The current worldwide estimated human population at this point in time is 6,798,328,762 people (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009). This number constantly changes due the birth or reproduction of human life. Another contributing factor to human population changes is the death rate. Looking more closely at what sparks birth and death rates to change, we find that different eras or historical events lead to changes in the human population. One event that generated large a large death toll was the Black Plague (Lewis, 2004). A more recent event that could potentially spark a decrease in population would be the Pandemic Flu. An example of a historical event that contributes to increases in human population is the Industrial Revolution. The industrial revolution created a higher demand on products and services which called for families to expand in order to cover the needs.
Another example is the creation of medications that cured illnesses that were considered incurable in past years. One such medication is the antibiotic. When the antibiotic was invented, it cured ailments and illnesses that had at one time been considered terminal. It also prolonged the life of many individuals, which ultimately led to less death. Other contributions included enhancements to sanitation, and agriculture (Lewis, 2004). These enhancements helped by preventing infection and increasing the health of the population. Both of these enhancements assisted in increasing the lifespan of humans. The human population growth issue will continue to impact the ecosystem because of the increased demand that will be placed on natural resources and animals. The more humans inhabiting the earth, the more demand there will be for water, land, and animals for survival. If humans do not ration their consumption in the growth process, the natural resources will not have time to replenish themselves.
Lewis ,K.,