Analysis of Air Pollution Process - Essay Example

Air Pollution Air pollution is a process that occurs when the atmosphere contains gases, dust, smoke or odour in dangerous amounts. That is, quantities, which can be harmful to comfort of people and animals, cause damage to plants and materials and affect the health of both humans and animals. Substances causing the pollution of air are referred to as pollutants. The pollutants, which are pumped, to the atmosphere and cause pollution of air directly are named as the primary pollutants. Examples of primary pollutants are carbon mono oxide, which originate from exhausts of vehicles, and sulfur dioxide, which come from coal combustion. Air pollution also arises from the primary pollutants existing in the atmosphere and is undertaking chemical reaction. The compounds that result from such reactions are known as the secondary pollutants; an example being photochemical smog. Consequently, diverse current issues concerning air pollution have necessitated the institution of dissimilar preventive measures. As urbanization and industrialization continued to elevate, the rate of release of wastes into the atmosphere by the humans elevated to a level that nature could no longer cope with it. From that time air, pollution has elevates to a higher level because of pollution from the industrial, home and commercial sources. Since these sources are mainly found in the large cities, the air that surrounds them is usually having a high concentration of pollutant gases. (Agarwal, 137). When these concentrated gases go beyond the secure limits, then that is the time when they suit a pollution trouble. The graph below is an instance of the way the level of air pollution elevates. Figure: March 26th-30th Graph Showing Air Pollution Levels. Retrieved from Air pollution results from various causes most of which are preventable. Smog that hangs in the atmospheres surrounding the cities is the most common air pollution form. However, there are different causes of this pollution; these causes are either visible or invisible. These pollutions cause elevate global warming. An instance via which air pollution causes global warming is when surplus carbon dioxide goes into the air, and it depletes the ozone layer. Moreover, carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas, is considered the chief pollutant of Earth warming. Despite the living things emitting carbon dioxide during breathing this gas is in most situations considered a pollutant when industries, power plants, vehicles, and planes produce it. In the current years, these activities have injected much carbon dioxide to the atmosphere thereby raising it levels to a higher rate than it had been thousands of years ago. Another cause of air pollution is the use of the farm chemicals like the pesticides and herbicides. Pesticides and herbicides are chemicals that are used in the farms to kill pests and weeds. During the spraying of these chemicals in the farms, the chemicals are spread in the air by the flowing wind. This wind takes the particles of chemicals to various places hence when breathed in by the living organisms it causes adverse effects to them. For instance, in humans, these chemicals can result to damage of organs like the lungs. Air pollution also results from burning fossil fuels like natural gas and gasoline. This human activity emits many toxic gases in the air. During the burning, some emitted gases go up to the atmosphere while the living organisms breathe other portion of the gas. Like the herbicides and pesticides, theses gases when breathed in also have adverse effects on the living organisms. Since the pollution of air has an adverse impact on living organisms particularly the humans and plants, there are ways through which it can be minimized. For instance, in the farms, the biological methods of driving away the pests and killing of the weeds are used so that the pollution caused by the use of herbicides can be minimized. In cases of vehicles and planes, policies have been formulated to help control air pollution. For instance, vehicles that produce much exhaust gases are burned from using the roads. Air pollution is also prevented through educating the public on the benefits of avoiding the activities that cause pollution of air. Moreover, air pollution is prevented by use of substitute energy sources like solar, hydroelectric and wind energies. Furthermore, air pollution is preventable through saving of energy. Other ways of preventing air pollution are advising the public to use the public means of transport so that the vehicle number used is reduced. It is also advisable to do smart purchasing to stop pollution of air. For instance, people should remember to use paper bags so that the use of plastic bags can be minimized. This is because paper bags are more ecological friendly than plastic bags. In addition, rechargeable batteries should be bought for often-used devices. A study carried out by WebMd health news in 2004, exhibited that cigarettes can result to more pollution than a diesel’s car exhaust. A test carried out in Italy showed that by burning three cigarettes for half an hour and switching a car on to run for the same sum of time the cigarettes generated 10 times more of particulate matter as compared to the automobile. The toxin produced by both is dangerous to the body of those who may be exposed to them. This may result to irritation of the respiratory structure, decrease lung operation, worsen asthma and even result in death (Agarwal, 139). Environmentalists and other concerned organizations are on the news each day encouraging people to maintain a pollutant free earth. They point out several things that people might do to avoid air pollution. Even some media houses have segments that deal with environmental news that advocate for reduction of air pollution. Many of the things that they encourage people to do are like preserving energy, using public transport and recycling products. Even though many people are capable of achieving this, the reliability on goods such as electricity and vehicles makes it somewhat impossible to reduce their activity. Some public representatives such as senators have also been in the news encouraging people to decrease some of their pollution generation activities. Some senators and representatives use their record in environmental activities as a campaign strategy assuring people that they will offer them an air pollutant free atmosphere. News people have realized that there is numerous activities humanity can do to evade emissions to the sky and that they require to be appropriately advised to observe this. Air pollution is detrimental to land and constructions. According to the government of India, it recorded a loss of 2 billion dollars because soil erosion combines with acid water to cause the land to be unfit for produce of quality plants. Such news is aimed in educating people on the significance of a freer air pollutant environment. If observed, then people will not only be able to record massive produce but will as well avoid diseases like asthma, which are brought about by air pollution. News from the American lung association states that over 39. 9 million American have been detected with asthma and the disease costs the nation $12.7 yearly. These statistics are surprising but indicate the rate of air pollution in the society, which is believed to be existing. Since even before 1980 the air pollution from the area emitted by factories, forest fires and automobiles s until exists on the air. The air emission from that era is still in the air compiling with the current pollution thus making it difficult for the environment to absorb more gas (Calhoun, 115). This has made fresh circulation impossible as the contaminated air floats in the sky causing acid rains when it rains. Automobile industry has been identified as one of the main air pollutants. Fine droplets from the overspray application and the accompanying from automobile sector result to air pollution as well as carbon dioxide and monoxide, which cars produce every day. This immensely affects animal as well as people’s health. This has been chiefly in the news in recent days as vehicles that are energy saving, which do not, use fuel are being developed to maintain the air pollution levels down. Conclusion As humans keep on destroying the earth and polluting the air, they keep raising the toxic levels on the sky thus endangering themselves. Unless they move to measures that are environmentally friendly, they may end up destroying the environment and everything in it. Humanity should, therefore, push to preserve the environment by reducing or avoiding air pollution to preserve the environment for coming generations. Works Cited Agarwal, S K. Air Pollution. New Delhi: ABD Publishers, 2005. Print. "Air Pollution 2012." Chiang Mai Expat. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2012. . “Air Pollution Causes and Prevention” N.p, n.d. Web. 3 May 2012. Calhoun, Yael. The Environment in the News. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2007. Read More