Research on Air Pollution - Essay Example

Air Pollution Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Rationale for choosing the Topic 3 Brief idea about the topic 3 Introduction 4 Literature review 4 Air Pollution Causes 4 Effects/impacts 6 Air pollution statistics 7 Recommendations and personal opinion 7 References 9 (2015). Air Pollution: Comes From Many Sources. National Geographic Society - NGS. Retrieved from 9 Nathanson, J. A. (2015). “Air pollution.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved from 10 Seskin, E. P. & Lave, L. B. (2013). Air Pollution and Human Health. London: Routledge. 10 Tiwary, A. & Colls, J. (2009). Air Pollution: Measurement, Modelling and Mitigation, 3rd Edition. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. 10 Rationale for choosing the Topic I preferred researching about “Air Pollution” not only to equip myself with adequate knowledge about it but also satiate my long held curiosity about how air ends up being polluted due to both natural and human activities (as many scientists claim). In mentioning curiosity in this case I am implying how air with time ends up being polluted, which to me besides seeing as a mystery due to ignorance was also impossible especially while in lower grades. For instance, I could not make out how humanity can destructively pollute the envelope of air that fills the entire vast universe. This is to the extent its obliteration could extend to affecting our lives in return though in diverse ways including causing cancer. Brief idea about the topic The topic highlights how depositing of varied contaminants in the atmosphere ends up altering the state of air, hence affecting humanity in diverse ways. Depositing in this case not only is it possible through human activities but also natural means like vulcanicity, which based on studies so far conducted these eruptions comprise of HFCs as well as other significant Cl2 quantities. Besides other contaminants, these two agents there severity is worse because they take long before they attain their respective inactivity stages. To date, diverse environmental scholars including scientists through their studies have relayed how varied contaminants by have increasingly yielded to current extent of air pollution. Hence, contributing to worsening of climate change evident in the way varied current incidents are unexpectedly occurring. For instance, rising of sea levels, increased temperatures as well as augmenting prevalence of skin cancer as a result of ozone layer depletion. Introduction Recent studies contend early deaths currently experienced globally that approximate to 600,000 their core causes are linked to air pollution (Copenhagen and Haifa, 2015). Hence, prompting states especially in Europe incur economic cost of about $1.6 trillion while trying to manage air pollution related maladies as well as other varied health predicaments (Copenhagen and Haifa, 2015). This is despite states and respective global authorities pushing for the implementation of effective policies known to reduce this kind of pollution. One of this policy of summit whose core intention was to reduce depositing of contaminants in the atmosphere was the today’s famed Kyoto protocol, which some of the super powers declined to append their signatures. Hence, leading to the current increasing rate of air pollution due to competition especially in industrial sector. Some of the common known contaminants include fine Particulate Matter (PM), HFCs, Cl2, aerosols, SO2, NOx and CO (Jacobson & Jacobson, 2012). Most of these pollutants are high in industrial regions despite authorities in the respective states already having set certain limits, which they ought not to exceed (Seskin & Lave, 2013). This is quite evident in China and other developed states due to the insistence of industrialization, which currently is seen as a lucrative way to boost as well as stabilize economies. Therefore, this study seeks to relay information regarding air pollution’s effects, its current extent and what diverse scholarly studies have claimed to be augmenting this menace currently. Literature review Air Pollution Causes Contamination of the ambient air has been in existence since the unveiling of fire though then its impacts were incomparable to the current time (Tiwary & Colls, 2009). Since, currently humans have significantly advanced in terms of technological knowhow whereby there are numerous machines including vehicles whose varied emissions lead to air pollution. The common contributing aspect towards polluting of the ambient air encompasses increased industrialization rate by all global states (Tiwary & Colls, 2009). Hence, yielding to the depositing of smoke, obnoxious gases as well as PM in the atmosphere. This is quite evident with numerous urban regions like Beijing currently characterized by skylines and scattered dust clouds. Hence, confirming how in certain regions the extent of pollution or release of these contaminants have exceeded WHO and those of other environmental agents’ standards (Tiwary & Colls, 2009). Other agents that adversely affect air embrace CO2 and Green House Gases (GHGs), which as per the current studies have significantly contributed to the worsening of global warming predicament (NGS, 2015). Since, most of them (more so CFCs) end up reacting with varied and essential air agents leaving a “hole” in the sky (Jacobson & Jacobson, 2012). Consequently, this leads to the ozone layer diminution whose core role encompasses shielding people direct sun rays, which cause skin cancer. CO2 whose source includes fossils commonly used in transport and industrial sectors have proved to be a problem (Tiwary & Colls, 2009). This is because of its amount released in the atmosphere, which is by far compared to the inception of 1900s, hence compelling EPA in 2009 contending it entails to be regulated. Since, by year its quantity continues to augment by 2 ppm since the inception of 21st century approximating to 384 ppm. Toxic pollutants have also adversely altered the state of the ambient air and in turn leading to heightening of human mortality. For instance, through ailments that emanate from people inhaling obnoxious gases already contaminated by noxious agents like asbestos and dioxin. Mainly, these are chemical agents whose origin is from industrial regions whereby due to non-compliance of the already set rules end up released in the atmosphere. Agents of this kind are mostly rampant in states, which are currently embarking on heavy industrialization with the intention of boosting their respective economies. Conversely, they end up risking their citizens’ lives and incurring colossal amount of money in terms of healthcare costs. Effects/impacts Many of the predicaments global states are experiencing currently emanate from increasing degradation of humanity’s immediate settings or environment including air. Current WHO studies contend approximately more than 90% of the global citizens continue to inhale high levels of particulate matter, which is unfit for their health. However, the effect in this case vary across people based on their age as well as extent of exposure. The most affected are those who work in areas of pollution or reside at their vicinity. For instance, in industrial regions. For instance, Amadeo et al (2015) in their study contend of evident strong association linking air pollution with lung complications more so schoolchildren who have asthma (Amadeo et al., 2015). Additionally, air degradation especially by PM and CO2 to date studies contend of its significant contribution towards global warming. Since, these pollutants in most cases due to their increasing quantities usually act as “blanket” on the earth’s surface. Consequently, this shuns the escaping heat from the earth reflected towards the atmosphere to attain the necessary cooling effect but kept under on the surface (Saleh & Haddoud, 2013). Due to this, the earth ends up experiencing high sea levels and reduced ice quantities in the Polar Regions coupled with unpredictable weather patterns. Air pollution statistics Despite the automotive industry contending to have made significance advancements in reducing the extent of CO2 presently released in the atmosphere, the sector still remains as the leading source of this pollutant (Ilić, Vuković, Štrbac & Urošević, 2014). This is quite evident in advanced states whereby transport sector whole relies on Fossil fuels, which is also evident in running other varied machines in the industry (Ilić, Vuković, Štrbac & Urošević, 2014). The extent of air degradation is also evident in EPA’s statistics that contend approximately 83% of the European population (in 33 countries) during 2009 were exposed to over PM10 levels. Hence, posing as a potential risk because these levels are by far above what WHO guidelines advocates firms ought to operate within. According to Fengying et al (2014), air pollution especially in the urban regions is known to have caused 800,000 deaths besides reducing life expectancy of over 4.6 M globally. Hence, proving how adverse air degradation is compared to other forms because it normally extends to contributing to the alterations of people’s lives. This is from one’s settings in form of weather patterns to direct impact whereby the latter is via inhaling of the disposed pollutants (Fengying et al., 2014). In addition, scholars currently contend changes in PM2.5 are accountable for 200,000 deaths annually in US, which is a significant number compared to other causes like ozone linked to 10,000 deaths (Caiazzo, Ashok, Waitz, Yim & Barrett, 2013). Recommendations and personal opinion To reduce the extent of air degradation, it entails collective strategy by all global states with the intention to ensure the earth is better than it is currently. This is devoid of any state seeming to rawhide self-interests the way states in the past and currently have done. For instance, this is quite evident with the illustration of Kyoto protocol whereby some of the powers declined signing and exhibiting the then required compliance. The then declining powers to ratify this document were US and other emerging players like Russia and China whereby the latter argued their contribution to air degradation was extremely insignificant. Hence, prompting some players hesitate ratifying holding on to the thought those who declined was due to waive their responsibility of pollution and continue growing their economies. This is because these treaties normally give the developing states certain allowance by which they can exceed their emissions. This is contrary to the developed states who have extensively invested in industry and release significant emissions, which are extremely obnoxious besides being detrimental to the environment. Based on the non-compliance exhibited key super powers who ought to be leading other states towards reducing air pollution, I think this problem will continue to exist. Hence, the state worsen compared to the current state. Since, each state seems to be in pursuit of own economic interests, which will place them in a heightened platform. This implies the world through its respective organizations like WHO that have emerged with guidelines to comply with will not do so wholly. Since, each state wants to amass wealth through heavy industrialization in such a way no other state would ever dare to equal it. Hence, resulting to unhealthy rivalry, which ought not to be the case if all global states would wish to reduce the extent of air pollution. References (2015). Air Pollution: Comes From Many Sources. National Geographic Society - NGS. Retrieved from Amadeo, B., Robert, C., Rondeau, V., Mounouchy, M., Cordeau, L., Birembaux, X., & ... Raherison, C. (2015). Impact of close-proximity air pollution on lung function in schoolchildren in the French West Indies. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 1-12. DOI:10.1186/s12889-015-1382-5. Caiazzo, F., Ashok, A., Waitz, I. A., Yim, S. H., & Barrett, S. R. (2013). Air pollution and early deaths in the United States. Part I: Quantifying the impact of major sectors in 2005. Atmospheric Environment, 79198-208. doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.05.081 Copenhagen and Haifa. (28Th April 2015). “Air pollution costs European economies US$ 1.6 trillion a year in diseases and deaths, new WHO study says.” World Health Organization – WHO. Retrieved from Fengying, Z., Liping, L., Krafft, T., Li, W., Jianhui, Z., Lanyu, L., & ... Wuyi, W. (2014). Time- Series Study on Air Pollution and Mortality. Polish Journal Of Environmental Studies, 23(5), 1797-1804. Ilić, I., Vuković, M., Štrbac, N., & Urošević, S. (2014). Applying GIS to Control Transportation Air Pollutants. Polish Journal Of Environmental Studies, 23(5), 1849-1860. Jacobson, M. Z., & Jacobson, M. Z. (2012). Air pollution and global warming: History, science, and solutions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Nathanson, J. A. (2015). “Air pollution.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved from Saleh, I. M., & Haddoud, D. (2013). A Review of Climate Change and Rising Sea level Impacts on Global Marine Ecosystem. Journal Of Economic Development, Management, IT, Finance & Marketing, 5(1), 27-43. Seskin, E. P. & Lave, L. B. (2013). Air Pollution and Human Health. London: Routledge. Tiwary, A. & Colls, J. (2009). Air Pollution: Measurement, Modelling and Mitigation, 3rd Edition. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. Read More