What Causes Air Pollution Environmental Sciences Essay

Looking at the recent situation in big cities, it is not difficult to find out that these cities are suffering from serious problems in human health, atmosphere and creature.

First of all, air contamination leads to bad effects on human health, which causes the appearance of a range of stern diseases such as chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Air pollution can affect our health in many ways with both short-term and long-term effects. Different groups of individuals are affected by air pollution in different ways. Some individuals are much more sensitive to pollutants than are others. Young children and elderly people often suffer more from the effects of air pollution. People with health problems such as asthma, heart and lung disease may also suffer more when the air is polluted. The extent to which an individual is harmed by air pollution usually depends on the total exposure to the damaging chemicals, i.e., the duration of exposure and the concentration of the chemicals must be taken into account.

Moreover, sky is also influenced significantly by fog smoke. Beijing in China is the most typical example. According to Diego Azubel, a writer in EPA, cars run on an elevated road as buildings in the background are covered in haze, Beijing, China, Jan. 15, 2013. A succession of heavily polluted days hit Beijing, prompting the government to issue a first-ever orange warning. Heavy pollution and poor visibility led to the cancelation of flights, and several schools banned all outdoor activities. Air quality improved from ‘dangerous’ to ‘unhealthy’ on a sixth day of thick, grey skies that limited visibility and sent people to hospital with breathing difficulties. It is clear that smoke fog in big cities is usual, which means that level of pollution is very high.

Finally, creatures are also things that air pollution impacts on. Like human, animals are also suffering from the problem. Although the number of creatures in cities is not more than that in rural areas or somefield like that, we can see that the quantity is being declining regularly. Moreover, acid rain caused toxic factors also ruin the development of plants, sometimes buildings.etc…

2.2.What causes air pollution

Following by Nicky LaMarco, eHow Contributor, there are some main causes of air effluence.To begin with, Cars, trucks, jet airplanes and other combustion engine vehicles cause air pollution. The exhaust from these contains carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and gaseous oxide. This type of air pollution creates smog (as seen in Los Angeles) which causes respiratory health problems and holes in the ozone layer, which increases the exposure to the sun’s harmful rays. In addition to vehicles, factories, office buildings, homes and power-generating stations burn fossil fuels, which cause air pollution. The burning of oil and coal (fossil fuels) also contributes to smog. This air pollution destroys plants, damages buildings and creates oxidation on iron. Petroleum refineries also release hydrocarbons and various particulates that pollute the air.

Secondly, some power lines are not insulated and are high voltage. This creates air pollution. Moreover, pesticides used to kill indoor and outdoor pests, insecticides used to kill insects and herbicides use to kill weeds all cause air pollution. Radioactive fallout is also a factor that causes air pollution from the nuclear energy dispersed, which is a dust.

The final causes are that sick building syndrome (SBS) is the term used when there is indoor air pollution. This happens when there is not enough ventilation to disburse the toxic fumes from new carpet, paint and/or cleaning chemicals that are used indoors. Mold can also cause SBS and Mills and plants, include paper mills, chemical plants, iron mills, steel mills, cement plants and asphalt plants, release emissions into the air causing air pollution.

2.3.How do we deal with this problem?

Air pollution is a huge problem around the world. The good news is that there are many air pollution solutions. The bad news is that it will take making changes in our way of living and in our choices to make a difference. This can be the most difficult part of being good to environment, making changes. There are ways that you can help become an air pollution solution rather than an air pollution problem.

Fossil fuels don’t burn cleanly, so using them for heating contributes to air pollution. Building more energy efficient buildings will reduce the need to burn fossil fuel for heating. Using better filters for the exhaust is another good option for controlling air pollution.

The different modes of transportation are some of the largest contributors to air pollution. This includes the use of cars, buses, trucks, trains, planes, ships, and other vehicles. Alternative fuels are available, but it will be awhile before they are widely used.

The different modes of transportation release several different pollutants into the air, including nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide, in addition to other particulates. These pollutants mix with natural elements in the air to create smog, nitrogen dioxide, and other environmental concerns that help to contribute to global warming.

In addition to fossil fuels burned in vehicles, there are other pollutants that dirty our air. The friction of tires against the driving surface causes both the tire and the surface to deteriorate, and the result is particulates that enter the air for us to breathe. Whether you live in the city or the country, this type of pollution is a reality. The resulting pollution is more obvious and serious in the city because of the high number of vehicles on the road, but it’s a problem in the country too.

Magnesium chloride, used to deice roads in the winter and to manage dust and ruts on dirt roads, is another air pollutant we haven’t come to terms with. Have you noticed, for those of you living in areas where it’s used, that the trees and bushes along the side of the road are dying? Some of that is due to the salt concentration at their roots, but some of it is also due to the fumes given off by the application of the solution and of the pollution of vehicles driving on the mag chloride coated road. There have to be other ways to deice roads and control dust and ruts that won’t be as polluting.

Synthetic fabrics rely on fossil fuels for their manufacturing, and that causes air pollution. Organic cotton is a better solution than non-organic cotton because the chemicals used on cotton to control weeds and posts gets into the air and causes health problems. Fabric dyes also pollute the air we breathe, so buy fabric dyed with organic substances that have a lower impact on the environment and the air you breathe. Even the finishes put on fabrics to make them fire resistant, wrinkle-free, and stain resistant contribute to air pollution.

Start incorporating alternative fuels, especially of renewable resources like solar, water, and geothermal, for heating and cooling into buildings, new and existing. Use cleaner fuel sources for transportation. Instead of driving your car, walk where possible, ride your bicycle, and use mass transit as much as possible to help reduce air pollution.

Buy items made of natural and organic fabrics — cotton, bamboo, soy, and modal being some possibilities. Avoid fabric finishes that pollute the air. Your clothes, bedding, towels, upholstery and carpets are all subject to these finishes that foul your air and endanger your health.

Use low VOC paints and finishes. The furniture, carpets and other flooring choices, and wall surfaces we tend to have today pollute the air often worse than burning fossil fuels. Using energy wisely in your home and office is also important. Energy efficient appliances, light bulbs, and more moderate room temperatures help reduce your energy consumption, which helps decrease the need for energy production, not only contribute the air pollution solution but also reduce your electric and energy bills.

The thing about air pollution solutions is that you have to be willing to change your approach to life and the choices you make. You need to research ways that you can help decrease air pollution. Not all solutions work for all people in all areas, so find out what your alternatives are. You will be surprised by the things that you do everyday that contribute to air pollution. From hairspray to spray paint to driving your car, everything has an impact on the environment and the air we breathe. That is why it is so important that everyone do their part, no matter how small a contribution, to discontinue being air pollution problems and start being air pollution solutions.

3.Conclusion

Much is being done to control, monitor and rectify damage done by pollutants. The problems are diverse and some are only being recognised but it is important to keep a close control over pollutants so that we can maintain the environment in an acceptable condition for future generations. We need to take pollution issue seriously because ignorance is certainly not the proper way to go. The stakes are really high and world needs to wake up and start acting right now because environmental issues are constantly growing in both number and size. Aren’t we aware of the different problems occurring in our nature, especially in different bodies of water? We, humans are only creating problems that consequently we will also carry the burden of these problems. We all know how important environment is .Act right now.