CHEMICALS AND MOTHER EARTH

It was like a dream but it turned out to be a reality and an unforgettable mark in the hearts of many still  alive to tell the horrifying tales. In my report I will be sharing the effect of chemicals, chemical gases such as Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide on mother earth.

               Lake Nyos is located in my home country Cameroon precisely in the North West region, It was so sudden that night, when the nyos disaster left the whole community  helpless and deeply troubled. when the lake emitted clouds of poisonous  chemical gasses like Carbondioxide, nitrogendioxide, Hydrogen sulphide, Sulphur dioxide etc, into the surrounding environment and lake itself. This disastrous incident through a punch at the very nature surrounding it that will break the spring of quick recovery over a long time. Because of the release of this chemicals to the environment,

1.      The surrounding vegetation withered off and eroded from existence by the highly negative effect of the gasses and underground contaminated water that hydrate and nourish them. This has left a scar to mother earth which can never be forgotten

2.      Most aquatic life form perished and some aquatic species where almost driven to extinction due to the chemicals emitted that dissolved and poisoned the water bodies around. These chemicals which were released however is also capable of acidifying the water bodies and carried by water current to other regions and hence a much wider effect can be experienced in other cases. This effect is similar to industries that produce chemical waste like nuclear power plants, industries that produce chemical base products like batteries

3.      Due to chemicals released in this tragic event, the surrounding areas took a toll on its agricultural productivity and as a result, the economy and gross productivity of the nation was affected, (fishing, crops, farming). This is however not different from the chemicals released by other natural and man-made means as the effect are similar, if not, are accurately defined to be the same.

4.      Also, chemical emissions led to the immediate evacuation of the population (both humans and wildlife) from the surrounding environment which otherwise would have led to serious body illnesses, like skin burn, radiation, skin cancer and in extreme on the long run, will lead to mutation. This will usually on an African basis, lead to loss of culture and lands. Also the wildlife being dispersed may find itself in areas where they are forced to adapt or be extinct since their natural habitat and environmental condition on which they strive has been stripped off possession. A similar incident has occurred in Chernobyl in 1986 which caused the evacuation of the nearby towns till this day.

However, in summary such chemicals released by natural or artificial means to the environment has a profound effect in scaring the very foundation of which our lives are dependent on – EARTH.