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THE CAUSES AND CONRTOL OF AIR POLLUTION

Kiaira L. Muhammad November 8, 2010 EASC 201 James Lewis

EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIORNMENAL DESIGN N.C. A&T STATE UNIVERSITY GREENSBORO, N.C.

TABLE OF CONTENS

Title page What is air pollution? How humans and the environment are affected. Main causes of air pollution Pollution prevention Bibliography

p. 1 p. 3 p. 3 p. 4 p. 4 p.5 p. 5 p.6 p. 7

What is air pollution? Air pollution is a multidimensional phenomenon with varied sources. Its effects are not always immediate; some tend to spread over time depending on how they are affected. (Ridker, 1967) Before the increase in large cities and industries, nature kept the air clean. Wind mixed and dispersed gases, the rain washed the easily dissolved substances to the ground and plants absorbed carbon dioxide and replaced it with oxygen. Humans began to release more waste into the atmosphere then nature could manage with urbanization and industrialism. Air pollution, by definition, occurs when there is an introduction of air containing gases, dust, fumes, or odor in harmful amounts. Air pollution contamination of the atmosphere by gaseous, liquid, or solid wastes can endanger the health of human beings, plants, and animals, or that can damage materials, reduce visibility, or produce undesirable odors. Further pollution can arise if primary pollutants undergo chemical reactions. The resulting compounds are called secondary pollutants. Photo chemical smog is an example of this. (Landsberg, 1970) How humans and the environment are affected In a report to the Committee on Public Works of the United States senate, it was stated that there is strong evidence that air pollution is associated with a number of respiratory ailments. These include non-specific infectious upper respiratory diseases, chronic bronchitis, chronic constructive ventilator diseases, pulmonary emphysema, and lung cancer. Air pollution also affects vegetation, livestock, and may cause property damage. (Landsberg, 1970) A brief review of what is known and suspected about the health effects of air pollution will place the cost of estimates to be derived in context. Evidence about the association of air pollution and health comes from three sources: (1) studies made of a number of severe episodes that have

occurred at various times throughout the world, (2) epidemiological studies of people and communities subject to low levels of pollution for extended periods of time and, (3) lab studies of humans and animals in experimental environments. (Ridker, 1967) Smog hanging over cities is the most apparent form of air pollution. Air pollution due to vehicles presents a big environmental threat in many parts of the world. In some Asian states like India and China, life is almost unbearable because of tremendous air pollution resulting from cars. Air pollution also has a negative impact on climate change. The harmful emissions are not only polluting air we breathe but also giving greenhouse effect more impact, thereby increasing average temperature on our planet. Air pollution has an extremely negative effect on our environment, with the most obvious being the effect on our health. According to World Health Organization, 2.4 million people die each year from causes directly linked to air pollution, mostly from different respiratory diseases and can also lead to strokes. (Jackson, 2008) Air pollution is able to have a harmful effect on the ozone layer, making it thinner and thus giving way for ultraviolet rays which could cause an increased risk for humans to develop skin cancer. Main causes of air pollution The causes of air pollution can be many to name, however, some of the main causes of pollution are as follows; carbon dioxide, combustion engine exhaust, factories, mining operations, smokestacks, mills and plants, and pesticides. Of these pollutants, carbon dioxide is one the main ones. The reason being, although human beings do exhale carbon dioxide, the gas is harmful when emitted from other sources which are usually caused from human activity such as car fumes. Industry plants use smokestacks that do not eradicate these pollutants, rather boost them into the atmosphere that could be transported and cause unfavorable effects such as acid

rain. (Lad) Another pollutant, associated with climate change, is sulfur dioxide which is a component of smog. Sulfur dioxide and other close chemicals are known as the primary cause of acid rain as well. They also reflect light when released in the atmosphere, which keeps sunlight out and causes Earth to cool. Volcanic eruptions emit massive amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, sometimes causing cooling that lasts for years. Pollution solutions Clean air is a meager resource, just as land, trees, water, animals, etc. are. Like water, air is essential to life; however, unlike other sources, there is no market place in which air is bought and sold. In the United States, the Clean Air Act of 1967 is the legal basis for air-pollution control. The Clean Air Act is the law that defines EPA's responsibilities for protecting and improving the nation's air quality and the stratospheric ozone layer. Internationally, 49 countries agreed in 1985 on a United Nations convention to protect the ozone layer. (Jackson, 2008) This agreement, which was renegotiated in 1990, called for the phase out of certain ozone-destroying chemicals by the year 2000. The EPA found that the growth in the amount and complexity of air pollution brought about by urbanization, industrial development, and the increasing use of motor vehicles, has resulted in mounting dangers to the public health and welfare, including injury to agricultural crops and livestock, damage to, and the deterioration of property, and hazards to air and ground transportation. (Jackson, 2008) With a little effort from our side, we can help to reduce the harmful effects of air pollution so that we can breathe in a clean and healthy environment. Cutting down on environmental air pollution would first take assessing the pollution. Under title 42, chapter 85, subchapter part I, Research and development program for prevention and control of air pollution,

the EPA states that The Administrator shall establish a national research and development program for the prevention and control of air pollution and as part of such program shall conduct and promote the coordination and acceleration of, research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects (including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, and control of air pollution. They will also cooperate with, and render technical services and provide financial assistance to air pollution control agencies and other appropriate public or private agencies, institutions, and organizations, and individuals in the conduct of such activities. (Jackson, 2008) Researches must consider setting the levels of air pollution in order to start to reduce of terminate the air pollution. Aside from researchers, people may consider the help that they can do as well. If working in an office, carpool. This will help to reduce the amount of vehicles on the roads already, reducing congestion and ultimately car exhaust because cars stuck in traffic pollute more. Keep cars properly tuned up in order for it to remain in a good condition. Save energy by using minimum amounts of natural gasses and electricity; for example, use a fan instead of an air conditioner when it is possible. Buying recycled products and reusing plastic and paper bags will contribute a great deal to the reduction of air pollution and global warming. (Lad) In other countries, Sri Lanka to be exact, they are taking an electronic approach to air pollution. To ensure an electronic waste free environment in Sri Lanka, the Central Environment Authority (CEA), together with other business organizations, are operating in home electronics, information technology, telecommunications industries and waste management service providers to launch an electronic waste management project to eradicate the growing e-waste crisis. (Let us take care of your electronic waste, 2010) Proper disposal of electronic devices can help the environmental relief program.

Bibliography
1. Jackson, L. (2008, December 18). United States Code. Retrieved November 5, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/ 2. Lad, K. (n.d.). Causes of Air Pollution. Retrieved November 5, 2010, from www.buzzle.com/articles/causes-of-air-pollution. 3. (1970). America's Changing Environment. In H. L. Landsberg, America's Changing Environment (pp. 39-55). Boston. 4. Let us take care of your electronic waste. (2010). Daily Mirror , 3. 5. Ridker, R. G. (1967). Strategies for measuring the cost of Air Pollution. In R. G. Ridker, Economic Costs of Air Pollution (pp. 12-29). New York City: Fredrick A. Praeger Publsihers.