Demands of Expanding Populations and Development Planning

The world's ever increasing population is suffering from bad air, unsafe water and insufficient nutrition. This is often the result of chemical contamination of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and soils by human activities. This book discusses growing populations emphasizing both regional and national situations, the effects of chemical contamination on them and ways to alleviate or eliminate these effects through the application of knowledge, technology and proactive and integrated planning, including investment stimulated by government tax incentives and environmental legislation. For the first time topics including population growth, ecosystem chemistry and development planning have been melded into a single text appropriate for both advance graduate studies and use by development planners. This book brings together three topics that interact to affect the quality of life on Earth. First, it examines expanding populations (and contracting ones) in regional and national contexts. Second, the book reviews the impacts of pollution on people, ecosystems and economic ventures. The rate of population increase is slowing but growth momentum is projected to carry the Earth's population from 6.6 billion in 2007 to 9.2-11 billion inhabitants by 2050. Vast numbers of today's world population, mainly in less developed or developing nations, suffer illnesses from chemical or biological pollutants in the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the foods they consume. Millions die. What then can be expected for a 50% larger population by 2050? Third, the book asserts that well-planned development projects adhering to environmental laws and with best available technologies, will reduce ecosystem pollution yet yield strong profit margins. Proactive project design will also carry social development aims such as in education, job creation, and healthcare. The text includes examples of pollution from human activities and reviews solutions to alleviate or eliminate them.