A sustainable community is one in which regional ecological characteristics can be realized and can persist for many generations appreciating a healthy surrounding, better community life, and a productive economy. A city that is considered sustainable should be able to improve the well-being of its residents without affecting or causing harm to the natural world. Air contamination has emerged as one of the most critical problems affecting the realization of a sustainable community, especially in urban areas. My community, in particular, is a victim of this circumstance and strategies are being put forth to curb this problem.
Air pollution mainly concerns the contamination of the atmosphere which is a natural resource on earth. The environments contain air that is necessary for the survival of both plants and animals and also includes natural gasses such as the greenhouse gasses that are vital in keeping the global average temperature required to maintain water in its liquid state. The first major source of air pollution report was published back in the 14th century in London where coal smoke was the primary source of air pollution, especially during winter. Coal smoke emerges as a contributory factor to air pollution even in my community leading to the formation of smog which is a rare combination of fog and smoke.
The industrial revolution has brought numerous advantages and developments but at the same time contributed to environmental pollution including air pollution. The type of air pollution emerging from industrial activities, also known as acid rain has not only contributed to air pollution but also soil contamination (Mukhopadhyay and Pandit 35-48). Some of the gasses released into the atmosphere such as sulfur and nitrous gasses pollute the air and can also be transferred to the ground in the form of acidic rain when these gasses react with water in the atmosphere to form rain. Acid rain is a common sign of air pollution, and it's a problem mainly affecting the green environmental vegetation by leaching out the essential nutrients necessary for plants development. Poor vegetation affects not only the climate but also the agricultural productivity of my community and hence contributing to reduced economic status.
The ecosystem can only sustain a critical load of acidic rain, however; excessive deposition of acidic rain into the soil affects soil productivity. Air pollutants that promote air pollution include volatile organic compounds and the oxides of sulfur and nitrogen gasses. Their effect of producing acidic rain not only affects vegetation but also affects human beings indirectly. Direct exposure to these harmful gasses has led to the contraction of respiratory infections especially among the elderly and the youths. Humans can also be affected indirectly by the products of these gasses through consumption of goods from the surrounding soil and as a result, may lead to even more complex diseases such as cancer. Epidemiological reports show that cancer patients report is on the rise with consumption of nitrate contaminated food being at the top as a facilitating hit factor in the progression of cancer.
A more pressing concern on air pollution dragging sustainability realization in my community is the increasing traffic on roads. Vehicles engines, in particular, are not a source of air pollution; however, the presence of increased number of vehicles on the road contributes to air pollution due to the carbon monoxide gas that they produce. Most of the fuels used are not the best and clean enough, and thus air contamination is on the rise. Carbon monoxide gas produced is a harmful gas when released into the atmosphere for both plants and animals. Oxidation of these gasses has an environmental impact on the environment such as global warming.
Air pollution through the release of greenhouse gasses has consequently led to global warming. Greenhouse gasses lead to the destruction of the ozone layer leading to global warming effect. This global warming effect has, in turn, led to the increase in ocean and earth's temperature and consequently rising of the sea water level including melting of polar ice (Trevors 1-2). Global warming effect has enabled the unusual pattern of precipitation such as excessive snow, floods, and most importantly enlarged desertification not only within my locality but also other areas worldwide. Alongside climatic changes, global warming promotes the development of new diseases such as cancer; high temperatures increase the exposure of ultraviolet rays which subsequently causes cancer to humankind.
In conclusion, a sustainable problem such as air pollution among others hinders the achievement of a sustainable community in my locality. This issue is under watch, and precautionary measures enactment is underway to control the situation. There is a need for prevention of air pollution and organizations such as National Air Quality have emerged to assist in managing this air contamination threat. Local community groups and small-scale initiatives can importantly act as a platform for educating the society on the importance of reducing air pollution such as using more of public transport to reduce congestion brought about by more private vehicles on the road. It is important to protect the environment as pollution to the surrounding is central to the hindering achievement of sustainable development within a community.
Work cited
Rood, Richard B. "Introduction: Solving The Problems Of Climate Change And Sustainability". Michigan Journal of Sustainability 2.20150915 (2014)
Trevors, J. T. "What Is A Global Environmental Pollution Problem?” Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 210.1-4 (2010)
Mukhopadhyay, Arunangshu and Vipul Pandit. "Control Of Industrial Air Pollution through Sustainable Development". Environ Dev Sustain 16.1 (2013): 35-48.
