Air Pollution - Research Proposal Example

Air Pollution Ahmad AlMutawa Reading/Writing Teacher: Juli Lamb 5th December 2008 Spring International Language Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Outline 2 Air Pollution 3 Introduction 3 Causes of Air Pollution 4 Affects on Health and Environment of Air Pollution 5 Preventive Measures 7 Conclusion 8 References 9 Outline Air problem is a problem that is increasing day by day and people’s health and lives are affected because of this problem. The causes of this problem are industrial gases, smokes and toxins, smokes of vehicles and other gases and toxics emitted by other machineries. Because of air pollution, there are many health related issues and diseases. Air pollution is also devastating for the environment. The Phenomena of acid rain and depletion of ozone layer are the consequences of air pollution. Effective measures are needed to control the problem as it is injurious to health, lives and sustenance of the earth. Air Pollution Introduction Human beings, animals and plants, all living organisms are enduring the problem of air problem, as it is a problem that is injurious enough to all the living creatures of earth. Air pollution is increasing day by day and is causing danger for the lives of people. It is being said that suitable measures are taken to resolve the issue of air pollution, as it is affecting the health of people to a great extent. Air pollution is the reason of many diseases, which the people have to suffer such as respiratory, chronic and cardiac diseases and many others. There are many causes of air pollution such as industrial wastes and harmful gases, the smokes of vehicles, burning of fossil fuels and usage of oil and other fuels for generation of energy. Air pollution is affecting the lives of people negatively as it is causing many dangerous diseases and even death because of many health related problems. Depletion of the ozone layer and acid rain are the phenomena that are the result of air pollution. The ozone layer is damaged because of air pollution. To avoid further damage to ozone layer and to safeguard the environment and human health, there is an urgent need to take proper steps in order to control the problem of air pollution. Different countries of the world have taken legislative measures for controlling the problem of air pollution but still, a lot is needed in order to safeguard earth and humanity. This paper informs about the causes of air pollution, the affects of air pollution related to health of people and the environment of the earth and the preventives measures that are taken and that should be taken for the controlling and reduction of the problem of air pollution. Causes of Air Pollution Air pollution has a number of causes. Industrial system that is prevalent in many countries of the world can be considered as one cause of air pollution. This system has not only facilitated the countries to become developed countries but has also increased the problem of pollution. Industrial wastes and gases that are released in the air are a source of causing air pollution. According to some analysts, industrial system and progress has also facilitated human being with benefits but it is not true (Breuer, 1980). Industrial system has gifted the world with financial success and economic establishment but on the other hand, industrial system has also gifted us the problem of air pollution and those who negate the fact that air pollution is a cause of industrial progress are wrong. Air pollution and industrial revolution are interlinked to each other (Stewart, 1979). Industrial revolution is considered as a boosting effect that has also revolutionized the world. It has given the world prosperity and security. Industries, plants, factories, vehicles, means of transport and machineries are an outcome of advancement and technological development and have facilitated the people of the earth with development and prosperity (Miller, 1990). Technology is considered overly advantageous and this fact has been negated that technological developments have also been disadvantageous in terms of adding pollution to the earth’s atmosphere. The causes of air pollution are mostly human created. There are two kinds of pollutants: secondary and primary. Primary pollutants pollute the air directly and are results of chemical or other kinds of processing such as volcanic eruptions and sulphur dioxide from industrial processing, while secondary pollutants do not directly cause pollution but they develop pollution by means of primary pollutants such as depletion of ozone layer and photochemical smog (Breuer, 1980). There are many sources of air pollution such as gases emitting from vehicles of all kinds, industrial emitting of gases and wastes, because of burning of fuels and oils for machine working and many others that produce harmful gases such as Sulphur dioxide, Carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide and many toxics (Christopher, et. al, 2004). Affects on Health and Environment of Air Pollution Air pollution is highly damaging for health and environment. The pollutants in the form of gases and toxics cause many kinds of health diseases and even death (Stewart, 1979). Health diseases such as respiratory problems, cardiopulmonary and other pulmonary diseases, asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and many other health problems are caused by air pollution (Christopher, et. al, 2004). Air pollution in the form of smog is dangerous that in case of inhaling, there are chances of death. The problem of depletion of ozone layer is directly linked to air pollution as it is only because of harmful air pollutants that have developed a hole in the ozone layer (Davis, 2002). Due to problem of ozone layer, there is an issue of global warming. It is informed that industrial and agricultural emissions raise atmospheric carbon by seven billion metric tons a year (Miller, 1990). Humans have disrupted the natural carbon cycle by burning fossil fuels for energy and by clearing forests to feed and house growing populations (Breuer, 1980). The issue of global warming is also linked with air pollution. The gases that are being built in the atmosphere as a result of air pollution are trapping the heat of the earth like greenhouse effect. The earth as a whole is under the threat of annihilation because of the disturbance of balance in the atmosphere (Christopher, et. al, 2004). Because of air pollution, there are unavoidable consequences such as pulmonary diseases and respiratory problems and much more. Acid rain is also an outcome of air pollution. The fossil fuels burnt by human kind on earth for the purposes of energy generation, emit gases that come back to earth in the form of acid rain (Stewart, 1979). When it rains, the gases and pollutant chemicals that reach to the atmosphere are brought back to earth by means of the rain that is called acid rain. Acid rain causes a number of adverse implications. It tends to increase acidity in the soil, threatens human and aquatic life, and destroys forests and crops reducing agricultural productivity (Breuer, 1980). Acid rain also corrodes buildings, monuments, bridges, fences and railings. It creates a serious threat to human health also, since it contaminates not only the breathing air but also the drinking water and even food (Davis, 2002). Air pollution is not only disrupting human existence but is also causing a threat of annihilation for the generations to come. With the comprehension of the existing problem of air pollution, the scientists and other related persons are involved in finding out the causes and overall affects of air pollution (Christopher, et. al, 2004). There are also other forms of pollution such as land pollution and water pollution but air pollution is the most damaging kind of pollution that should be considered to a great extent so that, the problems of air pollution can be controlled (Miller, 1990). It has been reported by Davis (2002) that air pollution is increasing day by day. Industrialists opt for places that are somehow away from cities but still, the smokes and gases from the chimneys of factories and industries affect the lives of people (Breuer, 1980). The smokes reach the city dwellers by means of winds. Moreover, the smokes and gases being emitted from vehicles and machineries affect the cities and the people living in them directly (Davis, 2002). In spite of all the measures that are reported to be taken for the reduction of air pollution, air pollution is not decreasing, it is increasing and is threatening the lives of people, as the environment as a whole is affected by air pollution (Miller, 1990). Preventive Measures Many countries have developed laws and regulations related to air pollution. The governments of many countries have prohibited the usage of certain products that emit harmful gases that are injurious for the environment and human existence (Breuer, 1980). Still, there is a need of a lot of improvements that should be considered by the governments of developing as well as developed countries. Air pollution is not a problem of a single land, it is the problem of the whole world and all the people of the world should work for the reduction of air pollution. Because of the reduction of air pollution, many diseases on earth will be minimized which are linked to air pollution (Christopher, et. al, 2004). There is development of many devices such as electrostatic precipitators, catalytic converter, wet scrubbers, mechanical collectors and many more for the control of air pollution. The use of certain devices for the eradication and control of air pollution is very effective but, these choices are not opted by all people (Davis, 2002). In developing countries, people are unable to get access to products that are effective in terms of reduction of air pollution, due to which, they face problem of air pollution to a great extent. Air pollution should be reduced by effective measures represented by scientists and those people who are aware of the problem fully and also know about the control of this problem (Breuer, 1980). People should not make use of fossil fuels to a harmful extent or to increase the air pollution. Walking, cycling and other healthy activities should be adopted. There should be more plantations, for example the planting of more and more trees and plants in order to control the problem of air pollution (Stewart, 1979). Trees and plants are useful in helping to control air pollution. The industries and factories should make use of control devices such as catalytic oxidizers, bio-filters, vapor recovery systems and many more that are constructed for controlling of the problem of air pollution. It is a major problem that should be understood and thought over by all the residents of the world, no single person or country can solve it without the participation of others. It is a worldwide problem that needs consideration from all parts of the world. Air pollution can be reduced by useful measures from governmental and public sectors such as there should be financial investment towards the technologies of solar energy, wind energy and geo-thermal energy. With solar energy, wind energy and geo-thermal energy production; there will be no harmful chemical processing to pollute the air. These kinds of energies are helpful for environmental safety and do not become the cause of air pollution. These energies are obtained from natural resources and are much environment efficient. Conclusion Air pollution is a problem that needs attention. It is not a minor problem as it is endangering not only environment of the earth but also human life. The causes of air pollution are many such as harmful gases and toxins that are emitted in air by factories, industries, vehicles and machineries for energy creation and many other purposes. Harmful gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and many others are added to the atmospheric level of gases, due to which air is polluted. The phenomena such as acid rain and depletion of ozone layer are a result of air pollution. Due to air pollution, there are many problems related to the health and environment. There are serious health problems such as respiratory and cardiac diseases and causation of death. Due to injurious intake of polluted air, there are chances of death of human beings. The governments of many countries have taken legislative measures for the control and reduction of air pollution and also there is construction of control devices that can control the addition to air pollution. There is still need in terms of effective measures for the eradication of problem as a whole. References Breuer, Georg. (1980). Air in Danger: Ecological Perspectives of the Atmosphere. New York: Cambridge University Press. Christopher H. Goss, Stacey A. Newsom, Jonathan S. Schildcrout, Lianne Sheppard and Joel D. Kaufman. (2004). "Effect of Ambient Air Pollution on Pulmonary Exacerbations and Lung Function in Cystic Fibrosis". American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 169: 816-821. Davis, Devra. (2002). When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution. New York: Basic Books. Miller, G. Tyler. (1990). Living in the Environment: an introduction to environmental science. Belmont: Wadsworth. Stewart, T. Charles. (1979). Air Pollution, Human Health and Public Policy. New York: Lexington Books. Read More