Air Pollution - Research Paper Example

Air Pollution Introduction For the last few decades, there has been a growing concern over the nature of the air we breathe in relation to pollutants. Air pollution is increasingly becoming a factor of major concern particularly due to the health related illnesses caused by air pollution. Air pollution is the introduction of chemical emissions or dust particles substances that destabilizes the natural composition of air. Air forms the atmosphere and it is essential for sustainability of life in earth. The atmosphere is composed of several gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Other rare gases such as argon and helium exist in minute quantities and they are considered inactive. An optimum composition of these gases is essential for sustainability of life on the planet and any destabilization is regarded as pollution. In this case, destabilization may include introduction of foreign materials or increasing the atmospheric level of a certain gas beyond the optimum percentage in the atmosphere. The rising concern over the consequences of air pollution has necessitated the need to reduce air pollution or other effects of air pollution. This research paper will present findings on the source of air pollution, consequences of air pollution and possible intervention measures that are meant to control air pollution. An air pollutant can be described as any substance that can cause harm to the atmosphere or cause harmful effects on life. Air pollutants include solid particles such as dust and pollen grains, liquid droplets or gaseous substances. These pollutants can broadly be classified into primary or secondary pollutants depending on their nature of production and interaction with the atmosphere. Pollutants can also be classified into natural and artificial pollutants depending on the source of the pollutant. In this classification, pollutants that are produced by human activities such as industrialization and motor vehicle emissions are artificial pollutants while pollutants caused by natural phenomenon such as volcanic eruptions are natural pollutants (Marti and Ernst 56). In the earlier classification, primary pollutants are pollutants that are introduced from the source directly into the atmosphere such as industrial emission, motor vehicle emissions, and carbon dioxide emissions. On the other hand, secondary pollutants are pollutants that results when primary pollutants interact or react with the atmosphere. Sources of Air Pollution Gaseous pollutants are the most common form of air pollution although other pollutants play a significant role in causing environmental pollution. Gaseous pollutants include carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other volatile organic chemicals. Of these substances, carbon dioxide is the main pollutant accounting for about 80% of the total air pollution. Although carbon dioxide is the main air pollutant, its effects are underestimated due to its physical characteristics. Carbon dioxide is a colourless and odourless gas that is slightly dense than air. Due to its physical characteristics, its effects have remained unidentified until recently that it was discovered that carbon dioxide has adverse effects on the atmosphere (Menon 67). Unlike other pollutants, carbon dioxide has long-term consequences that may not be realized by the immediate generation. In addition, carbon dioxide pollution has cumulative effects on the atmosphere that continuously cause havoc even after the original pollutant has been eliminated. In addition eliminating carbon dioxide pollutant from the atmosphere is inevitable. Since the rise of industrialization and transportation, carbon dioxide has become a permanent part of global economy. The burning of fossil fuel is the main source of carbon dioxide with vehicles emissions being the main source of carbon pollution. It is estimated that vehicles account for 80% of global carbon emissions with the remaining percentage being produced by industrial emissions (NREL 109). Carbon dioxide emitted by natural processes such, as combustion, decay and oceanic reactions constitute a minute percentage. Of the remaining sources, industrial emissions account for a larger percentage of the total amount of carbon dioxide introduced into the atmosphere. A country’s energy requirement has a direct correlation with its carbon emissions. This indicates that industrialized countries are the main polluters while less industrialized nations produce less pollution. In this relation, the US is the main producer of pollutants followed by China and India. The US and China stands out as the major pollutants with over 70% of their total pollution being produced from motor vehicles or the transport industry. The increasing pace of Chinese industrialization is a clear indication that China might soon overtake the US as the main air polluter. Other emerging economies such as Brazil and Argentina are also on the watch list as the next major polluters. Other sources of carbon dioxide include natural process such as combustion and oceanic processes. Wild fires are major sources of carbon dioxide and they account for a large percentage of carbon dioxide produced by various countries such as Australia where wild fires are rampant. Volcanic activities are also a major source of carbon dioxide and other gases. Other gaseous pollution such as nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide are mainly produced from industrial emissions and they have adverse effects on people’s health. Unlike carbon dioxide, these gases have long term as well as short-term effects on the atmosphere. Other gases such as carbon monoxide produced from burning of hydrocarbon in limited supply of oxygen have fatal effects on people’s health. Burning auto fuels also contribute to the production of harmful gasses such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Gaseous pollution was found to be the main form or source of air pollution, however other sources of air pollution accounted for a significant percentage of air pollutant. Particle pollutants include smoke, dust, pollen grains, and volcanic ash. These pollutants are seasonal and they affect the immediate region where they are produced. Particle pollution causes invisibility as the main consequence or effect. Volcanic eruptions are a major cause of air pollution and a major source of particle pollutants. Volcanic ash that is produced from such eruptions is known to cause widespread clouds of dust that causes invisibility. The Iceland volcano is a clear demonstration of the effects of particle pollutants. Atmospheric pollution is not only concerned with the composition of gases but the general alteration of the atmosphere. Any alteration of the atmosphere results or contributes to atmospheric pollution no matter how insignificant it is. The eruption of Iceland volcano contributed greatly to atmospheric pollution. Volcanic ash produced from the eruption is the most significant form of atmospheric pollution that was experienced. The volcanic ash from the eruption introduced foreign materials into the atmosphere that greatly reduced visibility. The problem of reduced visibility resulting from the volcanic activity was the main cause of disruptions experienced in the airline industry. The effects of the Iceland volcanic eruptions were felt beyond the borders of the currently. During the eruption, the winds were moving westwards and this pushed the volcanic ash to countries west of Iceland. Countries such as UK France and Russia also experienced the effects of the volcanic ash. The main effect of the ash was disruption of the airline industry although there are other long-term effects that are still to come from the ash. The volcanic ash produced by the Iceland volcano also caused massive changes in the weather patterns on the affected countries. The effects from the volcano are long-term although some effects have immediate consequences on weather patterns. Increase in temperature was an immediate consequence of the volcanic ash. According to Thompson, “the ash released by the volcano contributed to an increase of atmospheric temperatures for the affected countries” (Thompson Web). Countries such as Britain reported an immediate increase in temperature because of the eruption. The volcanic ash also caused an alteration of winds in the concerned countries. Monsoon winds normally flow westwards through the affected countries and they are responsible for various patterns of weather across the globe. Strong winds are other natural causes of air pollution. Winds that blow over bare land caries soil into the atmosphere resulting in formation of dust. If the winds maintain such dust in the atmosphere for long times, the situation becomes unbearable resulting into air pollution. Dust pollution is rampant in desert states such as Texas where it causes sand storms. Dust pollution results from natural causes and therefore it lacks immediate intervention strategies. Effects of Air Pollution The physical characteristics of carbon dioxide are the main reason why the pollutant has remained unnoticed or unconsidered for a long time. However, its effects are numerous and destructive. There is a growing concern over global warming and its implication on the future of humanity. Global warming has a close relationship or connection with carbon dioxide production. Other effects of carbon dioxide emissions are the reduction of oxygen concentration in the atmosphere. Oxygen composes 20% of the atmosphere and it is vital for life of plants and animals on earth. There is fear that the increasing levels of carbon are displacing the amount of carbon of oxygen in the atmosphere. Other gaseous pollutants have both short term and long-term effects. Sulphur dioxide is carcinogenic and they are known to cause cancer and other respiratory diseases (Macdonald 123). Exposure to such gasses has adverse health effects on the victims. In addition to their poisonous characteristics, the two gases are acidic. Effects of air pollution can be disastrous depending on the quantity or the degree of the pollutants. The Bhopal disaster that took place in 1984 in India is an example of the short-term effects of air pollution. During this event, poisonous vapour leaked from an US owned carbide factory causing the deaths of 25,000 people. More than 600, 000 others suffered severe and long-term effects due to the leakage. When any of the two gases encounters rainwater, it dissolves producing a weak acid that has diverse effects on the environment. Acidic rain causes corrosion of metal roofing and other metallic materials that encounter the acidic rain. If acidic rainfall gets in water bodies it also causes a pH imbalance that distress marine life (Davis web). Acidic rain also interferes with the soil causing long-term effects on the growth of plants. Reduced visibility is also among the effects of air pollution. Invisibility results from either a primary of pollutant or a secondary source of air pollution. Smog is a major characteristic of air pollution in major urban and industrial centres. Smog results when smoke combines with mist leading to the formation of thick clouds that reduces visibility (Bradsher 67). The great smog over Santiago in 1984 is among the worst smog formation in the world history. The smog destructed usual economic activities that almost brought the town into a halt. Santiago smog of 1984 is believed to have been caused by smoke that originated industrial and motor vehicle emissions. Volcanic eruption is other pollutants that destruct visibility. Due to the height reached by volcanic ash, the airline industry is the most affected by reduced visibility leading to massive losses for this industry. Strategies to Curb Air Pollution The negative effects of air pollution are obvious. This has necessitated the need to control production of pollutants in order to slow down the effects of such occurrences. Some air pollutant such as carbon dioxide is inevitable and hence any strategy to curb carbon dioxide related consequences would consider ways of minimizing carbon dioxide production. Clean up strategies are also necessary in order to remove pollutants that are already present in the atmosphere. Cleanup mechanisms include activities that are aimed at reducing or eliminating pollutants from the atmosphere. This includes measures that are applied to try to restore the natural composition of air. Carbon dioxide is the main air pollutant and, therefore most of the strategies are aimed at reducing the production of carbon dioxide. Alternative strategies are also aimed at reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The highest percentage of carbon dioxide comes from human cause mainly through the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide that results from such sources is difficult to eliminate from the atmosphere since the world economies depends on fossil fuels. It would therefore be difficult to stop the usage of coal or diesel since it will indicate decline of the transport industry or closure of industries. In such cases, corrective strategies will involve measures or methods that are aimed at controlling usage of fuels. Alternative sources of energy are possible solution to the current pollution problem. Such sources of energy will substitute ether current sources of energy with clean sources of energy that produces less or no carbon dioxide. It is also necessary to encourage people to use alternative sources of energy or conserve their current sources of energy (Friedman 903). Clean sources of energy include wind and solar energy. The two source of energy can be transformed into other forms of energy that are more applicable such as electricity. Wind and solar energy are regarded as clean energies since they do not produce any emissions. Other alternatives will include using sources of energy that produces less emission as compared to the traditional sources. These include usage of natural gas and bio fuels such as ethanol instead of the traditional fossil fuels such kerosene and diesel (Akimoto 45). Promotion of energy conservation will also be an effective strategy in the fight against air pollution. This will include encouraging people to use public transportation instead of private vehicles; people will also need to acknowledge the need to use minimum energy for any activity such as domestic cooking and heating. The rising concern over global warming and the future of humanity has made environmental conservation to become a major political agenda. Different policies have been developed in order to promote environmental conservations. Organizations such as European Environmental Agency (EEA) have been instrumental in championing environmental conservation strategies. The organization use direct and indirect approaches that are aimed at finding immediate and long-term solutions to atmospheric pollution. Short-term strategies include schemes such as carbon dioxide purchasing whereby major polluters such as the US and China fund tree planting projects in developing countries (European Court of Justice Web). This fund comes from an annual contribution from such countries that are aimed at environmental conservation. Anti-pollution, organizations also incorporate other organizations that have businesses or operations that involves production of atmospheric pollutants. Campaigns that are aimed at promoting environmental conservation are also significant in promoting and encouraging environmental conservation. Conclusion Air pollution is the introduction of foreign materials into the atmosphere. Air pollutants are substances that destabilize the natural composition of atmospheric gases. Gaseous pollutants are the major cause of atmospheric pollution with carbon dioxide being the main pollutant. Other pollutants include particles such as dust, volcanic ash, and smoke. Air pollutants can be from a primary or secondary source depending on the interaction of the atmosphere with the pollutant. Air pollution has destructive effects that can be realized in the long term or in the short term. Short-term effects include effects or experiences that are realized immediately after pollution has occurred while long-term effects are consequences of pollution that last beyond the actual pollutant. These include health related problems, and reduced visibility. Global warming is another long-term effect of air pollution. Air pollution needs to be controlled in order to reduce the resultant effects. This includes strategies that are aimed at reducing continuous pollution or clean-up strategies. Corrective measures include using alternative sources of energy. Political intervention is also expected to enhance environmental conservation and reduce air pollution. Works Cited Akimoto, Hay. Global Air Quality and Pollution. Science, 30-172. 2003. Print. Davis, Devra. When Smoke Rain like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle against Pollution. London: Basic Books, 2002. Print. European Court of Justice, Curia. Press Release No 58/08 Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-237/07. London: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Print. Friedman, Marti. Impact of changes in transportation and commuting behaviors during the 1996 summer Olympic Games in Atlanta on air quality and childhood asthma. Journal of the American Medical Association, vol. 285, February. 897-905. 2001. Print. Macdonald, Gordon, and Agatin, Abbott. Volcanoes in the Sea. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1970. Print. Marti, Joan and Ernst, Gerald. Volcanoes and the Environment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Print NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory). Photovoltaics: Advancing Toward the Millennium. 1996. Pdf. Menon, Jackson. Climate Effects of Black Carbon Aerosols in China and India. Science, 23(3) 2250 - 2253. 2002. Print. Thompson, Andrea. Will Iceland Volcano Change the climate? Livescience. 2010. Web. 10 May 2012. Appendix US Emission Trends Table 1 source: EPA national air quality and emissions trend report 1998. Read More