Introduction Air pollution remains one of the most urgent and serious problems facing the world today. Research studies conducted in the past have clearly indicated that in addition to harming the environment, the effects of air pollution on human health are particularly adverse. In this text, I discuss air pollution, its causes, and effects. Further, I propose solutions that could be embraced to rein in the problem of air pollution. Air Pollution: An Overview Air pollution in the words of Miller (2005, pp.347) "is the presence of chemicals in the atmosphere in concentrations high enough to harm organisms and materials (such as metals and stone used in buildings and statues) and to alter climate." As the author further points out, the effects of air pollution could be serious or simply annoying. In the past, various measures have been taken across the world to decrease air pollutant emissions in an attempt to improve air quality while at the same time mitigating against the adverse effects of air pollution to not only the environment but also to humans and other living organisms. Some of these measures include but they are not limited to the establishment of various bodies charged with monitoring levels of pollution. In the U.S., these bodies include the Environmental Protection Agency. Pollution standards that have been set in the past in an attempt to minimize human and environmental exposure to pollutants have had varying levels of success. According to the Natural
Air pollution has been a major problem throughout world for the past 5 decades i.e. a few years after the industrial revolution. There are two types of air pollutions a) Natural and b) Anthropogenic, of which the natural causes (volcanoes, forest fires and tornadoes) are not in the control of man (Mosley 2010). Anthropogenic air pollution on the hand is a type of anomaly in the atmosphere where foreign objects are released into the air entirely by man and his activities (Industries, transport) and are controllable.
The author begins the article by discussing the death percentage related to air pollution and what causes the elevated levels of air pollution. Huth continues the article by pointing out that different areas have different problems related to air pollution. Finally, Huth draws attention to the fact that different countries have different solutions to the air pollution. Though this piece was written for the entire United States, the fact that air pollution can be deadly to humans is universally applicable. Though Huth is a reporter and not an environmental scientist, Huth does cite reports made by credible institutions. Though this article talks only about how air pollution is deadly and does not expand the idea to talk about other health complications, the fact that air pollution is dangerous to human health does support my claim that a reduction in air pollution will lead to a better quality of
Improved air quality wasn’t a subject of national concern until the mid 1900s. After decades of coal burning, unregulated gas emissions from cars and the excessive burning of fossil fuels, people started noticing bad air quality as a hazard to their lives. Over several decades, after seeing the costly effects air pollution was having on the environment and people’s health, interest groups like the Friends of The Earth club and the influences of Theodore Roosevelt and Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring finally came together to persuade the government to enforce legislation that would reduce air pollution. Because of these efforts, the policies of the Clean Air Act of 1963 and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Act of 1965, that aimed to control air pollution and raise air quality standards, helped create the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on December 2, 1970. Since then, the EPA has passed more air quality improvement acts, and amendments to previous acts passed, to increase restrictions on air pollutants, with their main policy concern being the Clean Air Act. Improved air quality acts imposed by the EPA have been successful in cleaning the United States’ air quality by reducing ground-level ozone pollution and reducing emissions, allowing for a decrease in pollution related deaths/illnesses and a better standard of living. The EPA, through regulations and the Clean Air Act, has delivered it’s promise to improve air quality in the United States.
Air pollution can harm plants, lakes, and animals. In addition to damaging the natural environment, air pollution also can damage buildings, monuments, and statues. Not only does it reduce your visibility but it also interferes with aviation. In 1970, Congress created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and passed the Clean Air Act, giving the federal government authority to clean up air pollution in this country.3 Ever since then, the EPA, states, tribes,
Although thought to be “not a big problem” and “under control” by most people, pollution is making its way in being a serious and an unforgiving threat to society. Pollution a topic everyone hears and knows exists. What they don’t know is how serious of a problem it is already becoming. Many health issues are being reported now that are linked to air pollution and even the most severe weather places have encountered are linked to air pollution also. By society, not fully being aware of the true threat that pollution is making, it will only become a growing threat that they will be encountering.
Pollution is, without doubt, a serious global issue that needs attention and resolutions. As human technologies improve, water, land, air, noise, and light pollutions are all inevitable. Five and a half million deaths each year is caused by air pollution. More than a million sea birds and mammals are killed each year by water pollution. Hundreds of dolphins and whales are killed each year by noise . These shocking facts all shows the significance of enforcing laws to ensure all people are taking care of our environment by decreasing the amount of pollution.
Air pollution could be very harmful to us as humans, it could effect us and also it
Before there were any factories, large corporations, major industries, or even transportation, the atmospheric quality of this planet was in far greater shape. Environmental pollution was never even a factor to stress over. Since the revolution of major industries, large factories, power plants, as well as some of the world’s most advanced technology, environmental pollution has crept up to the top of the list of global climate concerns. Environmental pollution is one of the greatest issues facing the world today and as the years pass, this issue will become more threatening. The subject of his paper is to discuss environmental pollution as an issue, preventing pollution in everyday
This act continues to play a major role in limiting primary pollutants. Newer scientific studies continue to show that some pollutants can harm public health and the EPA have revised standards for five
Environmental pollution is an enormous problem in the United States. Environmental pollution is a substance that is harmful or poisonous to the environment. Air pollution, water pollution, thermal pollution, and soil pollution are major types of environment pollution. Pollution is linked to some of the most deadly diseases. “Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas which is poisonous at high levels. CO bonds with hemoglobin more easily than oxygen, so that it reduces the body's ability to deliver oxygen to organs and tissues” (Neidell, 1005). Air pollution is the most harmful out them all because we inhale it every day. "Ozone (03) is a secondary air pollutant formed by nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of
One of the main cause of air pollution is human activities like mining, construction, transportation, industrial work, agriculture, smelting, and some others. There are also natural causes that result to air pollution also such as wild fires, volcano eruptions. These are even rare and for the most part only affect the area that it surrounds. The bigger problem is going back to us humans and knowing that we can stop certain activities to help better the world and our air we breathe every day. One of the “invisible killers” in today’s air pollution includes nitrogen oxides, ozone, and very small particulate matter. (Frank) Today, PM has been researched to be held most responsible for most of the health effects caused by the air. Fossil fuel combustion is most common in more of the urban areas, which would come from the road construction that occurs quite frequently. (Frank) There has also been a rise in deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory disease with older people. (Seaton)
Air, is one of the most substantial source to mankind and our planet. While it exists, so does everything else along. However, in today’s epidemic, there has been certain factors that have increased in understanding whether the air we breathe today is healthy or not? Is it doing more harm than we thought? In other words, the health risks against air pollution have risen in the past few decades; all from what you may ask? Well, it could be for various factors and evaluations; either environmental or materialistic. Pollution is a major public health crisis in the world. (Friis, 2012). This is one of the conflicts that contribute to various aspects of an individual’s life, whether they may realize it or not. In this paper will include the sources that cause pollution with the effects it cause as well as policies on the regulation of air pollution.
Air pollution is everywhere in today’s society from vehicles power plants, industries, and even forest fires. These pollutants are either manmade or from natural sources. No matter where they come from one thing they have in common is that these different kinds of pollutants are harmful to people’s health. Air pollutants affect the body’s organ systems causing damage, especially to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Air pollution contributes to the higher risk of developing or worsening respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
In an era of rising technology and increasing population, demands on the environment are continually being pushed to new levels. As a result, it becomes important for us to expand our knowledge about the environment and take appropriate actions to protect this element of most importance to human existence. One component of our environment experiencing some of the greatest abuse due to humans is the air. Air pollution has been on the rise ever since the beginning of
The idea that we, as a global community, are destroying the very earth we commonly share is something that takes time for people to fully understand. It takes research and a open mind to be knowledgeable about the environmental issues the human race is causing to planet earth, as well as the issues that it is causes to our personal health. Air pollution is a large problem that exists in the United States and affects all of us. However, the challenge that we as American’s face is the inescapable necessities of modern life (driving to work, cooking food, etc.). These technologies are directly linked to air pollution and therefore affect our health and sustainability. BusinessDictionary.com defines air pollution as, “the condition in which air is contaminated by foreign substances, or the substances themselves.” Air pollution is something that is having a direct affect on all of our lives and our health. We must do two things: consciously take action in the way we live our lives, so that we do not contribute to the already existing problems we face; and find ways to live a life that is less contributive to the dilemma of air pollution to sustain a healthy and productive life.