The Issue of Air Pollution - Coursework Example

Air Pollution Air Pollution “Many epidemiologic studies, mainly from developed countries, have shown that exposures to air pollution from ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution and road traffic are associated with respiratory health in children, including upper and lower respiratory symptoms” (Mustapha et al, 2011, p.1478). (Air pollution stock photos and images, n.d.) Even though, current world is facing plenty of problems, pollutions seems to be the most important one. Because of human activities, air, water and land are getting polluted as time goes on. Any substance which causes immense damage to the environment, air, water or soil can be termed as pollutants. Many people have the illusion that only chemical substances are causing pollution. However, modern studies have proved that noise, heat and light can cause different types of pollution. Based on the nature of impact caused on air, water, and land, pollutants can be labeled under two categories; primary and secondary pollutants. Pollutants which cause direct damages to air, land and water are called primary pollutants whereas pollutants which act through other objects are called secondary pollutants. Oxides of carbon, oxides of nitrogen, and oxides of sulfur are some of the primary pollutants whereas ozone and sulfuric acid are some of the secondary pollutants. In any case, it is a fact that the earth may become unsuitable for living things in recent future itself, unless the pollution is controlled effectively now. This paper analyses the pollution problem and provides some solutions to solve it. Problem: Air Pollution Air, water and land are getting polluted mainly because of the human activities. It should be noted that industrialization has brought huge benefits to human kind. However, along with benefits, it brought many problems also. Pollution is one of the major problems brought by heavy and uncontrolled industrialization. Increased automobile use is another contributing factor of pollution. Automobiles and industries are liberating plenty of wastes in solid, liquid and gaseous forms. For example, industries and automobiles liberate toxic gases such as oxides of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen. Air pollution in New Jersey, prior to suburban sprawl, was dominated by pollutants emitted from industrial sources, energy production, and space heating. These air pollutants included SO2, soot, total suspended particles (TSP), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Many of the same pollutants caused acute health-related air pollution episodes (e.g., the London Smog, Donora, PA) and persistent air pollution (e.g., Pittsburgh, PA). In urban areas TSP was high, with a mean of about 140 μg/m3, and the 95th percentile for all the data was > 370 μg/m3 (Stern 1957). New Jersey was within this distribution of high levels of TSP (Lioy and Georgopoulos, 2011, p.1352) Carbon monoxide, one of the major primary air pollutants, is getting liberated to air by automobiles and industries. It is assumed that more than 60% of the carbon monoxide related air pollution occurs from automobiles. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas and even death can occur while a person breathes it. Apart from death, visual impairment, problems in work capacity and reduced learning ability like health problems may occur to a person when he breathes carbon monoxide. “Changes in lifestyle have resulted in increased automobile traffic and vehicular miles traveled (VMT), affecting the character, patterns, and intensity of air pollution emissions, transport, and accumulation” (Lioy and Georgopoulos, 2011, p.1351). Advancements in science and technology have brought many good and evil things to this world. There are plenty of houses in wealthy countries in which each and every member of the family has a vehicle for personal use. It should be noted that people in wealthy countries have the habit of avoiding line buses or trains to reach their destinations. Such people always use own vehicles for their traveling needs and contributing heavily to the pollution problem. When number of vehicles increases on roads, the amount of toxic gases or greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere will also be increased. “Short-term exposure to ozone peaks can temporarily affect the lungs, the respiratory tract, and the eyes. It can also increase the susceptibility to inhaled allergens. Long-term exposure to relatively low concentrations of ozone can reduce lung function” (Scientific Facts on Air Pollution Ozone, 2011). Ozone layer at the top of earth’s atmosphere has the ability to protect us from harmful radiations coming from sun and other planetary objects in the outer universe. CFCs or Chloro Fluro Carbons have the ability to destroy the ozone layer at the top of earth’s atmosphere. Fridges and air conditioners are the major culprits as far as the liberation of the CFC related air pollution is concerned. Solution: Air Pollution Reduction of automobile use and controlled industrialization are the major solution to air pollution problem. People should use line buses and trains more frequently instead of using own vehicles for their traveling needs. It should be noted that a single vehicle liberates less amount of toxic gases compared to multiple vehicles. While people use buses and trains for traveling needs, the number of vehicles in operation is getting reduced and thereby the air pollution problems also. People should use bicycles instead of automobiles for their traveling needs if the destination is near. It should be noted that bicycle use not only helps to reduce air pollution, but also it contributes heavily to the health benefits of the person. CFC liberation to atmosphere should be controlled as much as possible to protect ozone layer. Instead of disposing damaged fridges and air conditioners in open spaces, it should be recycled properly to avoid the liberation of CFCs. Damaged fridges and air conditioners should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent the emission of CFCs. Conclusion The future of this earth rests in the hands of humans. Animals or other living things have nothing to do with the protection of this earth. Only the human activities are causing huge damages to the land, water and air. Reduction of automobile use and controlled industrialization may help to reduce air pollution up to certain extent. Reduction of CFC emission is necessary to protect the ozone layer at the top of atmosphere. In short, the destiny of the future generation rests in the hands of the present generation. References Air Pollution Stock Photos And Images. (N.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/air-pollution.html Lioy P J. and Georgopoulos P. G. (2011). New Jersey: A Case Study Of The Reduction In Urban And Suburban Air Pollution From The 1950s To 2010”. Environmental Health Perspectives. volume 119 | number 10 | October 2011 Mustapha, A. Blangiardo, M. Briggs, D.J. and. Hansell A.L. (2011). Traffic Air Pollution and Other Risk Factors for Respiratory Illness in Schoolchildren in the Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria. Environmental Health Perspectives volume 119 | number 10 | October 2011 Scientific Facts on Air Pollution Ozone (2011). Retrieved from http://www.greenfacts.org/en/ozone-o3/index.htm Read More