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Ekaterina NazarovaENVIR 100 October 27, 2012Individual Research Assignment

Air Quality

The earth is not only our home but a delicate creature. Our planet needs to breathe clean

air in order to survive and yet we see a large quantity of polluted air all around the world. It’s

important to recognize that there is a natural pollution that occurs on the planet, yet it’s more

important to understand that man-made pollution created from manufacturing plants and the

burning of fossil fuels makes it difficult for the earth to cleanse itself. Air pollution is the cause

for a variety of serious health problems and therefore must be regulated if not stopped. Focusing

more attention onto government agencies is our best chance to dramatically reduce the level of

pollutants being spewed into our atmosphere.

Ozone weakening due to air pollution is known to be a threat to human health as well as

to the earth's ecosystems. Most people have a hard time grasping the effects air pollution has on

the ecosystems thus a lot of attention is focused on the threat to humans. Poor air quality can

have serious health effects on humans. The elderly, infants and pregnant women are the “high

risk groups” and are likely candidates to be effected (Effects). According to University Today,

there are a number of health problems that can develop including increases in the number of

asthma cases in the world, a rise in a person’s chance of getting cancer, and increases in the

chance that a child will be born with congenital defects. Exposure to air pollution is also greatly

associated with pulmonary, cardiac, vascular and neurological damages (Effects). Unfortunately

there are some aspects of air pollution that we cannot control.

Most of the time people associate air pollution to human industrialized pollutants when

really the earth itself is a direct source for natural pollution. From volcanic eruptions to wildfires

there are many direct and natural causes for air pollution (Coffey). For example, Yakima WA

has been experiencing a great deal of fires cause by lightning storms this last year. The wildfires

have greatly reduced the air quality in Yakima, to the point where young children and elderly

people have been advised to remain indoors (Catchipole). Over time the earth has the capability

to clean itself from a certain level of pollution, however too many man made pollutants have

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slowed down the earth’s natural ability to remove these toxins from the atmosphere (Coffey).

Human interference on the other hand is a far greater menace than any volcanic eruption.

Although natural pollution from volcanos and wildfires is a significant contributor to our

air quality it cannot match the extent of human effluence. Breaking things down to the bone, the

most indirect cause of air pollution are humans. After all, human innovations in technology don’t

come without a price. One of the main causes of air pollution is the great quantity of chemicals

being vomited into out atmosphere from construction and manufacturing plants. These factories

release sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and dioxide, that are all being ejected

into the earth’s atmosphere and causing long term effects on our planet as well as serious health

problems to human being (Coffey). According to University Today, there isn’t an area on the

earth’s atmosphere that has not been altered by long term effects of pollution created by

manufacturing. Any naturally occurring pollution is a mere drop in the ocean compared to the

pollutants that people produce, thus reinforcing the idea that man is the serious threat to air

quality. Unfortunately though, manufacturing plants are not the only guilty party in this scenario,

the average American contributes to the problem.

A big contributor in air pollution is the constant burning of fossil fuel that we do in our

everyday lives. In fact, every mile we spend simply driving to work or school causes a release of

sulfur and nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxides and heavy melt particulates into the air (Coffey).

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, an indirect source of air

contamination is attributed to highways and motor vehicle use. A regulation of these highways

and vehicles can greatly influence the level of fossil fuel ejection into the atmosphere.

Government regulation and support in new energies and technology can help drive the

future in air pollution. There are many solutions that can limit air pollution today if companies

would support them. According to Science Daily, the most immediate method of improving air

quality would be the use of bioethanol fuel, biodiesel, solar energy, and hybrid vehicle

technologies. Ultimately the struggle for clean air quality is a political one. Companies and

leaders need to come out and support these innovations. But the best progress in the deceleration

of air pollution will come from government regulation. Fortunately people have become more

and more aware about air quality over the last century and the government has created many

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helpful programs such as the Clean Air Act of 1970 (History). This act was the milestone that

pushed for more guidelines in vehicle emissions, acid deposition control and established

emission standards for air pollutants (History). Most importantly, the clean air act allowed for

more enforcement activity. A push in the right direction from the legislation will ensure a greater

success when it comes to the reduction in air pollution.

In conclusion, air pollution is the cause for a variety of serious health problems and must

be regulated. More attention onto government agencies is our best chance to dramatically reduce

the level of pollutants being spewed into our atmosphere.

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Works Cited

Catchipole, Dan. Wildfires reduce air quality throughout Yakima Valley. 12 September 2012.

Yakima Herald Republic. http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/09/12/burn-ban-

ordered-for-yakima-county-because-of-forest-fire-smoke

Coffey, Jerry. Causes of Air Pollution. 4 December 2010. University Today.

http://www.universetoday.com/81977/causes-of-air-pollution/

Effects of Air Polution: Health Effects. Air Pollution Control Orientation Course. 29 January

2010. US Environmental Protection Agency.

http://www.epa.gov/eogapti1/course422/ap7a.html

History of the Clean Air Act. Clean Air Act. 17 February 2012. US Environmental Protection

Agency. http://epa.gov/oar/caa/caa_history.html#milestones

Indirect Sources Of Air Contamination. Department of Environmental Conservation. 2012. New

York State, Department of Environmental Conservation.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/regs/4292.html

Science Reference: Air Pollution. Science Daily. 2012. Science Daily LLC.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/air_pollution.htm

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Images of Air Pollution

Here’s an image of smoke and pollution in Eastern China. China is mostly powered by coal powerplants, which generate a lot of air pollution. Forest fires are the red dots in the image.

The image below This is an image of the Po River Valley in Italy. It’s the same problem as the Himalayas. The tall Alp Mountain range block air masses from moving past, trapping air pollution in the region.