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Florida's Top 10 Environmental Issues

Florida is known for its clear, vibrant blue rivers, springs, and beaches that bring visitors in from around the world. Water is the most critical resource and our most threatened. Unfortunately, when it comes to water quality and waste, Florida performs poorly. Every day chemicals are released into the environment. It affects our land, air, water, and health. As a result of polluting our area may cause health effects such as respiratory problems, cancer, congenital disabilities, and in some cases, death. Not only this, but pollution affects animals and marine wildlife.

According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, there are 52 superfund sites, 501 brownfields, 11,689 petroleum cleanups, and more than 1,500 other sites with dry-cleaning fluids or other hazardous waste in Florida. When chemicals, industrial, pesticides, and waste gets into the water through runoff, it carries harmful chemicals to marine animals and possibly our drinking water. 

Too much becomes pollution, which is why we decided to share a list of Florida's ten toxic pollution issues in no particular order:

Single-Use Plastic and Recycling 

Increasing landfill space, cost, and contamination are a few challenges that local governments face. Plastics don't help the growing difficulties either. Recycling plastic isn't a realistic solution to the plastic pollution crisis. Items like grocery bags persist in the environment for a long time, and we presumably ingest plastic in seafood.

We, as a society, accumulate much trash, and not all are organic materials. We toss things like crumbling asbestos tiles, toxic chemicals, coal ash, and lead paint away. For instance, coal ash is a waste byproduct that contains contaminants like cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. It can seep into nearby water systems if there are poor waste management practices. There are little things that make an impact too. Rechargeable batteries contain many toxic metals and chemicals, like lead oxide, which can contaminate our soil. 

The problem of garbage disposal is challenging and will continue to pose issues as the population grows and natural resources are used. However, there are solutions and ways you can make a difference; replace disposable with reusable, not buy water bottles or single-use items, cook more at home, and put pressure on manufacturers.