UNIT – 5

HUMAN POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Objective:
To get a knowledge on human population and human rights
To educate the students on value education
To equip the students towards the modern technology with respect to environment
and human health

Population density:
Number of individuals of the population per unit area or per unit volume
Parameters affecting population size:
1. Birth rate or Natality
2. Death rate or Mortality
3. Immigration
4. Emigration

World Population Growth Patterns

The rapid growth of the global’s population for the past 100 years from the difference
between the rate of birth and death. Causes of rapid population growth:
1. The rapid population growth is due to decrease in death rate and increase in
birth rate
2. Availability of antibiotics, immunization, increased food production, clean
water and air decreases the famine-related deaths
3. In agricultural based countries, children are required to help parents in the
field that is why population increases in the developing countries.

The human population has gone through a number of periods of growth since the dawn
of civilization in the Holocene period, around 10,000 BCE. The beginning of civilization
roughly coincides with the receding of glacial ice following the end of the last glacial
period. It is estimated that between 1-5 million people, subsisting on hunting and
foraging, inhabited the Earth in the period before the Neolithic revolution, when human
activity shifted away from hunter-gathering and towards very primitive farming. Around
8000 BCE, at the dawn of agriculture, the population of the world was approximately 5
million. The next several millennia saw a steady increase in the population, with very
rapid growth beginning in 1000 BCE, and a peak of between 200 and 300 million people
in 1 BCE. Steady growth resumed in 800 CE. However, growth was again disrupted by
frequent plagues; most notably, the Black Death during the 14th century. The effects of
the Black Death are thought to have reduced the world's population, then at an estimated
450 million, to between 350 and 375 million by 1400.
In other parts of the globe, China's population at the founding of the Ming dynasty in
1368 stood close to 60 million, approaching 150 million by the end of the dynasty in
1644. The population of the Americas in 1500 may have been between 50 and 100
million. Encounters between European explorers and populations in the rest of the world
often introduced local epidemics of extraordinary virulence. Archaeological evidence

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indicates that the death of around 90% of the Native American population of the New
World was caused by Old World diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza. Over
the centuries, the Europeans had developed high degrees of immunity to these diseases,
while the indigenous peoples had no such immunity. After the start of the Industrial
Revolution, during the 18th century, the rate of population growth began to increase. By
the end of the century, the world's population was estimated at just fewer than 1
billion. At the turn of the 20th century, the world's population was roughly 1.6 billion. By
1940, this figure had increased to 2.3 billion.

Population

Year Billion

1804 1

1927 2

1959 3

1974 4

1987 5

1999 6

2011 7

2020 7.7 (estimate)

Dramatic growth beginning in 1950 (above 1.8% per year) coincided with greatly
increased food production as a result of the industrialization of agriculture brought about
by the Green Revolution. The rate of human population growth peaked in 1964, at about

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2.1% per year. For example, Indonesia's population grew from 97 million in 1961 to
237.6 million in 2010, a 145% increase in 49 years. In India, the population grew from
361.1 million people in 1951 to just over 1.2 billion by 2011, a 235% increase in 60
years.

Variations among Nations:

The population growth rates vary from nation to nation, some nation show very high
growth rates above 3 per cent. On the other hand some nations are not growing at all and
few have declining population.

In America, the growth rate is about 2.5% as compared to 1 per cent in the developed
countries. Their differences are important in terms of the population added per year. The
population growth of the developed nations of Europe and North America are
characterized as follows:

(1) Along with other nations, they have long history of very slow growth over thousand
of year during which time the birth rate and the death rate must be approximately equal.

(2) The death rates decreased due to better sanitation and health care.

(3) Within a few decades, their birth rate also began to decline resulting in a decrease in
the rate of population growth. Such a decrease, first in the death rates resulting in
increased growth rate.

On the other hand, the less developed countries did not begin to benefit from better health
care sanitation until after the Second World War. Since then the death rates have sharply
declined but their rates have not decreased. Accordingly the growth rates have increased
to above 2% and 3% in some cases.

Population Growth

The rapid growth of the globe’s population for the past 100 years from the difference
between the rate of birth and death
Causes of rapid population growth:
4. The rapid population growth is due to decrease in death rate and increase in
birth rate
5. Availability of antibiotics, immunization, increased food production, clean
water and air decreases the famine-related deaths
6. In agricultural based countries, children are required to help parents in the
field that is why population increases in the developing countries.

Characteristics of population growth:

1. Exponential growth
2. Doubling time

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 3. Infant mortality rate
4. total fertility rate
5. Replacement level
6. Male/female ratio
7. Demographic transition

Variation of population based on age structure

1. Pyramid shaped – India , Bangladesh, Ethiopia,

A population pyramid, also called an age pyramid or age picture diagram, is a

graphical illustration that shows the distribution of various age groups in
a population (typically that of a country or region of the world), which forms the shape of
a pyramid when the population is growing. It is also used in ecology to determine the
overall age distribution of a population; an indication of the reproductive capabilities and
likelihood of the continuation of a species.

In the exponential growth model, population increase over time is a result of the number
of individuals available to reproduce without regard to resource limits. In exponential
growth, the population size increases at an exponential rate over time, continuing upward.
The line, or curve, you see in the figure shows how quickly a population can grow when
it doesn’t face any limiting resources. The line creates a shape like the letter J and is
sometimes called a J-curve. While all countries' population pyramids differ, four general
types have been identified by the fertility and mortality rates of a country.

Stationary pyramid
A population pyramid typical of countries with low fertility and low mortality, very
similar to a constrictive pyramid.

Expansive pyramid
A population pyramid that is very wide at the base, indicating high birth and death rates.

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Constrictive pyramid
A population pyramid that comes in at the bottom. The population is generally older on
average, as the country has long life expectancy, a low death rate, but also a low birth
rate. This pyramid is becoming more common, especially when immigrants are factored
out, and is a typical pattern for a very developed country, a high level of education, easy
access to and incentive to use birth control, good health care, and few negative
environmental factors.

2. Bell shaped – France, USA, UK

In reality, the growth of most populations depends at least in part on the available
resources in their environments. To model more realistic population growth, scientists
developed the logistic growth model, which illustrates how a population may increase
exponentially until it reaches the carrying capacity of its environment.

When a population’s number reaches the carrying capacity, population growth slows
down or stops altogether. In the logistic growth model, population size levels off because
the limiting resources restrain any further growth. This model applies in particular to
populations that respond to density-dependent factors. As you can see in the figure, the
logistic growth model looks like the letter S, which is why it’s often called an S-curve.

3. Urn shaped - Germany, Italy, and Japan.

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While the logistic growth model is often more descriptive of what occurs in reality than
the exponential growth model, it still doesn’t accurately describe what usually occurs in
real life. What scientists have actually observed in nature is that populations seldom reach
the carrying capacity and remain stable. Rather, they experience a pattern called
overshoot and die off.
As populations approach their carrying capacity, more offspring are born than the current
resources can support; as a result, the population exceeds, or overshoots, the carrying
capacity. When the population numbers exceed what the environment can support, some
individuals suffer and die off because of the insufficient resources.

Variation of population based on age structure

1 Pyramid shaped – India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia,
2 Bell shaped – France, USA, UK
3 Urn shaped - Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Population Explosion
The enormous increase in population due to low death rate and high birth rate

Causes: Modern medical facilities, life expectancy, illiteracy,

Effects:
Poverty, Environmental degradation, Over –exploitation of natural
resources ,Treat, Communal war
Remedy:- Through birth control programmes.

Problems
Unemployment and under employment
Pollution of Environment
Resources depletion
Rise of Urban slums
Brain drain
Health problems
Social unrest
Naxalism and Terrorism
Loss of biodiversity
Insufficient food production etc

Control
Family welfare programme:
Objectives:
Slowing down the population explosion
Over exploitation of natural resources
Family planning programme:
Objectives;
Reduce infant mortality rate
Encourage late marriages

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 Improve women’s health
Control of communal diseases…

Environment and human health:

According to WHO health is a complete state of physical, mental and social well being
and is not a state of a body without any disease or infirmity.
Environmental health is that branch of public health that is concerned with all aspects
of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. Other phrases that
concern or refer to the discipline of environmental health include environmental
public health, and environmental protection. The field of environmental health is
closely related to environmental science and public health as environmental health is
concerned with environmental factors affecting human health.
"Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors
external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviors. It encompasses the
assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health. It
is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments. This
definition excludes behavior not related to environment, as well as behavior related to the
social and cultural environment, as well as genetics."
Environmental health is defined by the World Health Organization as:

Those aspects of the human health and disease that are determined by factors in the
environment. It also refers to the theory and practice of assessing and controlling factors
in the environment that can potentially affect health.
Environmental health as used by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, includes both the
direct pathological effects of chemicals, radiation and some biological agents, and the
effects (often indirect) on health and well being of the broad physical, psychological,
social and cultural environment, which includes housing, urban development, land use
and transport.
Environmental health services are defined by the World Health Organization as:

Those services which implement environmental health policies through monitoring and
control activities. They also carry out that role by promoting the improvement of
environmental parameters and by encouraging the use of environmentally friendly and
healthy technologies and behaviors. They also have a leading role in developing and
suggesting new policy areas.
Environmental medicine may be seen as the medical branch of the broader field of
environmental health. Terminology is not fully established, and in many European
countries they are used interchangeably.

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 1. Physical Hazards – Radioactive and UV radiations, Global warming,
Chlorofluro carbons, Noise etc.
2. Chemical Hazards – Combustion of Fossil fuels, industrial effluence,
pesticides, heavy metals,
3. Biological Hazards- Bacteria, Viruses, Parasites
4. Air borne
5. Water borne
6. Vector borne
7. Zoonotic
8. Radiation
9. Noise

Role of information technology in Environment and Health:

Role of IT in environment:
Remote Sensing and GIS (Geographic Information System) provides data and knowledge
concerning the global environment as it is used for mapping and monitoring various
natural resources.

Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) and Government of India (GOI) have
created an Environment Information System (ENVIS). Different ENVIS centers are set
up in different organizations for information collection, storage which work towards
boosting the relationship between trade and environment

IT is used for computer based modeling and simulation of environmental scenarios for
analysis and prediction.

It enables environmental scientists and researchers around the world to communicate,

collaborate and coordinate.

Remote sensing:
Component- A platform, aircraft, a balloon, rocket, and satellite
Functions:
1. Origin of electro magnetic energy
2. Transmission of energy
3. Interaction of energy
4. Detection of energy
5. Preprocessing of data
6. Data analysis and interpretation
7. Integration and other applications.
Applications:
In agriculture, forestry, land cover, water resources

Data Base- Collection of inter related data on various subjects.

Applications:
1. Ministry of environment and forest

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 2. National management information system
3. Environmental information system

Geographical information system:

Application:
Thematic maps are super imposed using soft wares.
Interpretation of polluted zones
To check unplanned growth and related environmental problems

Satellite data:
1. Helps in providing reliable information and data about forest cover
2. Provide information about forecasting weather
3. Reserves of oil, minerals can be discovered.

WORLD WIDE WEB: Current data.

Applications:
1. Online learning
2. Digital files or photos, animations on environmental studies.

Role of IT in human health:

IT can be used for audio, visual and data communications for medical consultation,
diagnosis, treatment, nursing and medical education.

IT is used for testing of DNA, creating DNA database and genetic information about
population. Medical records and finger prints which are used by investigating agencies to
identify missing persons and criminals.

IT helps in spreading awareness about endemic, epidemic and communicable diseases.

With the help of Remote Sensing and GIS there is identification of several infested areas
which are prone to some diseases like malaria etc. based upon mapping of such areas.

Role of information technology in human health:

The health service technology involves three systems
1. Finance and accounting
2. Pathology
3. Patient Administration – clinical system.
Applications:
1. Data regarding birth and death rates
2. To monitor the health of the people effectively
3. The information regarding the outbreak of epidemic diseases.
4. Online Consultation
5. Drugs and its replacement..

Conclusion:
Gaining in-depth knowledge regarding human health, human rights and role
Played by modern technology to the environment

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 FIELD VISIT
AIM
Trough by physical verification (Field Trips) documenting the Environmental Assets.
Documentation
It is a method of identification and recording the environmental assets in a systematic
way, collection of facts in an orderly way. This may be two ways; those are direct and
indirect methods.

Direct documentation
Collection of information directly through making field visits to the areas and through
physical observations this can be done. This gives first hand information and in fact it is
very important aspect in documentation.

Indirect documentation
Sometimes getting information directly is highly impossible and even the information
gathered directly may be insufficient. So that collection of information from other
sources is also very important. This can be done through by rising questions to elders,
preparing questioner for information, from books, magazines, journals, papers, libraries,
mass media & communication etc., is important. This gives second hand information.
Finally by comparing information getting from two sources we can get final conclusion
and this is how documentation can be done.

Report Submission:

Polluted Sites (Industry, Mining etc.):

Date & Time of Visit:

Place of Visit:

Topography & Climate type of the area:

Type of the polluted site:

Industry: Small scale, Medium, Large scale etc.:

Finished product:

Raw materials using:

Type pollution releasing:

Health problems among workers:

General health problems:

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Environmental problems:

Control equipment and methods using:

Protective measures taking:

Social responsibility:

Alternate suggestions:

Urban areas:

River ecosystems:

Forest ecosystems:

Solid waste dumping:

Class teaching and Field observations:

Agro ecosystems:

Local fragile ecosystems:

Disaster relief activities:

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