Air pollution: Malaysia has risen to the industrial age, not wanting to be left behind in the dark ages

anymore, but at the cost of the environment. Many industrial zones have been approved by the government to be set up in mostly forestland and uninhabited areas. One very good example of the industrial zone is of Shah Alam in the state of Selangor. As a result, trees has been cut down to accommodate towards the building of large industrial factories. Not only has the oxygen supply been decreased, these factories are spewing out poisonous gases in the course of its production. Naturally, people would flock to industrial zones such as Shah Alam because of the high pay and high opportunity of jobs involved. Shah Alam is now one of the most densely populated areas as well as one of the most highly polluted areas in the country, and yet it is not the only one. One can imagine the amount of people who will be affected by the long side effects of the pollution from the gases. The increasing amount of cars in Malaysia also has lent a hand in the pollution. Excess poisonous gases and heat are emitted daily (you should know the rest). Open air burning, despite it being banned by law, has not been heeded by the people of Malaysia. Burning is also the only way right now to get rid of the excess rubbish. Smoke and heat is released.
Air Pollution In California There are many different types of pollution that affect our environment. The Earth's waters are affected by pollutants such as chemicals and medical waste, and the land itself is also polluted with garbage and even more types of chemicals. Some of the worst pollution that affects us daily, however, is air pollution. Here are some air pollution thoughts that should make you hack, cough and start wearing a filter mask. Air pollution is a general term that is used to describe any chemical, biological or other matter that causes changes in the atmosphere. A good example is the pollution caused by large cities, which is also known as smog. Smog is the accumulation of all the dirt and chemical pollutants produced by a city or area, and it can be detrimental to our lungs, other animals, plants and even the ozone layer high above us. The particularly nasty thing about air pollution is the silent, unseen impact it has on us. Whereas we can see and taste water pollution, air pollution is much less obvious. It is, however, still deadly. For instance, everyone knows smoking is bad for you and will ruin your lungs. Yet, not a single person either seems to know or care that among air pollution facts, one of the ugliest is as follows. If you drive in rush hour traffic in Los Angeles with your window rolled down, the harm to your lungs per hour is equal to smoking two PACKS of cigarettes. TWO PACKS! Holes in the ozone layer, which is a layer in the upper atmosphere, allow more harmful UVB (ultraviolet B) light to reach us from the sun. This light can cause skin cancer as well as sun burns and lesser ailments. There are other causes for the holes in this layer besides just smog, and these include carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels and even the exhaling of farm animals.

While we would consider most of the harm done to the atmosphere to be caused by chemicals, air pollution facts tell us that even animals have a hand in creating air pollution. So, what can we do to stop air pollution? While there is no way to completely get rid of pollutants that harm our air quality and ozone layer, we can help to eliminate man made causes of atmospheric distress. Cutting down on the use of fossil fuels, using non-chemical based cleaners, and generally thinking ?green? can all help to reduce the amount of air pollution we produce. A fundamental solution is to get off of fossil fuels for our cars and the hybrid vehicles are a good start. If the mythical hydrogen vehicle ever comes to be, the reduction of air pollution in major cities will be astounding. While there is no real way to fix the damage we have already done to the atmosphere, people can definitely stop more problems from occurring. In your everyday life, try to produce less air pollution by taking simple steps to use less chemicals and fossil fuels. We've got a long way to make the world a less polluted place, but every little step towards a ?greener? Earth will help us all breathe a little easier.
Industrialized countries have worked to reduce levels of sulfur dioxide, smog, and smoke in order to improve people's health. But a result, not predicted until recently, is that the lower sulfur dioxide levels may actually make global warming worse. Just as sulfur dioxide from volcanoes can cool the planet by blocking sunlight, cutting the amount of the compound in the atmosphere lets more sunlight through, warming the Earth. This effect is exaggerated when elevated levels of other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap the additional heat. Most people agree that to curb global warming, a variety of measures need to be taken. On a personal level, driving and flying less, recycling, and conservation reduces a persons "carbon footprint"the amount of carbon dioxide a person is responsible for putting into the atmosphere. On a larger scale, governments are taking measures to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. One way is through the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement between countries that they will cut back on carbon dioxide emissions. Another method is to put taxes on carbon emissions or higher taxes on gasoline, so that people and companies will have greater incentives to conserve energy and pollute less.

Health effects
Air pollution is a significant risk factor for multiple health conditions including respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer, according to the WHO. The health effects caused by air pollution may include difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing and aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiac conditions. These effects can result in increased medication use, increased doctor or emergency room visits, more hospital admissions and premature death. The human health effects of poor air quality are far reaching, but principally affect the body's respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. Individual reactions to air pollutants depend on the type of pollutant a person is exposed to, [citation needed] the degree of exposure, the individual's health status and genetics. The most common sources of air pollution include particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Both indoor and outdoor air pollution have caused approximately 3.3 million deaths worldwide. Children aged less than five years that live in developing countries are the most vulnerable population in terms of total deaths attributable to indoor and outdoor air pollution

Ways to Reduce Air Pollution

We make choices everyday that can help reduce air pollution. Below are a few ideas that you can take to help clean our air. At Home Conserve energy - turn off appliances and lights when you leave the room.

Recycle paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. (This conserves energy and reduces production emissions.) Keep woodstoves and fireplaces well maintained. You should also consider replacing old wood stoves with EPA-certified models. Visit www.epa.gov/woodstoves.

Plant deciduous trees in locations around your home to provide shade in the summer, but to allow light in the winter. Buy green electricity-produced by low-or even zero-pollution facilities. Connect your outdoor lights to a timer or use solar lighting. Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot. Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120F. Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers. Test your home for radon-a dangerous, radioactive gas that is odorless and tasteless. If the test shows elevated levels of radon, the problem can be fixed cost effectively. Visit www.epa.gov/radon.

Choose not to smoke in your home, especially if you have children. If you or your visitors must smoke, then smoke outside. Visit www.epa.gov/smokefree.

Buy Smart Buy ENERGY STAR products, including energy efficient lighting and appliances. They are environmentally friendly products. For more information, visit www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES. Choose efficient, low-polluting models of vehicles. Visit www.epa.gov/greenvehicles. Choose products that have less packaging and are reusable. Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags. Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.

Drive Wise Plan your trips. Save gasoline and reduce air pollution. Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. In the summertime, fill gas tank during cooler evening hours to cut down on evaporation. Avoid spilling gas and don't "top off" the tank. Replace gas tank cap tightly. Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, for example, at fast-food restaurants or banks. Park your car and go in. When possible, use public transportation, walk, or ride a bike. Get regular engine tune ups and car maintenance checks (especially for the spark plugs). Use an energy-conserving (EC) grade motor oil. Ask your employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting. Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency. Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work.