The Environmental Impacts of Transportation
There are number of relationships between the atmosphere, the hydrosphere,
the lithosphere and the ecosphere and some noted impacts.
| Atmosphere |
- Large scale diffusion of pollutants.
- High growth on a short term basis of the concentration of pollutants
because of local conditions (e.g. smog).
- Photochemical reactions caused by ultraviolet rays, notably over ozone,
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
- Climatic changes (unproven).
- Acid rain.
- Synergetic and cumulative effects when pollutants are combined (e.g.
smog and greenhouse gases).
|
| Hydrosphere |
- Diffusion of pollutants in a dissolved or colloidal state.
- Acidification and loss of neutralizing potential of ground and underground
water.
- Drops of pH following snow melting (aquatic organism are particularly
vulnerable).
- Growth in the solubility of several metals because of acidification.
- Additions of organic compounds, aluminum, manganese, calcium, magnesium
and potassium by runoffs.
- Contamination of ground and underground water by nitrates.
- Modifications of hydrological systems by the construction and maintenance
of infrastructure.
|
| Lithosphere |
- Acid depositions.
- Liberation of toxic metallic ions (aluminum, cadmium, etc.) through
acidification.
- Loss of nutrients, notably calcium and magnesium.
- Inhibition of the mineralization of nitrogen.
- Modifications in the compositions and the depth of decomposition gradient.
- Inhibition of decomposition.
- Loss of the soil flora and fauna.
- Fixation by plants of heavy metals (e.g. lead) and contamination.
- Removal and consumption of land.
- Extraction of raw materials like mineral products and energy.
|
| Ecosphere |
- AQUATIC ECOSPHERE
- Alteration of ecosystems in unforeseeable ways.
- Disappearance of vulnerable species and proliferation of tolerant
ones.
- Reduction of bacterial treatment of organic matter by nitrification.
- Reduction of available nutrients to aquatic species.
- Reproductive impediments.
- LAND ECOSPHERE
- Damages over the vegetation modifying: hydric cycles, the level of
underground water resources, soil erosion, air purification capacity of
the ecosphere, food sources (agriculture) and entertainment and tourism
potential.
- Reduction of the vital space.
- Reduction of the genetic potential of species.
- Reduction of the food supply and alteration of the food chain.
- Consumption of resources.
- HUMAN ECOSPHERE
- Odors.
- Noise.
- Cardiovascular and respiratory problems.
- Susceptibility to infection.
- Drops in life expectancy.
- Injuries, incapacity, hospitalization, death.
- Damage to structures: loss of useful life. (amortization) loss of
property values, corrosion of metal structures (bronze, steel, etc.) destruction
of historical and cultural monuments.
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