1

Royal
09 May 2019
Emma Boone & Liz Cartwright
8A

Air Pollution

Air pollution is causing negative effects on urban environments. This is a national and
global issue because air pollution continues to worsen across the globe. This is an important
issue to address because it is the air we breathe everyday. By installing more community
gardens and rooftop gardens the air can be purified and supplied with more oxygen.

The science behind air pollution is simple. ​Air pollution is a mixture of solid particles
and gases in the air. ​Plants help to offset the carbon footprint for an estimated 700 people,
produce enough oxygen for 3,000 people, while also filtering out the particulate emissions of 745
cars (Mok). This means that more plants can offset the pollution that human create. According
to Science Daily, “stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as
a threat to human health as well as to the earth's ecosystems” (Air Pollution). Overall, air
pollution has been affecting us for years. With proper changes put in place our world could have
better air quality.

https://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/santalaia-vertical-garden-building-paisajismo-ur
bano-groncol.html

The current impacts that air pollution has on human society is devastating. ​People with
heart or lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from air pollution. Air
pollution is caused by, ​“the toxic chemicals released into the air settle into plants and water
sources” In addition, “Animals eat the contaminated plants and drink the water. The poison then
travels up the food chain – to us” (We Live Off The Earth). If the negative cycle continues
 2

pollution will only worsen and lead to more illnesses in urban areas.

There are numerous ways to address this problem as a community. To begin, people
need to bring more awareness to their consumption of gas. Using bikes to commute if possible.
Many other countries are addressing this problem. For example, “in Mexico City they will be
putting plants on over 1000 pillars” (Mexico City Goes Vertical). Individuals can choose one or
two types of plants and make sure they are good for your environment, more plants so that the air
will crear up. The government could impose stricter regulations with factories and car markers.
Also, creating more public transits could decrease the air pollution. Overall, there are many
ways that people and lawmakers can help solve this problem.

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/oct/30/mexico-city-via-verde-vertical-gardens-pollutio
n-climate-change

Overall we need to stop the pollution because it is harmful to are environment and to
humans. If we don't address the issue it will only get worse. This problem is important because
the longer humans live on this planet, we will produce more waste. We should plant more plants
so are environment gets cleaner. One way to plant more plants without access to a backyard is in
rooftop gardens. In conclusion, planting more plants, imposing stricter factory regulations, and
adding more public transits are a good way to help are pollution and make are air cleaner.
 3

Works Cited

“How Does Pollution Affect Humans?” ​The World Counts​,

www.theworldcounts.com/stories/How-Does-Pollution-Affect-Humans​.

Lisa Martine Jenkins in Mexico City. “Mexico City's Vertical Gardens: Seeds of Change or Cynical
Greenwashing?” ​The Guardian​, Guardian News and Media, 30 Oct. 2018,
www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/oct/30/mexico-city-via-verde-vertical-gardens-pollution-climate-change.

Mok, Kimberley. “World's Largest Vertical Garden Hosts 115,000 Plants to Create ‘Living
Building’ (Video).” ​TreeHugger,​ Treehugger, 11 Oct. 2018,
www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/santalaia-vertical-garden-building-paisajismo-urbano-groncol.ht
ml​.