Part One: Air Pollutants.
There are a number of elements that are responsible for air pollution. These air pollutants include greenhouse gases, Chlorofluorocarbons, and Nitrogen Oxides. Greenhouse gases are type of gases, which for a long time stay in the atmosphere thus trapping the sunlight causing global warming (Jeremy 192). Some of these gases include nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and methane result from burning of the fossil fuels in motor vehicles (Jeremy 94). Methane also comes from rice paddies and cows. Nitrous oxides results from decaying plants and industrial sources. The use of substitute sources of energy including wind and solar can be used in reducing the emission of green house gases thus reducing global warming.
Chlorofluorocarbons are air pollutants that contain chlorine, fluorine, and carbon atoms (Jeremy 175). They are used in the manufacture of aerosols and other products. CFCs are responsible for the destruction of the ozone layer (Jeremy 435). The use of CFC free aerosols and refrigerators is essential in the reduction of the effects of CFCs on the Ozone layer. Nitrogen oxides are gases that contain oxygen and nitrogen and are highly reactive. These gases are formed when fossil fuels are burned in at extremely high temperatures. More than half of the Nitrogen oxide emissions in the whole world come from the transportation sources. Other sources of nitrogen oxides include fertilizers and animal wastes. Nitrogen oxides are responsible for global warming and cause coastal dead zones. The elimination of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere can be achieved through the expansion of new technologies to replace fossil fuels. For example, placing catalytic converters in the vehicles reduces emission of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere.
The reduction of air pollution calls for a global other than national legislation since it is a global problem and some nations might be reluctant in making and implementing the legislations. The United Nations should initiate a Global Action Plan to mobilize the resources and political will to make clean air a reality worldwide. The implementation of Global legislations is vital however; individuals should act in their own capacity to reduce their contribution to the above-mentioned pollutants. These personal actions include; keeping the vehicles well maintained, walking or using bicycles when the distance is short, avoid burning thrash especially plastics and buying energy efficient gadgets and appliances (Jeremy 411).
Fossil fuels are a key source of air pollution and hydrogen fuel can serve as the best alternative. The use of hydrogen fuel cells in the vehicles produces enough electricity to power automobiles. The advantage of using hydrogen fuel is that it is renewable, and it has zero emissions thus providing for a cleaner air and reduces the greenhouse gasses emissions. However, the disadvantage of hydrogen cell fuel is that it is extremely expensive thus not economic viable. People will have to spend additional money to use vehicles with hydrogen-powered engines to replace vehicles with fossil fuel powered engines (Jeremy 106).
Part Two: Sludge disposal
There are types of sludge: industrial sludge, sewage sludge from septic tanks and municipal treatment works (Russo). Sludge contains many materials besides sewage because individuals, municipalities, and industries dispose a number of toxic wastes ending up in the sludge. Bio-concentration of wastes from sludge on the ocean floors results in environmental degradation. The disposal of DDT by-products in Santa Monica Bay almost wiped out the California brown pelican (Russo).
The main reason that most people and industries dump sludge at the ocean floors is that it is easy because it involves little bureaucracy and no fees involved unlike the use of landfills. There are a numbers of alternative ways of disposing sludge. The main alternative is the land utilization of sludge: the application of sludge directly to forests, croplands, and provision of composted sludge for gardening and landscaping (Russo). Sludge can provide phosphorous, potassium supplements and nitrogen for plant growth. The added material from sludge enhances the quality of soil, increases the nutrient and water-holding capacity of gravelly and sandy soils, increases the water permeability of clay soils, and improves the soil texture.
Works Cited
Jeremy, Colls. Air Pollution. Nottingham: Taylor & Francis, 2009. Print.
Russo. Deep-Sea Biodiversity and the Impacts of Ocean Dumping Attention. NOAA Research:
Archive of Spotlight Feature Articles, 30 June. 2000. Web. 26 Oct. 2012.
