutions
