Air Pollution and Its Various Aspects - Essay Example

Air Pollution Industrialization and technological advancements have brought about serious detrimental effects to the environment, key among them being air pollution. According to World Health Organization (W.H.O), air pollution is the contamination of the outdoor or indoor environment by any biological, physical, or chemical agent that leads to modification of atmosphere’s natural characteristics. Since air pollution has serious effects to the human health as well as other living organisms, there have been increasing concerns on how to prevent it or at least mitigate its effects in the world (Liu 11). National governments, international organizations, and individuals have developed policies and approaches of addressing the challenge of environmental degradation, which air pollution is a main contributory factor (Agarwal 17). This paper will discuss air pollution and its various aspects. According to Lbl.gov, there are various major kinds of pollution, which produce renowned effects on the well-being and health of individuals and the environment as a whole. These pollution types include the discharge of such toxic gases as chemical vapors, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Once these gases get into the environment, they can become involved in advanced chemical reactions leading to the formation of acid rain and smog. Other serious implications include the development of holes in the ozone layer as well as greenhouse effect. The other type of air pollution, which results from fuel combustion for energy, involves the discharge of particles (particulate matter) into the air. These particles are tiny pieces of matter, which measures roughly 0001 inches. An excellent case in point of this kind of particulate matter is diesel smoke. This kind of pollution is also known as black carbon pollution. Smoke from burning fuels in industries, homes, and automobiles, is a main source of air pollution. It is also believed that burning charcoal and wood in barbeques and fireplaces can as well discharge into the air significant amounts of soot. Liu explains that the common sources of air pollution include industrial facilities, motor vehicles emissions, household combustion devices, forest fires, mold spores, and pollen among others. According to him, these sources fall into two main categories, namely natural and human sources (15). The natural sources of air pollution include volcanic activity that lead to the production of ash particulates, chlorine, sulfur, carbon monoxide and smoke from wildfires; and dust from natural sources that are usually large areas with no or little vegetation (Chapman and Rob 23). Human sources of air pollution result from human activities that contribute to air pollution. One of the main sources of air pollution that results from human activity is from manufacturing facilities, waste incinerators, and power plants and other forms of fuel-burning heating devices (Gurjar 33). Aircraft, motor vehicles, sound equipments, and marine vessels are the other sources of air pollution from human activities. Military activities such as toxic gases, nuclear weapons, and germ warfare can be the other source of air pollution. Controlled burn practices and chemicals used in forestry management and agriculture are the other sources of air pollution resulting from human activity (Colls 27). Pollutants are the substances that cause air pollution. Pollutants that are of major public health and environment concern include ozone, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide (Liu 18). Pollutants are classified into two main categories: primary and secondary. Primary pollutants are those that are emitted directly from a process such as sulfur dioxide from manufacturing facilities, the carbon monoxide from the motor vehicle, or ash from volcanic eruption (Gurjar 36). Example of primary pollutants include carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, radioactive pollutants, atmospheric particulate matters, odors, carbon monoxide, and sulfur oxides (Agarwal 32). On the other hand, secondary pollutants are those that are emitted indirectly. Unlike primary pollutants, secondary pollutants form in the air result from the interaction or reaction of primary pollutants. Ground level ozone, particulate matters formed because of interaction between compounds in photochemical smog and gaseous primary pollutants are the main secondary pollutants (Colls 59). Air pollution can be harmful to the comfort and health of animals and human beings and could cause damage to animals and plants. It poses health risks to people and animals. In particular, air pollution contributes to respiratory diseases and other diseases to humans such as emphysema, asthma, heart disease, and lung disease and other potentially fatal diseases (Gurjar 43). W.H.O estimates that air pollution causes nearly 2 million premature deaths every year across the world. Studies have found out that exposure to air pollution has contributed to increased total mortality from cardiovascular illnesses. Particularly, in the developing countries there has been rise in the total mortality due to cardiovascular events because pollutant levels are very high (Chapman and Rob 44). Medical researchers have also found out that air pollution has increased the risk of people developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, as well as increased mortality and hospitalizations from asthma. More worrying is the fact that air pollution has been linked with cancer (Chapman and Rob 46). Researchers have found out that exposure to pollutants such as particulate matter increase the risk of mortality from cancer such as lung and skin cancer. Besides, there is evidence of associations between air pollution and other strains of cancer such as brain and cervical cancer (Liu 75). Air pollution has also been found to have considerable effects on children especially those living in the cities; children are often outdoors and are therefore more susceptible to air pollution dangers and have increased risk of developing respiratory infections such as pneumonia and asthma (Agarwal 39). Since air pollution is considered to have detrimental effects on the environment, there should be efforts towards solving the problem. The first step should be assessment. Scholars should examine outdoor air pollution and come up with standards for assessing the kind and quantity of some major air pollutants. After that, scientists must establish how much contact to pollutants is detrimental. Steps to decrease air pollution exposure can then be taken on. One way of accomplishing this is through the introduction of legislation that regulate man-made pollution (Lbl.gov 6). In the light of the risks that air pollution poses across the world, there has been a concerted effort by environment protection agencies, governments, communities, and individuals to conserve environment (Chapman and Rob 91). In particular, there has been an enhanced effort towards addressing air pollution as it is considered as the main cause of environmental degradation in the world and specifically the cause of global warming (Chapman and Rob 60). Good examples of measures taken by environment protection agencies and governments to protect the environment are the European Union Air Quality Service and the United States National Ambient Air Quality. They have set first class standards that set maximum atmospheric concentrations for certain specified pollutants (Liu 79). Most environmental agencies have enacted regulations that are intended to lead to achievement of the targeted levels. In addition, governments and environmental agencies have set standards that have various thresholds and that are used to communicate to the people the risk of air pollution and outdoor activity (Colls 103). Agencies such as the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) have developed comprehensive procedures for evaluating air toxics in the United States. The agency not only seeks to evaluate air toxics, but also seeks to establish locations experiencing most emissions and the main emissions sources. Consideration of such aspects enables NATA to obtain a better understanding of air pollution risks (Gurjar 84). Lbl.gov further records that many nations have put pollution emissions controls for industries as well as transportation vehicles. They mostly do this through various coordinating agencies that examine the air as well as the environment. At the UN, carrying out worldwide environmental projects is the work of the Atmosphere Management Program. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency is the leading federal agency. Various local and state organizations such as southern California’s Air Quality Management District, the Bay Area's Air Quality Management District (B.A.A.Q.M.D.) of San Francisco, the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention (GHASP), California’s Environmental Protection Agency, and southern California’s SmogBusters as well take part in examining and controlling the environment (6). Chapman and Rob explain that the most notable ways of reducing air pollution is through land use planning strategies and air pollution-control technologies (51). Land use planning ensures that land is efficiently utilized for the good of the broader population and economy, in addition to protecting the environment. Recent years has witnessed development and use of air pollution-control technologies (Gurjar 44). Manufactures have developed technological devices that reduce air pollution by, for example, increasing fuel efficiency and reducing emission of greenhouse gases. In addition, since it has been established that most manufacturing facilities are located in the cities and most of human activities take place in the cities at any given time, cities have developed their environmental regulations to regulate air pollution in metropolitan areas (Colls 77). Conclusion It is clear that air pollution is the main source of environmental degradation across the world. This has made it a subject of study and debate in various forums as solutions are sought to the challenge of air pollution. The fact that air pollution poses serious threat to human and other living organisms’ survival is incontestable. Therefore, there is need for comprehensive and proper management of the causes of air pollution, as well as defending safeguards that are critical to environmental, economic, as well as human health of the world. Economic, environmental, and health effects of air pollution are significant and adverse. Nonetheless, there are various ways of preventing air pollution. The government and environmental protection agencies should take concrete steps of reducing air pollution by formulating and implementing a wide range of policies that address all aspects of air pollution. As lbl.gov explains, individuals ought to give personal, meticulous attention to their interactions with the environment in order to prevent several types of unregulated air pollution. For instance, people should follow the instructions regarding safe use found in most household products. This shows that the fight against air pollution should be a joint effort of citizens, scientists, legislators, business leaders, among others. Everyone should face this challenge so that there may be a healthy environment for the current and future generations. Works Cited Agarwal, Singh K. Air Pollution. New Delhi: ABD Publishers, 2005. Print. Chapman, Matthew, and Rob Bowden. Air Pollution: Our Impact on the Planet. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers, 2002. Print. Colls, Jeremy. Air Pollution. Oxford: Taylor & Francis, 2009. Print. Gurjar, Bhola. Air Pollution: Health and Environmental Impacts. Florida: CRC Press, 2008. Print. Lbl.gov. What is Air Pollution? N.d. Web. 26 November 2012. Liu, David H. F. Air Pollution. Boca Raton: Lewis Publisher, 2000. Print. W.H.O. Air Pollution. 2012. Web. 30 October 2012. Read More