SCI 1-2 Journal How environmental issues impact me personally
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School
Southern New Hampshire University *
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Course
219
Subject
Geography
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
Pages
3
Uploaded by EarlNightingale3188
A pressing environmental issue that has personal relevance to me starts with the large-
scale issue of global climate change, the personal impact of concerns for water quality impact
involving infectious diseases, contaminated drinking water, and exacerbating water shortages.
The local problem being significant changes in weather patterns and air temperature. Increased
rainfall on already stressed aging urban drainage systems with an increased incidence of sewer
outflows which also causes environmental damages.
Over the last 100 years, Illinois has had a 10-20% increase in annual precipitation, especially in
the fall, and a 40% increase in the number of days with 2 inches or more. Climate change is
responsible for increasing heavy precipitation that leads to flooding occurrences throughout
Illinois' rivers which has been worsened by urban growth and deteriorating sewage
infrastructure.
(Usgcrp, 2018). More precipitation and overall heavy rain are expected to increase
public health threats due to flooding. Communities with combined sewer systems are vulnerable
to combined sewer overflow into surface waters which is linked to increased rates of diarrheal
illness in children. Not only that but the flooding can threaten the ability of health care facilities
to function leaving many people at risk of not receiving the help they need. (
Climate Change in
Illinois
–
Illinois State Climatologist
, n.d.).
Not only is increased heavy rain events are occurring but so are increased temperatures.
The combination of increased precipitation and higher temperatures can result in low air quality
which exacerbates respiratory health conditions, cause new ones, and affect healthy lungs. The
flooding of homes and other places can result in fungi and bacteria growth which also affect
respiratory health. The increasing air temperature also is expected to extend the seasonal allergy
periods which can cause worse symptoms for those with allergies and asthma. Not only does
climate change impac
t people’s physical health,
but it also affects their mental health and well-
being. With the uptake in natural disasters, it causes an uptake in emotional distress and inflicted
trauma. (
Climate Change in Illinois
–
Illinois State Climatologist
, n.d.).
“All seasons have gotten wetter across the state, but the majority of the increase in precipitation
in southern Illinois has come in the spring (March to May).”
(
Climate Change in Illinois
–
Illinois State Climatologist
, n.d.). At least 21% of all Illinois properties face a 26% chance of
severe flooding over the next 30 years due to climate change. (
Illinois Flood Factor® Report |
Risk Factor
, n.d.). Personally, the increase in heavy rains has affected me due to the aging
infrastructure. I live in an older home that requires work to be done that we just cannot afford
currently. We also live in the lower level of the home and every time there is a storm we must
watch for flooding on our level. There have been many storms where the rain was so intense that
we had to go outside mid storm to try and tackle the situation from there which could be
dangerous given the situation or it could worsen the damage to parts of the house that the rain
gets into. It also affects my garden that I have outside resulting in killing off my plants which in
the long run also increases my budget that I have to spend on food.
References
Climate change in Illinois
–
Illinois State Climatologist
. (n.d.).
https://stateclimatologist.web.illinois.edu/climate-change-in-illinois/
Illinois Flood Factor® Report | Risk factor
. (n.d.). Risk Factor.
https://riskfactor.com/state/illinois/17_fsid/flood
Usgcrp. (2018).
Fourth national climate assessment
.
https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/21/
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