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It’s no secret that our planet is in serious trouble. Extinction rates are reportedly 1,000 times higher than they should be, and human influence is largely to blame. With around 20,000 species currently at risk of extinction—and many others we haven’t even discovered yet disappearing—scientists are working overtime to find solutions. Some have warned that we might be approaching the sixth great mass extinction, and the situation is urgent. It’s so dire that many of the things you do every day could be accelerating the planet's downfall, and you might not even realize it.
10. Using Single-Use Chopsticks
You probably don’t think twice about the environmental impact when you grab a pair of wooden chopsticks with your takeout, but those chopsticks are wreaking havoc on China’s forests. Every year, China manufactures a staggering 80 billion disposable chopsticks. The majority of these are used—and discarded—within China itself. This mind-blowing number is enough to cover Beijing’s Tiananmen Square with at least 360 layers of chopsticks.
Producing chopsticks on this scale requires 20 million trees, and not just any trees—specifically, 20-year-old ones. The environmental damage is as severe as you'd expect. China faces a significant deforestation issue, primarily caused by chopsticks. Adding to the problem, the demand for disposable wooden chopsticks has surged dramatically, from 57 billion in 2009. This has led China to rank about 139th globally in terms of per capita forest coverage, with less than a quarter of the world’s average.
The situation has become so dire that China is now enforcing limits on chopstick production, restricting the number companies can manufacture and raising taxes on purchases. In addition, there is a large-scale initiative to promote reusable chopsticks in hopes of reversing the damage to the nation's forests. By 2020, China aims to plant 40 million hectares of trees, but this can only be achieved if the environmental toll from disposable chopsticks is reduced.
9. Birth Control Is Affecting Fish Populations as Well
Do you know anyone on birth control? Well, it's not just humans being impacted—marine life is also receiving doses of pregnancy prevention, and that’s becoming a major issue for ocean ecosystems.
In 2014, researchers from the University of New Brunswick published findings from a decades-long study. They were investigating wastewater treatment and its effects on freshwater ecosystems, and discovered that even minute traces of estrogen in the environment could lead to the extinction of entire species.
In 2001, a small dose of estrogen, one of the active compounds found in birth control pills and hormone therapies, was introduced into a freshwater research lake in Ontario. The results were nearly instantaneous. Male fish began producing egg proteins, and eventually eggs. Even the smallest amounts were enough to feminize the male fish, triggering a collapse of the entire ecosystem. The insect populations, which were normally controlled by the fish, exploded, while the minnow population plummeted, causing a sharp decline in the lake trout that relied on them as a food source.
This issue isn't confined to research facilities. Calgary's Red Deer and Oldman rivers are experiencing the same problem, which has been traced to the release of untreated wastewater containing hormones from birth control pills and hormone therapy drugs. These hormones, which aren't fully absorbed or used by the human body, end up in the sewage system and are released into lakes and rivers. In areas where this contaminated water is dumped, the fish population is about 85 percent female, a stark contrast to the usual 55 percent. Fish exposed to these hormones not only lose their ability to reproduce, but the hormones also interfere with the development of eggs.
8. Birds on Antidepressants
Record numbers of people are using antidepressants like Prozac. While many may be primarily focused on how it affects their own feelings, they should also consider the environmental consequences of their actions.
A study from the University of York revealed that the presence of antidepressants, particularly Prozac, in the environment can have devastating effects on birds. The research began by measuring the levels of Prozac that ended up in earthworms consuming sewage and wastewater. The dose was small, only around 3 to 5 percent of an average human dose. These Prozac-laced worms were then fed to a group of 24 starlings, and their behavior was monitored over the next six months.
The birds began exhibiting the same side effects to the drug that humans report. They lost interest in food, which led them to stop eating. They also lost interest in potential mates. These two main side effects have serious implications; the loss of appetite weakens them and makes them more vulnerable during the winter months, while the loss of libido could significantly reduce their breeding success.
The birds did not appear to benefit from Prozac in any way. Their overall mood and behavior remained unchanged. While it's not clear how widespread this issue might be for bird populations globally, it is suspected that the decline in starling numbers over recent decades—by about 50 million birds—could be linked to this phenomenon.
7. The Impact of Straws
If you order a cold drink at most restaurants, you’re almost guaranteed to be handed a straw. We often get frustrated when we realize we don’t have one halfway down the road, but the truth is, straws are causing significant harm to our planet.
Every single day, the United States uses approximately 500 million drinking straws. To put that into perspective, that's enough straws to fill 46,400 school buses each year. In the past 25 years, around six million straws have been collected from beaches during annual cleanups. And this is just a fraction of the straws that end up on the shore; according to the Ocean Conservancy, drinking straws are among the top 10 types of trash found floating in the ocean.
Straws are lightweight, easily carried by wind and water currents, and made from polypropylene plastic, which never breaks down. These millions of straws will linger indefinitely, contributing to the estimated 12 to 24 tons of plastic ingested by marine life annually. This includes about one million seabirds that perish from consuming plastics. One of the most frequently found items during autopsies? The drinking straws that come attached to juice boxes.
6. Eating Frogs
Far from being just a luxurious French dish, frog meat has become a global culinary staple, fueling a massive industry. Bullfrogs are commonly raised on farms in South America, where they are either consumed locally or exported abroad. Japan and the United States are the largest consumers, importing over five million frogs annually. This demand is proving disastrous for countless amphibians, impacting not just those that are eaten.
Many of the bullfrogs exported from South America carry a fungal infection known as chytrid fungus. While harmless to humans, the North American bullfrog is highly resistant to it, making it the perfect carrier for the disease, which threatens toads, salamanders, and various frog species.
The fungus being spread by the live frog trade is distinct from the strain responsible for most recent die-offs. Researchers suspect that this strain is not only spreading, but also hybridizing with others, creating a more deadly and aggressive variant. Scientists from the University of Michigan have tracked the movement of different strains across countries, identifying which frogs carry which types and how they interact, leading to the creation of increasingly dangerous hybrids. This hybridization threatens to trigger a global epidemic.
5. The Dangers of Antibacterial Soap
There has been considerable debate about the true effectiveness of antibacterial soaps and whether they should even be available for purchase. However, their environmental impact is now a proven concern.
A study conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Water and Health examined the fate of the chemicals found in antibacterial soaps after they go down the drain. The two most common chemicals—triclocarban and triclosan—are mostly removed from wastewater at treatment plants, but they must end up somewhere. That somewhere is sewage sludge, which is then recycled for agricultural purposes. From there, the chemicals make their way into the soil and eventually into surface water.
When triclocarban breaks down, it transforms into two carcinogenic chemicals. Similarly, when triclosan is processed in treatment plants designed to make drinking water safe, it doesn't result in pure water. Instead, it creates other chemicals, including chloroform. These chemicals move up the food chain, passing from plants to animals, and ultimately reaching humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detected traces of these chemicals in 75 percent of urine samples from individuals over the age of five.
Triclosan has been shown to disrupt the biological systems of many animals, including rats and amphibians. It affects thyroid function and, when it accumulates in the body, can cause early puberty, infertility, obesity, and even cancer. As triclosan builds up in fatty tissues, it is passed up the food chain, meaning humans and other predators are consuming concentrated doses from lower animals.
4. Keeping The Family Cat
If you have an indoor cat, you’re probably going through a fair amount of cat litter. It’s a relatively modern invention, dating back to 1947 when a Michigan woman asked Edward Lowe if he knew of a better alternative to the sand or ash she had been using. Lowe, working in the industrial absorbents business, provided her with clay—and the rest became history.
However, this history comes with a significant issue. For decades, around 75 percent of all cat litter brands used bentonite clay, which is what makes the litter scoopable. In the U.S. alone, people use about 2 million tons of cat litter annually, which means the industry consumes vast amounts of clay.
So where does all this clay come from? Strip mining. A lot of strip mining. This method is harmful in many ways, and some individuals have been directly impacted by it. In 1989, the Mineral Tenure Act in Canada was amended to include diatomaceous earth, a key component of cat litter. This change allowed companies to freely enter private land to search for valuable minerals without time restrictions. In some cases, landowners in Canada found their land being strip-mined for cat litter without their consent. Though they are technically entitled to compensation, the process can take years. One such example is the Bepple family, who discovered their land, previously used for grazing livestock and tree farming, was being strip-mined for cat litter.
There are numerous alternatives to clay litter available, ranging from recycled paper litter to wood and plant-based options. However, these alternatives aren’t always easy to find, and they can be quite expensive in many cases.
3. Not Finishing Your Dinner
Most of us were raised with the notion that we should clean our plates, but the issue extends far beyond what our parents may have realized. Each year, global food waste reaches a staggering 1.3 billion tons, a number so large it’s hard to fathom. This waste costs us approximately $750 billion annually, and the environmental toll is equally overwhelming.
The food that’s wasted annually generates greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to three times the yearly flow of the Volga River, totaling 3.3 billion tons. Furthermore, nearly 28 percent of agricultural land is dedicated to producing food that ultimately ends up being discarded. The continued clearing of land for this purpose is endangering countless plant and animal species.
Meanwhile, approximately 870 million people around the world are facing hunger.
A significant portion of food waste occurs during the processing stages, but consumer waste is also alarmingly high. Many fruits and vegetables are discarded simply for being oddly shaped, even if they are still perfectly edible. Additionally, food is frequently tossed out at the best-by date, even if it hasn’t actually spoiled. A common misconception is that the sell-by and best-by dates mean the same thing, but they do not.
Though there are initiatives underway to reduce food waste—such as packaging food in smaller portions and offering discounts for imperfect produce—the journey to reducing waste is still a long one.
2. Eating Soy
Soy products have long been promoted as a healthier, more environmentally-friendly, and definitely more cow-friendly alternative to dairy. However, recent research suggests that the environmental cost of soybean farming is equally concerning.
Soybeans aren't just used in food items like milk alternatives. They're also found in non-food products such as soap and candles. And it's not just humans consuming soy; about 80 percent of global soybean production is fed to livestock.
The demand for soy is massive. As its popularity continues to rise, more land is required to grow it. Since 2008, deforestation in Brazil has decreased due to a ban aimed at curbing destruction. This ban followed alarming reports from Greenpeace, revealing that in 2005 alone, 1.2 million hectares of soy were planted in Brazil’s rainforests.
Beyond the environmental concerns of pesticide use and water depletion, soy farming has created serious human rights issues. The Brazilian government maintains a list of farms involved in modern-day slavery. Some soy farms in the Amazon basin have been found guilty of luring workers with promises of jobs, only to seize their documents and force them into slave labor. Additionally, land-grabbing practices have displaced countless families who are pushed off land deemed more valuable for soy cultivation.
1. Eating Farm-Raised Fish
Shrimp farming has led to widespread damage to coastal ecosystems, including the destruction of wetlands and the contamination of freshwater sources with saltwater. Salmon farming, too, pollutes the water with excessive fish feed, nutrients, and waste, often overwhelming local ecosystems when too many fish are confined in one space.
The waste that accumulates in the water sinks to the bottom, where it reacts with the chemicals used to maintain fish health, along with agents to keep nets clean. This results in a perfect environment for sea lice, which require more chemicals to control. Unfortunately, these chemicals harm other marine species in the area.
Another issue with farmed fish is the risk of nonnative species escaping into the wild. This introduces invasive species into ecosystems that aren’t equipped to handle them, creating new environmental challenges. As with many such issues, there is no simple solution, but environmental agencies are now working to improve global farming practices.
There’s also the very, very good chance that nonnative species of farmed fish are going to escape. That’s introducing an invasive species to an ecosystem not prepared to handle it, and that means a whole other set of problems. Like many other environmental problems, there’s absolutely no easy answer. Environmental agencies are now looking for ways to improve husbandry practices worldwide.
