Acid mine drainage is one of the many problems in areas such as the Colorado Rockies. This happens when mineral deposits that contain sulfides are uncovered during a mining process. When this sulfur is exposed into the air and the water, it creates sulfuric acid. Miners never thought about the environment when they were looking for valuable minerals. Sulfuric acid changes the color of the water to yellow and orange. This sulfuric acid lowers the pH of the rivers (making it more acidic). Some of the water in Colorado are contaminated with these acids. Where do we get out water supply from? Colorado. The acidic water makes fish in the lakes unable to take in oxygen, nutrients and salt to keep them alive. Acidic waters can also disrupt the food chain of the lake. Clam shells can dissolve due to the acid and will eventually kill off the clams. When the clams die, there's no food for the small fish to eat and they die off. When they die off, the larger fish die off. These large fish are ones that we eat also.
Mining is also another problem. Mining can cause acid mine drainage, the problems of acid mine drainage are said above. It can also contaminate the soils because of the chemicals they're using. These soils can be inhaled, which means humans can be inhaling toxic chemicals that can also be carcinogens. Coal mining is a type of mining that can harm us and the environment. When coal is burned, it releases mercury. This mercury can get into the population's drinking water and could harm them. Mining can modify the habitat around them. It can disrupt the environment and destroy things that are needed for plants and animals to survive.
What can we do to prevent pollution from acid mine drainage and mining? One solution is always to educate people about the causes and effects of acid mine drainage and mining. If people know enough about this, they can reconsider mining in certain areas with lakes and bodies of water around them to stop contamination. Education can make the federal government to pass laws that prevent mining in certain areas that are of importance to the population. Other things we can do is to create new machines that are able to mine under the power of renewable resources. With renewable resources used, toxic chemicals and pollutants won't be able to be let into the atmosphere to harm living organisms in the world.
Mining is also another problem. Mining can cause acid mine drainage, the problems of acid mine drainage are said above. It can also contaminate the soils because of the chemicals they're using. These soils can be inhaled, which means humans can be inhaling toxic chemicals that can also be carcinogens. Coal mining is a type of mining that can harm us and the environment. When coal is burned, it releases mercury. This mercury can get into the population's drinking water and could harm them. Mining can modify the habitat around them. It can disrupt the environment and destroy things that are needed for plants and animals to survive.
What can we do to prevent pollution from acid mine drainage and mining? One solution is always to educate people about the causes and effects of acid mine drainage and mining. If people know enough about this, they can reconsider mining in certain areas with lakes and bodies of water around them to stop contamination. Education can make the federal government to pass laws that prevent mining in certain areas that are of importance to the population. Other things we can do is to create new machines that are able to mine under the power of renewable resources. With renewable resources used, toxic chemicals and pollutants won't be able to be let into the atmosphere to harm living organisms in the world.