Since prehistoric times our tools for manufacturing have become a lot more sophisticated. In the same way, since the beginning of the Industrial Age the world’s technologies have been continually improving. Hundreds of different entrepreneurs and companies have invented their own models of high- tech products such as smart phones, durable vehicles and computers. Consumers enjoy and buy these products. Companies compete to develop new models as fast as they can. However there is a downside to all the new technology. When factories do not take measures to protect the environment, the waste products produced by manufacturing have a very bad effect on our environment.
According to the National Geographic air pollution is “Generally any substance that people introduce into the atmosphere that has damaging effects on living things and the environment is considered air pollution.” (Air Pol., n.d., para. 1)
Air pollution is caused in general by the manufacturing of consumer goods, transportation (building roads and vehicles plus the combustion engine exhaust) and the treatment of sewage. Adding all the sources together, the air pollution problem has become almost overwhelming. In order to reduce air pollution, we need to identify the sources and understand the causes. For example scientists now understand that the greenhouse effect is caused mainly by the emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide caused by fuel burning emissions. Socha (2007) reported that “Currently carbon dioxide is responsible for 57% of the global warming trend” (para. 6). The pollutants nitrogen dioxide, sulfur and nitric oxide are components of ozone and acid rain. Chlorofluorocarbons destroy the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere.
Air Pollution Sources
The air pollution caused by man is called ‘anthropogenic pollution.’ There are two basic ways that pollution enters the atmosphere: anthropogenic and natural sources. Natural disasters might be such events as volcano eruptions or forest fires caused by lightning strikes.
In general, the reasons the air pollution problem has continued to become worse can be divided into five main categories: (a) increased carbon-based fuel use, (b) increasing number of factories, (c) increasing consumer demand, (d) population growth, and (e) natural disasters.
The rate of the use of petroleum and coal, carbon-based fuels has been continually rising. The number of factories has increased globally in order to meet consumer demands. With the development of more highways and roads - more fuel is used by private cars and motorcycles instead of people using public transportation. With a growing population who enjoys a large, diverse choice in consumer products - air pollution increases too.
Fossil Fuels and Deforestation. Burning fossil fuels and deforestation have caused major concentrations of carbon dioxide to enter the atmosphere. Unfortunately burning fossil fuels and cutting down the rainforests are linked to more pollution. As the demand for cleared land increases in the Amazon Rainforest, more roads are built with heavy machinery so that huge trucks can transport the timber out of the forest.
The formation of particles, smog, ozone, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide comes from burning fossil fuels and is very concentrated in transportation vehicle exhaust. Burning sulfur containing coal emits sulfur dioxide. Smog is made due to a reaction of sulfur dioxide and other chemical substances (Air Pol., para. 4). Sulfur dioxide is emitted when coal containing sulfur is burned and when volcanoes erupt. The National Geographic reports that, “volcanoes used to be the main source of atmospheric sulfur dioxide; today people are” (para. 4). Carbon particulates and other fine materials like ash are part of the waste emissions produced when burning fuels.
Factories. The number of factories has rapidly increased in several eastern Asia countries causing serious air pollution problems. China is a good example. Hennock (2002) wrote in her article “China: The World’s Factory Floor,” that because China pays lower salaries to workers than anywhere else in the world many companies are moving their companies to China.
China has become the world’s fourth-biggest industrial producer; having an even larger export capacity than Japan. Hennock reports that firms in the “Dongguan district of Guangdong produce 37% of the world's hard disk drives and 10% of its computer monitors” (Hi Tech Ambitions, para. 3).
Other eastern Asian countries are like China because they have changed from an agrarian society to an urban industrialized society. Industrialization has brought health problems such as asthma and lung diseases. The health problems are many and cause an expensive medical issue.
Health Issues and Problems
The World Health Organization (WHO) (2011) has reported that air pollution is a “major environmental risk to our health . . . (causing) respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer” (Fact sheet, para. 1). Air pollution cause stress on the heart and is a detriment to our cardiovascular systems. In developing counties around the world indoor, pollution causes pneumonia in so many children under the age of 5 years old that there are approximately 1 million premature deaths in this group per year (Fact sheet, 2011, para. 3).
In countries where cow dung is used as fuel indoors the concentration of air pollution is very. Low to middle income communities are hardest hit by air pollution and the associated health problems.
Reports from the WHO note that the degree of outdoor air pollution in cities is the cause of about 1.3 million deaths per year. Poor air quality can cause deaths from a range of diseases including lung diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia, asthma, heart diseases and cancer. (Fact Sheet, 2011, para. 1-5, 16, 20)
The constant stress caused by air pollution lowers the body’s immune system and makes people less able to fight off infections. Particulates in air pollution are eye irritants.
Regulation of Emissions
Kyoto Protocol Most countries of the world are concerned about the enhanced concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere so the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997. The vote was unanimous and the agreement became enforceable on February 16, 2005. Countries agreed to work together to cut carbon emissions. The United Nations (UN) (2012) reported that “The Protocol’s major feature is that it has mandatory targets on greenhouse-gas emissions for the world’s leading economies which have accepted it” (para. 2).
One of the mechanisms that went into practice before the Protocol was signed is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The CDM allows industrialized countries to meet their goals by “sponsoring greenhouse-gas-reducing projects in developing countries” (UN, 2012, para. 7).
USEPA. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) measures air pollution concentrations and regulates the sources so that industries stay within the law. A Clean Air Act was passed by Congress to give them this directive. In 1990 amendments were added to the Clean Air Act so that the EPA was given the added responsibility to “develop and enforce rules and regulations for industries and other entities that emit toxic substance into the air” (para.7). They also must “promote pollution prevention” as the first rule for industries and pollution control is the second rule (para. 8). (Air Quality, 2012)
The EPA keeps databases of emissions inventories. The EPA also has a center where anyone can access information about new clean air technology. The EPA is in charge of an emissions measurement center and also keeps track of pollutant emission trends. Each state in the United States has Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to keep track of air pollution (and other pollution in general). The states DEPs can keep find the source of pollution and keep track of the emissions in an “emission inventory” which the USEPA keeps on record (Air Quality, epa.gov, sect: State Implementation Plans).
Conclusion
In conclusion, air pollution is a very serious health problem in our world. Many people have suffered and died from different kinds of diseases because of the harmful gases. The earth’s surface temperature is increasing due to the greenhouse effect.
Therefore, we need to use sustainable methods to control air pollution. The biggest solution is to use less carbon-based fuels. That means using public transportation or walking more than driving private vehicles. Buying locally grown food cuts down on the transportation of hauling fruits and vegetables around the world. Each person has to become committed to only buying what they really need and using less energy.
Fortunately there are many sustainable solutions such as solar energy to heat water and wind power for energy.
Work Cited
Socha, T. Air Pollution Causes and Effect. 11 Sept. 2007. Web. 12 Mar. 2012. Retrieved from
“Air pollution comes from many sources.” The National Geographic. environment.nationalgeographic.com. (n.d.). Web. 12 Mar. 2012. Retrieved from
“Air Quality Planning and Standards: Air Pollution Overview.” US Environmental Protection Agency. 2011. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. Retrieved from
Hennock, M. “China: The World’s Factory Floor.” BBC News. 11 Nov. 2002. Web. 10 Mar. 2012. Retrieved from
Fact sheet No. 313. Air quality and Health. The World Health Organization (WHO). 2011. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.
United Nations (UN). “A summary of the Kyoto Protocol.” Framework Convention on Climate Change. 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2012.
