What Causes Air Pollution - Assignment Example

Student Name: Tutor: Title: What causes air pollution? Course: Contents Contents 2 Introduction 3 Secondary research / Literature review 3 Purpose and design of survey 4 Results 5 Conclusion 10 List of references 11 Introduction Air pollution refers to the introduction of biological molecules, particulates together with other materials that are harmful into the atmosphere of the Earth. The substances may cause diseases and ultimately lead to the deaths of human beings. They also cause damages to the other living organisms like animals and food crops as well or the built or natural environment. Any substance generally introduced into the atmosphere by people whose effects are damaging to living things and their surroundings is regarded air pollution. Greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide is usually the core pollutant that warms the earth (Cramer, 2002). As much as living thing emit the carbon dioxide when breathing, the gas is widely considered a pollutant when it comes from power plants, planes, cars and other activities by humans. Secondary research / Literature review There is a diversity of problems that modern societies suffer from that involve environmental aspects that is very crucial. The problems relate to the biodiversity conversation, clean unpolluted air and clean water availability, personal and public health, healthy food and wellbeing. Air pollution, for a long, has been a very pressing environmental issue and stands as a critical challenge that faces the, modern societies. Air pollution plays a very fundamental role as a key harmful effect on animal lives, human health, man-made environment and natural ecosystem (Cousteau, 2013). Air pollution takes place at different levels both indoors and outdoors and it results from natural mechanisms and human activities. The degradation of the air quality due to the pollution of air is a global issue that threatens the wellbeing of the humanity. It is to a wide range associated with the environmental injustice. Several indoor and outdoor air pollutants have severe effects to the human health and hence pose significant threats to the people globally. Such human health conditions include respiratory or cardiovascular disorders, lung cancer and asthma which are so fatal. Humans inhale an average of approximately fourteen thousand litters of air daily hence making it obvious that air pollution are possible human health dangers. Air pollution is caused by several factors that include the burning of fossil fuel, agricultural activities, the exhaust from industries and factories, mining activities and indoor air pollution. The ozone layer plays a very significant role for the ecosystem existence (Dimitriou & Christidou, nd). Purpose and design of survey The main purpose of this survey was establishing the causes of air pollution in various cities from where the participants came from. The online tool that was used to facilitate the entire survey process was the Survey Monkey (Survey design). There were a total of ten questions that the online Survey tool used to fetch the answers from the participants. A total of thirty eight respondents fully participated in the survey and their feedbacks were recorded. The survey was designed in such a way that the responses could be categorized and hence ranked in order of preference. The answers were hence categorized and conclusions drawn from the analysis. Participants were requested to establish the air pollution causes in their cities, rate the quality of air contemporary, major air pollution contributors, the effects of air pollution, changes brought by air pollution, and probable techniques of solving the air pollution oriented challenges. Results Question 1 needed a personal view of the air pollution causes in respective cities. The Respondents agreed that 50% of the air pollution was caused by the population growth. Around 42% of air pollution was caused by the manufacturing factories. Household heating contributed to 10% of the pollution of air. Other responses that rated high include waste disposal at 32% and construction at 26%. Power plants and cigarette smoking both contributed 16%. In question 3 which is similar to question 1, it was established that transportation’ carbon emissions was the highest contributor to the air pollution standing at 75%. The question however had a total of 37 respondents. In question 2 that wanted the respondents to rate the quality of air in their cities in contrast to other years; there were different opinions as well. Most respondents (32%) established that the contemporary quality of air in their cities was a bit better than the previous years. 18% indicated that the conditions were much worse than the previous years and the same percentage also established that the conditions were almost the same as previously. 15% indicated that the current quality of air was much better than it was in the initial years. Question 4 required the respondents to indicate whether there were any other effects of pollutants of air other than the health effects. In response, sixteen (44%) out of the total thirty six who participated said no, 11 people (30%) agreed while nine people (25%) didn’t know. Question 5 was in relation to whether there were any materials changes having been caused by air pollution. Thirty seven respondents participated as one was skipped. In response to the same, 57% (21 people) disagreed while 38% agreed and two people (5%) indicated their responces. One respondent mentioned the burning of more coal in India, china and the developing economies. In regard to question 6, most respondents have used bicycles instead of vehicles to reduce air pollution in their cities. This is in relation to question four. Approximately 41% of the respondents have preferred bicycles to vehicles. 22% avoid careless waste disposal while 30% have participated in ‘green’ campaigns. However, only 36 people participated in responding to this question. For question 7, that needed the respondents to disagree or agree on statements, the following were their feedbacks in relation to the variables provided before. One participant was however skipped and 37 responded accordingly. Figure 1: Correspondents’ Responses   – Strongly Agree– Agree– Undecided– Disagree– Strongly Disagree– Total– Weighted Average– – Companies that pollute environment should be closed and fined 13.89% 5 55.56% 20 19.44% 7 8.33% 3 2.78% 1   36   2.31 – Every person should partake in improving the environment 35.14% 13 40.54% 15 21.62% 8 2.70% 1 0.00% 0   37   1.92 – Air pollution as it is cannot be managed 16.22% 6 21.62% 8 24.32% 9 27.03% 10 10.81% 4   37   2.95 – Government should ban cars from cities 27.78% 10 33.33% 12 13.89% 5 16.67% 6 8.33% 3   36   2.44 1. Companies that polluted the environment to be fined and closed Five people strongly agreed, twenty agreed, seven were undecided, three disagreed and one strongly disagreed. 2. in relation to every person partaking in environment improvement Thirteen people strongly agreed, fifteen agreed, eight were undecided, one disagreed and no one strongly disagreed. 3. In relation to failure to manage air pollution as it is Six people strongly agreed, eight just agreed, nine were not decided, ten disagreed and four people strongly disagreed. 4. In relation to the government burning cars from cities Ten people strongly agreed, twelve agreed, five were undecided, six disagreed and three strongly disagreed. Question 8 was in relation to the ways air pollution has affected the respondent. 16 people (43%) indicated eye irritation, 14 people (37%) indicated skin problems. Fifteen people (40%) indicated depression. Twelve people (32%) mention a shift to places that were less polluted, fourteen people (38%) mentioned poor visibility and eleven respondents (30%) mentioned incidences of asthma. The results are represented below: Figure 2: Impact of Air Pollution For question 9 that questioned the extent the respondents knew about air pollution, 51% (19 persons) said they knew a lot about it, 49% (18 people) said they knew less while no one said they knew nothing about air pollution. The last questioned needed the usable techniques in solving the air problems. Seven (19%) people said that ultra-low-sulphur diesel should be used, 23 people (62%) mentioned that the ozone depleting substances to be removed and seven (19%) supported the introduction of harsh penalties. These results have justified the line of thought of the authors in the literature review by providing evidence based effects of pollution. The literature for instance indicated that air pollution plays a very fundamental role as a key harmful effect on animal lives, human health, man-made environment and natural ecosystem. In relation to that the responses to question four showed that people believed that air pollution has more effects other than health alone. Discussion Most participants mention that the main cause of the air pollution was the population growth. At least 50% of the participants agreed that increased population has constantly contributed to the increased pollution of the air in various cities. Urbanization has a direct impact to the pollution of air to any urban setup. The population growth in most countries is a natural consequence that stimulates the economic development based on post industrialization and industrialization. Increased population growth hence significantly contributes to the increased air pollution. An increased population means that transport means such as Moto vehicles ships and planes also increase. Such machines emit gases that pollute the air and the entire surroundings (eschooltoday, 2015). Many countries have been trying to come up with resolving the air pollution issue. No clear-cut solution has been adopted so far. The countries have strived to do anything to handle the situation. As a result therefore, most respondent thought that the current air quality of air is better than the past. Most people also think that transportation’ carbon emissions is the highest cause of air pollution. The respondent agreed that most of the times there is no other effect of air pollution other than the health hazards. There are hazardous chemicals that escape to the surrounding due to anthropogenic and natural activities (Bingheng & Haidong, 2008). Such activities may have adverse effects on the health of humans and the surrounding as well. The chemical reactions that involve air pollutants create acidic compounds. The compounds are harmful to both buildings and vegetables. The acidic rain therefore damages the leaves of trees and other vegetation. The respondents had different opinions depending on the cities they came from. They however had some common opinions as well especially in regard to how the solutions of air pollution can be solved (Stubblefield, 2015). Conclusion In conclusion, air pollution is a global issue that contemporary poses many challenges to the society. Most governments have committed themselves to making environmental policies and rules that are against the air pollution. The main cause for air pollution is the population increase. The increase in population has made people indulge into many activities that end up causing air pollution. Air pollution has very severe health consequences that include exposure diseases such as respiratory and cardiac conditions and cancer. It hence very important to control the air pollution causes in any society. List of references Cousteau, J. (2013, 7). Effects of Overpopulation: Water and Air Pollution. Negative Population Growth, pp. 1-3. Cramer, J. (2002). Population Growth and Local Air Pollution: Methods, Models, and Results. Population and Development Review, Vol. 28, Supplement: Population and, 22-50. Chen, Bingheng, kan & Haidong 2008, ‘Air pollution and population health: a global challenge’, Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, pp. 94-101, viewed 30 October 2015, http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.lib.uts.edu.au/docview/230179959/fulltextPDF/12ABE2AD69AB456BPQ/2?accountid=17095. Dimitriou, A., & Christidou, V. (nd). Causes and Consequences of Air Pollution and Environmental Injustice as Critical Issues for Science and Environmental Education . The Impact of Air Pollution on Health, Economy, Environment and Agricultural Sources , pp. 216-235. eschooltoday. (2015). Air pollution. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://eschooltoday.com/: http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/air-pollution/effects-of-air-pollution.html Hammitt, James k. Zhou & Ying 2005, ‘The Economic Value of Air-Pollution-Related Health Risks in China: A Contingent Valuation Study’, Environmental and Resource Economics, 15 May, viewed 31 October 2015, http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.lib.uts.edu.au/docview/220868989/26CD5F2327354B74PQ/15?accountid=17095. Stubblefield, M. (2015). Effects of Air Pollution in Humans. Retrieved November 16, 2015, from http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com: http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Effects_of_Air_Pollution_in_Humans Survey design, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z7X7NKK. APPENDIX Read More