Diary Summary
On day one, I used an outdoor wood-fired boiler. In addition, I burnt toxic substances that included tires, plastics, garbage, and driftwood.
On day two, I burnt fossil fuels by driving a motor vehicle, cooking with a gas stove, and using a lawnmower.
On day three, I used household products that included cleaning agents and paints. In addition, I used a fire extinguisher to put out a fire in my kitchen. Other appliances used during the day included a freezer, air conditioner, and refrigerator.
Analysis
Studies have demonstrated that individuals make significant contributions to the overall air pollution that induces adverse health effects on the population (Center for Health Protection, 2016). An increase in the emission of greenhouse gasses has also been associated with global warming and climate change (European Environment Agency, 2016). Thus, there is a need to develop and promote technologies that utilize renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which do not emit harmful gasses.
In my case, the burning of wood carried out on the first day made various contributions to air pollution. In particular, the activity generated air pollutants like particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and acrolein. Other emissions included nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds whose interactions with the air produce smog constituents such as ground-level ozone. Nitrogen oxides emitted by gas stoves are also known to cause direct effects such as an increase in asthmatic problems, as well as infectious lower respiratory diseases in children (Esposito et al., 2014). On the same day, I burnt toxic substances that generated air pollutants such as particulate matter, as well as furans and dioxins.
The burning of fossil fuels during the second day made considerable contributions to air pollution. For example, the activity generated heavy metals, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. Typical greenhouse gasses like methane and carbon dioxide were also emitted. In addition, precursor chemicals associated with the formation of ground-level ozone were produced. The chemicals included nitrogen oxides and volatile organic monoxide. Primarily, nitrogen oxides were emitted while cooking with a gas stove. The driving activity also stirred up dust on the road and, hence, added particulate matter to the atmosphere.
During the third, I used appliances and products that released various air-polluting substances and ozone-depleting chemicals. The use of fire extinguisher emitted halons whereas the utilization of a refrigerator and freezer released chlorofluorocarbons. Anthropogenic emission of chlorofluorocarbons was once thought to be safe because the substances are inert while in the troposphere (Daly & Zannetti, 2007). Nevertheless, once the chemicals enter higher atmospheric regions like the stratosphere, they are converted by ultraviolet radiation into reactive substances that may have devastating effects on the stratospheric ozone.
The activities carried out in the three days contributed to air pollution in various ways. However, I would have minimized the contribution by burying non-recyclable wastes and forwarding other waste materials to recycling companies. Moreover, employing technologies that utilize solar or hydroelectric power instead of fossil fuels would have reduced air pollution. Finally, the use of more environmentally friendly household appliances would have minimized my contribution to air pollution considerably.
In conclusion, there is a need for all people worldwide to control their individual contributions to air pollution. Strategies that can minimize air pollution include an increase in the use of renewable energy and decrease in the utilization of fossil fuels. Such environment-friendly activities can help to reduce the adverse health effects of air pollution and control global warming.
References
Center for Health Protection (2016). The health effects of air pollution. Retrieved from http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/460/3557.html
Daly, A. & Zannetti, P. (2007). An introduction to air pollution: Definitions, classifications, and history. Chapter 1 of ambient air pollution. Retrieved from http://www.envirocomp.org/books/chapters/1aap.pdf
Esposito, S., Galeone, C., Lelii, M., Longhi, B., Ascolese, B., Senatore, L., & Principi, N. (2014). Impact of air pollution on respiratory diseases in children with recurrent wheezing or asthma. BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 14,130. doi:10.1186/1471-2466-14-130.
European Environment Agency (2016). Air pollutants and global effects. Retrieved from http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/2599XXX/page009.html
