Genetic Engineering Risks and Impact

Any technology that offers benefits will usually come with risks as well. In order to make wise decisions about using a technology, we must understand its potential impacts well enough to decide whether the risks are acceptably low.

What are the risks posed by the use of genetic engineering in agriculture? The answers fall mostly into two categories: risks to human health, and environmental impacts.

GE Health Risks

Health risks of genetic engineering have sometimes been described in exaggerated, alarmist terms, implying that foods made from GE crops are inherently unsafe. There is no evidence, for instance, that refined products derived from GE crops, such as starch, sugar, and oils, are different than those derived from conventionally bred crops.

It is also an exaggeration, however, to state that there are no health risks associated with GE. For one thing, not enough is known: research on the effects of specific genes has been limited—and tightly controlled by the industry.

But we do know of ways in which genetically engineered crops could cause health problems. For instance, genes from an allergenic plant could transfer this unwanted trait to the target plant. This phenomenon was documented in 1996, as soybeans with a Brazil nut gene—added to improve their value as animal feed—produced an allergic response in test subjects with Brazil nut allergies.

Unintended consequences like these underscore the need for effective regulation of GE products. In the absence of a rigorous approval process, there is nothing to ensure that GE crops that cause health problems will always be identified and kept off the market.

GE Environmental Impacts

Genetically engineered crops can potentially cause environmental problems that result directly from the engineered traits. For instance, an engineered gene may cause a GE crop to become invasive or toxic to wildlife.

But the most damaging impact of GE in agriculture so far is the phenomenon of pesticide resistance. Millions of acres of U.S. farmland are now infested with weeds that have become resistant to the herbicide glyphosate. Overuse of Monsanto's "Roundup Ready" trait, which is engineered to tolerate the herbicide, has promoted the accelerated development of resistance in several weed species.

Looking for ways to fight back against these "superweeds," farmers are now turning to older, more toxic herbicides such as 2,4-D and dicamba. As if on cue, agribusiness companies have begun to develop new GE crops engineered to tolerate these older herbicides—with no guarantee that the Roundup Ready story will not repeat itself, producing a new wave of resistant weeds.

And this issue is not confined to herbicides: recent reports suggest a growing problem of corn rootworms resistant to the insecticide Bt, which some corn varieties have been engineered to produce.

GE and Industrial Agriculture

As the superweed crisis illustrates, current applications of genetic engineering have become a key component of an unsustainable approach to food production: industrial agriculture, with its dependence on monoculture—supported by costly chemical inputs—at the expense of the long-term health and productivity of the farm.

A different approach to farming is available—what UCS calls "healthy farms." This approach is not only more sustainable than industrial agriculture, but often more cost-effective. Yet as long as the marketplace of agricultural products and policies is dominated by the industrial model, prioritizing expensive products over knowledge-based agroecological approaches, healthy farm solutions face an uphill battle.

In the case of GE, better solutions include crop breeding and agroecological practices such as crop rotation, cover crops, and integrated crop/livestock management.

Such healthy farm practices are the future of U.S. agriculture—and policymakers can help speed the transition by supporting research and education on them. In the meantime, stronger regulation of the biotechnology industry is needed to minimize health and environmental risks from GE products.

Deforestation Facts

Deforestation Facts

Deforestation or felling trees has become a favorite activity of man to extract assorted needs- be it medicines or precious paper to waste. For obvious reasons, it is shameful to read the statistics on how discriminating man has been, especially when it comes to deforestation… but at the end, there is always hope. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an estimated 18 million acres of forest are lost each year. In the last two decades, Afghanistan has lost over 70% of its forests throughout the country.

What is Deforestation?

Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land for use such as arable land, pasture, urban use, logged area, or wasteland. Deforestation can also be seen as the removal of forests leading to several imbalances ecologically and environmentally and results in declines in habitat and biodiversity. Urbanization, Mining, Fires, Logging and Agricultural activities are few of the causes of deforestation.

Below are 51 facts on deforestation

Facts 1: Forests cover 30% of the earth’s land.

Facts 2: It is estimated that within 100 years there will be no rain-forests.

Facts 3: Agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation

Facts 4: One and a half acres of forest is cut down every second.

Facts 5: Loss of forests contributes between 12 percent and 17 percent of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.

Facts 6: If the current rate of deforestation continues, it will take less than 100 years to destroy all the rain-forests on the earth.

Facts 7: The rate of deforestation equals to loss of 20 football fields every minute.

Facts 8: There are more than 121 natural remedies in the rain forest which can be used as medicines.

Facts 9: According to Rain-forest Action Network, the United States has less than 5% of the world’s population yet consumes more than 30% of the world’s paper.

Facts 10: The over-exploitation of forests is making it extremely difficult to replant a new ecology.

Facts 11: 20% of the world’s oxygen is produced in the Amazon forest.

Facts 12: Up to 28,000 species are expected to become extinct by the next quarter of the century due to deforestation.

Facts 13: 25% of cancers fighting organisms are found in the Amazon.

Facts 14: 13 million hectares per year in South America and Africa and South East Asia is converted from a forest to an agriculture land.

Facts 15: Deforestation has considerably stopped in places like Europe, Pacific, North America and some parts of Asia due to lack of agricultural land.

Facts 16: Half of the world’s tropical forests has already been cleared.

Facts 17: 4500 acres of forests are cleared every hour by forest fires, bulldozers, machetes etc.

Facts 18: Poverty, overpopulation, and unequal land access are the main causes of man- made deforestation.

Facts 19: The total world forest loss till date is 7.3 million hectares per year.

Facts 20: 1.6 billion people across the globe depend on forest products for their livelihoods thereby adding more to deforestation.

Facts 21: Almost half of world’s timber and up to 70% of paper is consumed by Europe, the United States and Japan alone.

Facts 22: Industrialized countries consume 12 times more wood and its products per person than the non-industrialized countries.

Facts 23: The United States has less than 5% of the world’s population but consumes more than 30% of the world’s paper.

Facts 24: Fuel-wood in sub-Saharan African countries is consumed up to 200% times more than the annual growth rates of the trees. This is causing deforestation, lack of timber resources and loss of habitat for the species living in it.

Facts 25: Trees are important constituents of the ecosystem by absorbing carbon.

Facts 26: Soil erosion, floods, wildlife extinction, the increase in global warming, and climate imbalance are few of the effects of deforestation.

Facts 27: Worldwide more than 1.6 billion people rely on forests products for all or part of their livelihoods.

Facts 28: Tropical forests, where deforestation is most prevalent, hold more than 210 gigatonnes of carbon.

Facts 29: According to Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about half the world’s tropical forests have been cleared or degraded.

Facts 30: Tropical rain-forests which cover 6-7% of the earth’s surface, contain over half of all the plant and animal species in the world!

Facts 31: Deforestation affects water cycle. Trees absorb groundwater and release the same into the atmosphere during transpiration. When deforestation happens, the climate automatically changes to a drier one and also affects the water table.

Facts 32: The world’s forests store 283 billion tons of carbon present in the biomass.

Fact 33: Money to save trees is majorly collected online.

Fact 34: One can save up to 20 square feet of the forest with online contributions thereby conveniently prevent deforestation.

Fact 35: Over 4 million tons of junk is created online by spamming.

Fact 36: 41 pounds of these junk mails are sent to almost every adult in the United States.

Fact 37: 44% of the junk mail goes unopened.

Fact 38: People in America spend more than 275 million dollars to dispose of junk mails.

Fact 39: The paper industry is fourth largest in producing greenhouse gas thereby majorly contributing to deforestation.

Fact 40: On an average, a person in the United States uses more than 700 pounds of paper every year.

Fact 41: A lot of paper and cardboard is used unnecessarily for packing. This means more tree felling.

Fact 42: Re- use paper and plastic bags to discourage deforestation.

Fact 43: Use canvas or paper bags as another alternative.

Fact 44: Pick products which require less packaging.

Fact 45: Be creative and mail manufacturers telling them to use eco-friendly products.

Fact 46: Sign effective petitions that work and help reduce deforestation.

Fact 47: Support eco-friendly companies buy buying their products that promise more durability in an inexpensive way.

Fact 48: Be active and plant trees- it can be at your homes, backyards or you can join any organization keen on stopping deforestation.

Fact 49: Reduce the consumption of beef to tone down the pressure to clear more forests for the cattle.

Fact 50: Boycott companies by supporting organizations that care about the environment at the cost of fighting back for the evergreen trees.

Fact 51: Seek knowledge on deforestation and how can you prevent it from happening by reading newspapers, magazines, the internet, TV shows. Spread the word and make it go viral.


To fill or not to fill is not up to the woodcutter, but surely depends on you. Be the change and eliminate the disturbing statistics on deforestation. It takes not guts, but love and compassion for nature to save trees from being felled.

The Top 25 Environmental Concerns

Our Mother Earth is currently facing a lot of environmental concerns. The environmental problems like global warming, acid rain, air pollution, urban sprawl, waste disposal, ozone layer depletion, water pollution, climate change and much more affect every human, animal, and nation on this planet. Over the last few decades, the exploitation of our planet and degradation of our environment have gone up at an alarming rate. As our actions have been not in favor of protecting this planet, we have seen natural disasters striking us more often in the form of flash floods, tsunamis, and cyclones.

Different environmental groups around the world play their role in educating people as to how their small actions, when combined together, can play a big role in protecting this planet. If you look at the environment around us, you can see that there are a number of issues that come to our attention. Here are 25 of the most important environmental concerns to keep an eye on today.

Top 25 Environmental Concerns

1. Air Pollution

Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and gases in the air. Car emissions, chemicals from factories, dust, pollen and mold spores may be suspended as particles. Ozone, a gas, is a major part of air pollution in cities. When ozone forms air pollution, it's also called smog.

Some air pollutants are poisonous. Inhaling them can increase the chance you'll have health problems. People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from air pollution. Air pollution isn't just outside - the air inside buildings can also be polluted and affect your health.

2. Water Pollution

We all need clean water. People need it to grow crops and to operate factories, and for drinking and recreation. Fish and wildlife depend on it to survive.

Many different pollutants can harm our rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. The three most common are soil, nutrients, and bacteria. Rain washes soil into streams and rivers. The soil can kill tiny animals and fish eggs. It can clog the gills of fish and block light, causing plants to die. Nutrients, often from fertilizers, cause problems in lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Nitrogen and phosphorus make algae grow and can turn the water green. Bacteria, often from sewage spills, can pollute fresh or salt water.

3. Soil and Land Pollution

Soil or land pollution is a result of many activities and experiment which is done by mankind. For example, industrial waste such as harmful gases and chemicals; agricultural pesticides; fertilizers; and insecticides etc. This may cause cancers including leukemia, kidney damage, headaches, eye irritation, skin rash, affect groundwater, agriculture. the animal kingdom also suffered through this land and soil pollution.Constant human activity on land forced these species to move further away and adapted to the new region, die trying to adjust.

4. Climate Change

Climate is the average weather in a place over a period of time. Climate change is the major change in temperature, rainfall, snow, or wind patterns lasting for many years. It can be caused by natural factors or by human activities. Today climate changes are occurring at an increasingly rapid rate.

Climate change can affect our health. It can lead to more heat-related illness and deaths. More pollen, mold, and air pollution. This can cause an increase in allergies, asthma, and breathing problems. Mosquitoes and other insects that carry diseases spreading to areas that used to be too cold for them.
More floods and rising sea levels. This can cause an increase in contamination of food and water.
More extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and wildfires. These can cause death, injuries, stress, and mental health problems.

5. Global Warming

Global warming is already having significant and costly effects – and these consequences will only intensify as the planet’s temperature continues to rise. This will cause the accelerating of sea level, damaging wildfire seasons, climate change, affecting human's health and heavier precipitation and flooding.

6. Deforestation

Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stands of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use.Deforestation occurs for multiple reasons: trees are cut down to be used for building or sold as fuel, while cleared land is used as pasture for livestock and plantation. The removal of trees without sufficient reforestation has resulted in damage to habitat, biodiversity loss, and aridity. It has adverse impacts on biosequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Deforestation causes extinction, changes to climatic conditions, desertification, and displacement of populations as observed by current conditions and in the past through the fossil record.

7. Increased Carbon Footprint

Temperature increases, like climate change, are the consequence of human practices, including the use of greenhouse gasses. When the atmosphere changes and the heat increases, it can cause a number of problems and start to destroy the world we live in.

8. Genetic Modification

Genetic modification utilizing biotechnology is called genetic engineering. Genetic engineering of food brings about expanded poisons and sicknesses as qualities from a hypersensitive plant can exchange to target plant. Some of these crops can even be a threat to the world around us, as animals start to ingest the unnatural chemicals and such.

9. Effect on Marine Life

The amount of carbon in the water and the atmosphere is continuing to be a problem in the world around us. The primary effect is on shellfish and microscopic fish, and it has similar effects to osteoporosis in humans.

10. Public Health Issues

The current environmental concerns represent a considerable measure of danger to well-being of people and creatures. Dirty water is the greatest well-being danger of the world and poses a risk to the health and lifespan of people and animals.

11. Overpopulation

The number of inhabitants in the planet is arriving at unsustainable levels as it confronts deficiency of assets like water, fuel, and food. Overpopulation is one of the most important environmental concerns. It is among the most pressing environmental issues, silently aggravating the forces behind global warming, environmental pollution, habitat loss, the sixth mass extinction, intensive farming practices and the consumption of finite natural resources, such as freshwater, arable land, and fossil fuels, at speeds faster than their rate of regeneration.

12. Loss of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is yet another casualty due to the impact of human beings on the environment. It is the result of 3.5 billion years of evolution. Habitat destruction is a major cause of biodiversity loss. Habitat loss is caused by deforestation, overpopulation, pollution and global warming.

13. Household and Industrial Waste

The over utilization of assets and formation of plastics are making a worldwide emergency of waste transfer. Developed nations are infamous for creating an unreasonable measure of waste or junk and dumping their waste in the seas and, less created nations.

14. Ozone Layer Depletion

The ozone layer is an undetectable layer of protection around the planet that secures us from the sun’s unsafe beams. Depletion of the critical Ozone layer of the air is credited to contamination brought about by Bromide and Chlorine found in Chloroform carbons (CFC’s). When these poisonous gasses each the upper parts of the atmosphere, they cause a gap in the ozone layer, the greatest of which is over the Antarctic.

15. Mining

Mining results in extraction of minerals from earth’s core. These minerals also bring out harmful chemicals from deep inside the earth to the earth’s surface. The toxic emissions from mining can cause air, water and soil pollution.

16. Natural Resource Depletion

Non-renewable resources are limited and will get expired one day. Consumption of fossil fuels at an alarming rate can lead to global warming which can further result in melting of polar ice caps and increase in sea levels.

17. Natural Disasters

Natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, cyclones, volcanic eruption can be unpredictable, devastating and can cause irreparable damage. They can cause huge loss of life and property ……….

18. Nuclear Issues

Radioactive waste is a nuclear fuel that contains radioactive substance and is a by-product of nuclear power generation. The radioactive waste is an environmental concern that is extremely toxic and can have devastating effect on the lives of the people living nearby, if not disposed properly. Radioactive waste is considered to be harmful for humans, plants, animals and surrounding environment.

19. Loss of Endangered Species

Human overpopulation is prompting the elimination of species and environmental surroundings and the loss of various bio-mes. Environmental frameworks, which took a huge number of years to come into being, are in risk when any species populace is huge.

20. Acid Rain

Acid rain happens because of the vicinity of specific poisons in the climate. Corrosive downpour might be brought about because of use of fossil fuels or volcanoes or spoiling vegetation which discharge sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the air.

21. Agricultural Pollution

Modern day agriculture practices make use of chemical products like pesticides and fertilizers to deal with local pests. Some of the chemicals when sprayed do not disappear and, infact, seeps into the ground and thereby harms plants and crops. Also, contaminated water is used for irrigation by farmers due to disposal of industrial and agricultural waste in local water bodies.

22. Light and Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is another common form of pollution that causes temporary disruption when there is excessive amount of unpleasant noise. Construction activities, industrialization, increase in vehicular traffic, lack of urban planning are few of the causes of noise pollution.

23. Urban Sprawl

Urban sprawl alludes to relocation of populace from high thickness urban ranges to low density provincial zones which bring about spreading of city over more rustic area. Urban sprawl brings about expanded movement, environmental concerns and well-being concerns.

24. Medical Waste

Medical waste is any kind of waste that is produced in large quantity by healthcare centers like hospitals, nursing homes, dental clinics and is considered to be of a bio-hazardous nature. The waste can include needles, syringes, gloves, tubes, blades, blood, body parts and many more.

25. Littering and Landfills

Littering simply means disposal of piece of garbage or debris improperly or at wrong location usually on the ground instead of disposing them at trash container or recycling bin. Littering can cause huge environmental and economic impact in the form of spending millions of dollars to clean the garbage of road that pollute the clean air.

Landfills on the other hand are nothing but huge garbage dumps that make the city look ugly and produce toxic gases that could prove fatal for humans and animals. Landfills are generated due to large amount of waste that is generated by households, industries and healthcare centers everyday.

Environmental Pollution

Environmental Pollution is an incurable disease. It can only be PREVENTED.

Environmental pollution has existed for centuries but only started to be significant following the industrial revolution in the 19th century. Pollution occurs when the natural environment cannot destroy an element without creating harm or damage to itself. The elements involved are not produced by nature, and the destroying process can vary from a few days to thousands of years. In other words, pollution takes place when nature does not know how to decompose an element that has been brought to it in an unnatural way.

Pollution must be taken seriously, as it has a negative effect on natural elements that are an absolute need for life to exist on earth, such as water and air. Indeed, without it, or if they were present in different quantities, animals – including humans – and plants could not survive. 

There are 3 Major Types of Pollution.

1. Air Pollution

Pollution of air takes a huge number of years to recover. Industry and engine vehicle fumes are the most obvious toxins. Substantial metals, nitrates, and plastic are poisons in charge of pollution. Air contamination is created by different gasses and poisons discharged by businesses and manufacturing plants and burning of fossil fills.

2. Water Pollution

Clean drinking water is turning into an uncommon thing. Water is turning into a monetary and political concern as the human populace battles for this need. Waste from industrial and agricultural activities pollute the water that is used by humans, animals, and plants.

3: Soil and Land Pollution

Land pollution simply means degradation of earth’s surface as a result of human activities like mining, littering, deforestation, industrial, construction and agricultural activities. Land pollution can have a huge environmental impact in the form of air pollution and soil pollution which in turn can have an adverse effect on human health.

What're the Effects of theses Pollutions?

1. Effects of Air Pollution
    - Respiratory and heart problems 

The effects are known to create several respiratory and heart conditions along with Cancer, among other threats to the body. 

    - Global warming

Another direct effect is the immediate alterations that the world is witnessing.
    - Acid Rain

Harmful gases are released into the atmosphere. When it rains, the water droplets combines with these air pollutants, becomes acidic. This can cause great damage to human, animals, and crops.

    - Eutrophication 

When a high amount of nitrogen present in some pollutants gets developed on sea’s surface and turns itself into algae and adversely affect fish, plants and animal species. 
    - Effect on Wildlife

Toxic chemicals present in the air can force wildlife species to move to a new place and change their habitat. The toxic pollutants deposit over the surface of the water and can also affect sea animals.

    - Depletion of Ozone layer

As ozone layer will go thin, it will emit harmful UV rays back on earth and can cause skin and eye related problems. UV rays also have the capability to affect crops.

2. Effects of Ocean Pollution
    - Effect of Toxic Wastes on Marine Animals
The long-term effect on marine life can include cancer, failure in the reproductive system, behavioral changes, and even death.

    - Disruption to the Cycle of Coral Reefs
Oil spill floats on the surface of the water will prevent sunlight from reaching to marine plants and affects the process of photosynthesis. Skin irritation, eye irritation, lung and liver problems can impact marine life over a long period of time.
    - Depletes Oxygen Content in Water
When oxygen levels go down, the chances of survival of marine animals for a long time also goes down.
    - Failure in the Reproductive System of Sea Animals
Chemicals from pesticides can accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals, leading to failure in their reproductive system.
    - Effect on Food Chain
Small animals ingest chemicals used in industries and agriculture and are later eaten by large animals, which then affects the whole food chain.

    - Affects Human Health
Animals from impacted food chain are then eaten by humans which affect our health and can lead to cancer, birth defects or long-term health problems.

3. Effects of  Agriculture Pollution

    - Soil Pollution

This leads to loss of fertile land for agriculture, forest cover, fodder patches for grazing.
    - Change in climate patterns

The effects of land pollution are very hazardous and can lead to the loss of ecosystems. When land is polluted, it directly or indirectly affects the climate patterns.

     - Environmental Impact

When deforestation is committed, the tree cover is compromised on. This leads to a steep imbalance in the rain cycle. A disturbed rain cycle affects a lot of factors. 
    - Effect on human health

The land when contaminated with toxic chemicals and pesticides lead to problems. The toxic chemicals can reach our body through foods that we eat as they are grown in polluted soil.
    - Cause Air Pollution

Landfills across the city keep on growing due to increase in waste and are later burned which leads to air pollution. They become home for rodents, mice etc which in turn transmit diseases.
    - Effect on wildlife

The constant human activity on land is leaving it polluted; forcing animals to move further away and adapt to new regions or die to try to adjust.

Solution for these Pollutions

1. Solution to Air Pollution

    - Use public mode of transportation

    - Conserve energy

    - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

    - Emphasis on clean energy resources
    - Use energy efficient devices

2. Solution to Water Pollution 

    - Use Less Plastic

    - Do Not Dispose Oils in the Sink

    - Limit the Use of Detergents and Bleaches

    - Stop Chemical Pollution

    - Join Water Conservation Organizations

3. Solution to Land Pollution

    - Reduce, Recycle and Reuse

    - Reduce the use of Pesticides and Fertilizers
    - Avoid buying Packaged Items
    - Do Not Litter
    - Buy Biodegradable Products

 

Several attempts are being made worldwide on a personal, industrial and governmental levels to curb the intensity at which Pollution is rising and regain a balance as far as the proportions of the foundation gases are concerned. This is a direct attempt at slacking Global warming. We are seeing a series of innovations and experiments aimed at alternate and unconventional options to reduce pollutants.Pollution is one of the larger mirrors of man’s follies, and a challenge we need to overcome to see a tomorrow.

Extra Knowledge about Pollution 

Noise Pollution 

Noise pollution isn't just annoying: it can cause deafness, fatigue, and even psychological problems. If you want to cut back on the noise pollution in your life, work on eliminating loud sounds made by machines both inside and outside your house. If necessary, sound-proof your home so you can get some peace and quiet. Taking measures to prevent noise pollution will help you and your family feel happier and healthier.

Visual Pollution
Visual pollution is referring to the impacts of pollution that impair one's ability to enjoy a vista or view. The term is used broadly to cover visibility, limits on the ability to view distant objects, as well as the more subjective issue of visual clutter, structures that intrude upon otherwise "pretty" scenes. Visual Pollution can cause distraction, eye fatigue, decrease in opinion diversity and loss of identity.

Light Pollution 
Light pollution receives far less attention than other forms of pollution, but negatively affects the environment in similar ways, shrouding the stars from our eyes at night and disrupting the migration patterns of birds. Luckily, light pollution is reversible. Take action to rein in your own light practices and spread the word to others.