The Ozone and Effects on Asthma Patients - Essay Example

Sociology of Risk al Affiliation) Research on Risk and Society. The Ozone and Effects on Asthma Patients. By doing this research, myaim is to; Demonstrate that factories are a health hazard: This will be through providing evidence as to how the number of factories negatively impacts the health of the surrounding populace. Demonstrate the effective methods of controlling the emissions produced by the factory and proposing suitable punitive measures for the offenders. To find out and explain the relationship between ozone level and asthma attacks in school going children. To recommend the effective methods at which the industries can operate at an optimum level with the populace and help those affected by the industrialization. Introduction The Risk Society Thesis In our everyday activities, we tend to be sensitive to the different types of risks that affect our relations with others; with self; and with the culture of our places (Bauman 2002). Considerations and calculations of risk taking, risk management as well as risk detection cannot be complete since there are always other unforeseen aspects of the risk environment. The array of industries, nuclear and technological dangers surrounding us is alarming and to a certain extent dangerous to our social lives. Indeed, Ulrich Beck a German sociologist defined the current world as “a world of risk society” (Beck 1992). According to him, the risk society is defined with a new electronic economy evident through advanced technological innovation combined with scientific development. By studying Becks Sociology of risks, we are able to reflect on the different ways at which the world has change. According to him, modernity is the world that introduces the certain global risks that the previous generations never had to face. In addition to that, when institutions and industries fail to control the risks that they have created themselves, they are bound to suffer in the long run. He further states that the risks brought about by modernization in this current generation is higher than the previous one(Beck 1992). Beck suggests that the issues of pollution and security in this generation has been politicized to a point that no one will want to listen. In his analysis, he claims that the traditional culture did not have all these problems that are being encountered now. With the beginning of efforts of taking hold of the future, there have always been the embarrassing bits of politics in the way. The year1980 according to Beck demonstrated the case of a German lead crystal company called Altenstadt in the Upper Palatinate that was prosecuted for environmental pollution. The residents had developed rashes, nausea and sometimes headaches. This was as a result of the dust from the industry and taking the company to court was a way of bringing justice to the people. However, the case was dropped in the context that there were other three factories around the area and consequently the individual liability of producing the toxic fumes could not be established. This, according to Beck is the real life travesty of the hazard technocracy (Beck 1992). The age of nuclear, genetic and chemical technology, has brought about a destruction of the calculus of risks that the current world has develop ways to cope with. In particular, there are two kinds of insurance companies carrying the risks. These are the private and the public insurance companies; in which welfare of the human being is to bepreserved. However, the changing nature of risks is in the globalization age fractures the calculation of risks for insurance purposes. We do not know the number of risks we are facing at the moment therefore accurately calculating them in terms of probability, compensation and accountability will not be possible to achieve. In connection to this, Beck has also decided to demonstrate that the global damage of the ozone layer is not possible to compensate with monetary value. Secondly in case of a nuclear accident, then the security governing the plant will be wiped out. Reflective Modernization Hereby, Beck develops his critique of modernitythrough the presup-positions of sociology modernization. Constantly, there has been a confusion between modernity and the industrial society. Beck therefore finds his ideas of progress concealed within dominant social theories that have equated modernization with linear rationalization.one of the argument by beck is that we are in between industrial society and advanced modernization(Beck 1992). Modern men and women are thrown into constant argument on the topic of reflective modernization. Through this self-confrontation, risks that cannot be overcome nor addressed in the standards of industrial society are brought about. This is because through the societal self-confrontations, modernity blindness is brought to light. There is a form of irresponsibility when dealing with the industrial progress. This irresponsibility is brought about by political contradiction of the risk that sometimes are self-jeopardized or self-endangered. Through this, faith in progress and the rule of expert opinion are overcome and the responsibility on the dead end is passed over to individuals. Individualization. Beck argues that the arrival of advanced modernization is all about expansion of choice. Furthermore, if risks are designed on the purpose of making the incalculable calculable, then the risk must be embraced. The set of traditions that were previously thought to be making people concentrate on their lives in both the intimate and the public aspects is called the individualization. Often, it is defined by the reinvention and redesigning of the tradition ideas and merged with the modern one (Beck 1992). Over the years there has been progressive as well as regressive elements of individualization and thus may lead to being a limitation in the near future. For example people desire to be entangled between society and technology but at times they forget who they are and lose control to let the technology drive them. Empirical research Global Warming Before the industrialization era, the greenhouse effect was a natural process involving gases like carbon and vapor were trapping heat from the sun thereby making life inhabitable on earth. But when human beings began to develop the machinery and industries, the aspect of the greenhouse effect changed completely. This was due to the increased emissions from the factories that interfered with the natural cycle. Furthermore, the human induced pollution from the factories and use of fossil fuel have led to global warming. The Ozone layer The atmosphere involves a layer of ozone which is useful in the capture of harmful UV rays. The ground level ozone is on the contrary dangerous to both the health and the respiratory system. It has been discovered that the global warming has led to increased problem in respiratory system. In addition to that, ozone wearing out has a further impact on the amount of crops produced. By negatively impacting the ecosystem, In America alone, there is an estimate of $500 million worth of crops destroyed every year. This is according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Most of the ground level ozone has been brought about by metal and chemical producing factories in the U.S. Even more saddening, the constant use of fossil fuel and the car emissions contribute to 30% of the ground ozone. Global warming and potential gas There was a constant use of CFCs in the industries. This gases were depleting the ozone at an alarming rate. Due to different efforts, the factories decided to use a different gas called the global warming substituting gases. To say the least, they are also causing the ozone to be depleted though in a lesser aggressive way than the CFCs. Carbon IV Oxide and Methane. The main producers of Carbon IV Oxide are industries and vehicles. In fact, it is claimed that electricity produces 41% of all the total emissions last year. Other than commercial buildings, domestic homes are also producers of carbon. Other ways in which carbon accumulate are by the act of deforestation. Since trees are natural consumers of carbon, when their numbers are reduced the amount of carbon in the atmosphere remains high. On the other hand, methane is considered to be 23% more potent than carbon. Even though methane is naturally released by nature, 50% of the methane today is produced by man according to EPA. Further studies suggest that the factories producing natural gas are great contributors of methane. Through the above knowledge on global warming, I did a research on the effects of the global warming on patients with asthma. According to the asthma statistics compiled by the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, about 23 million people including 7million children in the US have asthma. An average of 1 out of every 10 school aged children also have asthma. Further statistics state that about 3,384 deaths in America each year is asthma related (Kim 1884). So in what ways are people living with asthma affected by the ozone?It is a clinical fact that the people living with asthma are more sensitive to changes in ozone therefore experiencing lung disorder in case of a small change. Epidemiological studies have proven that some small exposure to the ozone triggers the asthma by inflammation of the airways and the lungs thus causing attacks. In a study in New York, during my research I found out that during the warm weather when the ozone is at maximum, the students used their inhalers more frequently as compared to a cool weather. In addition to that, the number of hospital visits were doubled with most cases being asthma attacks. To be precise, when the ozone level was above 110ppb most children were taken to hospital on emergency. Evaluation Asthma is a dangerous disease that is fatal if not taken care of. In line with this then, the government should formulate a way of protecting these young children from the changes of the ozone. In my opinion, the number of factories should be centralized. Those who have children living with asthma should not be allowed to stay in the places where there is constant changes to the ozone. Furthermore, advanced studies should be carried out so as to provide parents with information to places that have almost constant ozone. This information will enable parents to decide on where it’s suitable to raise their kids who have these conditions. The last recommendation is for the government to introduce a law to dictate the amount of money the industries in one place should cover for the children brought in due to asthma attacks. By being accountable, the companies will try as much as possible to limit their amount of emissions. Challenges during research The tools employed during the primary research entailed interview and questionnaire. The birth statistics derived from secondary research was attained through medical journals and books .The greatest challenge experienced was during primary research through questionnaire. In this regard, some of the respondents did not complete the questionnaire form resulting to a shortage of information. In future, I will endeavor to conduct face to face interview more as opposed to the questionnaire since it will allow for more accurate and precise data as well as limiting shortage of data gathered. Work Cited Jamall, M. (1986). 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"The Good, the Bad, or the Godless Society?: Danish “Church People” and the Modern Welfare State." Church History 82.04 (2013): 904-940. Print. Name Hospital name Number of asthma attacks during normal ozone Number of asthma attacks during a higher ozone level Number of critical cases: include the ozone count of the day Read More