Environmental Sustainability: Air Pollution - Research Paper Example

AIR POLLUTION By (Name) Code+ course name Professor’s name University name City, State Date Abstract Air pollution has become one of the biggest global challenges in today’s world especially after the industrial revolution to date. In the past decades and centuries, practices and processes which in most cases brings great changes to the development of the world like transportation, facilitation of exchange of goods and services, and other processes aimed at making life better have been improvised and developed. However, the price for this modernization and industrialization which has made life comfortable is the increasing air pollution. The rate of this kind of pollution has been high, is continuously being high and is expected to be high unless serious steps are taken. Many governments have invested heavily on research and development, with the pace of globalization. They have empowered global economic growth and development, yet they have maligned degrading effects of their activities to the natural resources including air. The study of different causes of air pollution has sensitized people to develop and also study ways of controlling air pollution. This has been backed up by the evolving and emerging scientific research that has been developed in this area. One of the huge steps to have been taken is the declaration of air pollution as an international disaster, particularly by the big economies of the world. This paper looks into to the possible literature of air pollution, causes and effects of air pollution, and will also discuss possible solution to the disaster. The paper will also be critical in helping improve key factors which have been identified as elements of environmental sustainability, the latter entails learning to sustain what might harm our natural resources and surroundings. Introduction Air is a necessity of life, and for a healthy life, fresh air is mandatory. The argument means that fresh air has certain qualities which make it healthy for human life. However, concentration of abnormal constituents in the air makes it un-fresh; hence pollute its clean contents. This is air pollution which takes place in many forms. What started in industrialized urban centers during industrial revolution has now transferred its effects to the whole world. The aspects of industrialization are a continual process with its demands and supply, and will not stop. This means that pollution will always be a continual menace with the continual industrial emissions, unless serious cautions are taken by environmentalists (Buckingham, & Theobald, 2003). Needless to mention, the air is being polluted by smoke, dust particles, harmful gases and other materials, which have threatened to deplete the ozone layer, thus causing several environmental, climatic and seasonal changes on earth. Pollution in its full context is very complex, but air pollution is very dangerous to living organisms including human beings. Human activities have so far proven to be the main causative agents of air pollution. United Nations Environmental Programmes have noted that one of the causes of life deterioration is air pollution since we breathe polluted air every now and then. The natural environment is also damaged as well and this condition will continue so long as no environmental steps are taken. The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the environmental issues which are critical in environmental sustainability in dealing with the continual air pollution. The paper also seeks to address and analyze some of the causes of air pollution and possible control practices which can be adopted to reduce it effects. To effectively address the topic of study, the paper discusses some of the emerging issues and trends of environmental sustainability and with particularly close analysis on air pollution. The final conclusion adopted in the study shall add to the existing body of knowledge, especially on environment, and give more recommendation for further studies on the same subject. Discussion Causes of Air Pollution Just as mentioned above, air pollution is the presence (concentration) of abnormal dust particles, harmful gases, and other materials that cause discomfort to the living organisms and natural resources. Originally, it was assumed that air pollution is caused by heavy industrial emissions alone. It has however been discovered that air pollution is caused by the following: Industry (Manufacturing): Development of industries of manufacturing nature discharges particulate matter and other chemical materials into the atmosphere. To be specific, these chemical discharges in form of smoke include Sulphur oxides, carbon mono oxides, and carbon dioxide as well as nitrogen oxides (Buckingham, & Theobald, 2003). Also volatile particulates are emitted into the atmosphere which dissolves easily at some temperatures to mix with rain. In the wake of industrial revolution, particularly after Second World War, industrial emissions of these gases increased. This has seriously polluted and altered the atmosphere, citing indications of alterations of the ecosystem. The industrial emissions have long term effects and even though steps have been taken to filter the contents of the by product of manufacturing plants, it may take a long duration of time to recover from the already damages that have been caused by these emissions to the atmosphere. Production of goods may not be possible without burning fuel and therefore the cost of production of these goods is pollution of air. Other than gases, they produce acids, plastics, paints, pesticides, and dyes. Industrial dust such as lime and cement kilns, stone crushing and asbestos dusts also causes air pollution. All these are dangerous to the atmosphere. Natural Disasters: Certain causes of air pollution are beyond human intervention for instance volcanic eruptions, where other than lava and ashes, various gases are emitted to the atmosphere. These volcanic gases are sometimes very dangerous both to human beings, plants and livestock. The emitted gases may also react with metals, even of aircrafts causing even death. The other aspect of natural disaster is wild forest fires which may be as a result of human activities yes, but may become big that it affects the forest trees, and become catastrophic to the atmosphere. Transportation: Transport sector is one of the key drivers of every economy, yet is environmental effects are far huge than expected. Engines of these locomotives are run by petrochemical fuels such as petrol and nitrogen. The burning of these fossil fuels has become part of every day life in cars yet they emit fumes and gases such as carbon mono oxide, nitrogen oxides, etc. these gases are among the best pollutants of air. Human activities: Human activities have by far destroyed natural resources. Cutting down trees (deforestation), settlements, cultivations, smoking cigarettes, among other inventions of man have contributed highly in pollution of air. Acid rain is another cause of air pollution due to smog. Acid rain corrodes buildings, destroy crops, and react with many metals. It also contributes to global warming which have significantly affected much of the climatic patterns and variations. Carbon dioxide (a green house gas) is one of the main air pollutants that have also contributed to global warming (Vezzoli, & Manzini, 2008). Living organisms emit carbon dioxide when they breathe out, yet plants take in that carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. A considerable amount of carbon dioxide emitted by cars, planes, power plants and other activities involving burning fossil fuels as discussed above become environmentally catastrophic. In addition, methane, which is also another greenhouse gas, and other chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) pose great threat to air. Effects The effects of air pollution range from health effects to environmental effects. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is one of the significant risk factors which have caused various health conditions such as heart diseases, lung cancer, and respiratory infections. Some of the immediate effects of air pollution may be sneezing, vomiting, asthma, as well as difficulties in breathing among many others. Many deaths have occurred in the last centuries, decades, and even today as a result of air pollution. Numerous cardiovascular related ailments, asthmatic, cancer, and pneumonia have killed both adults and children alike. World Health organization reports that the greatest amount of air pollution is felt by developing countries, which have high poverty and population rates in the world. The other effect of air pollution is the effect of ozone depletion. Air pollutants discussed like fluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) have created a lot of damages to the ozone layer in the atmosphere through their depleting effects. Their effects have created a hole in the ozone layer, leaving living organisms in the earth very vulnerable to the ultra violet rays of the sun which re very dangerous to human life. The ozone layer is like a covering sheet of layer that prevents the dangerous rays of the sun from having its full effects to the inhabitants of the earth. However, as discussed above, emission of gases of fluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) nature has depleted this layer gradually posing the mentioned threats. This causes cancers and genetically oriented disorders among human beings. Fossil gases such as nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxides and methane gases have also great effects to the atmosphere by trapping the heat waves from the sun. The result of this process is the melting of the polar ice which conversely increases water levels in the oceans and seas. This is very dangerous because increase in the oceanic water levels causes frequent violent floods and droughts in various parts of the world. Moreover, these gases have increased the chances of global climatic changes and variations which affect not only seasons, but affects weather patterns, temperature, and agriculture. Sustainable Controls Although various approaches have been drafted by many governments, environmental problems require environmental solutions or controls. One of those approaches by governments is the sensitization of environmental programmes. These programmes may be given the mandate to draft specific environmental policies aimed at controlling some of the causes of the air pollution (Vezzoli, & Manzini, 2008). However, coming up with sustainable solutions of these environmental problems requires keen interest, revolution, practicality, adoption and legalization of environmental theories and concepts that environmentalists prove workable. One of the proposed sustainable remedies to air pollution are the efforts of control global warming through recycling materials and conservation which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere. Other than that, scientific innovations are aimed at modeling machine and locomotives which are environmentally friendly, for instance the recent modeling of electric car is aimed at reducing locomotive emissions into the air. The governments are also taking great measures to limit emissions of green house gases, particularly carbon dioxides and nitrogen oxides using the Kyoto Protocol agreement (Kreiser, 2012). This agreement aimed at reducing the emission of carbon dioxide. Government regulations may also help in attaining some level of environmental control by increasing taxes on the usage of gasoline in order to increase incentives of conserving energy and less pollution (Buckingham, & Theobald, 2003). Heavy industry and factories should use dust collectors and filters (bughouses) and adopt the usage of particulate scrubbers which have the condensing effects on the gases before they are emitted into the atmosphere. At personal levels, people should plant more trees, as many as possible to counter the effects of human activities that create deforestation. A forestation will ensure a sustainable environmental solution since trees absorb some of the dangerous gases which affect the atmosphere and offer green and cool preservative environment that purifies air. Governments should also implement strict policies against cutting down trees in order to preserve natural forests (Vezzoli, & Manzini, 2008). Another easy solution to the air pollution problem is to monitor quality processes. In the event that these processes are necessary, then the engineers should consider remodeling the production process in such away that they control emissions from the processes. Change of raw materials is also important modifications of the industrial processes can prove important. Conclusion Attainable environmental solution can only be achieved if all sector of any economy come together. Air pollution is a health hazard and the realization of this fact is the first step in advancing to fighting its effects. Governments, corporate societies as well a public and individuals should stop activities that are geared towards polluting the air and join hands in devising sustainable environmental solutions. One of the main responsibilities of man is take care of natural resources. However, recent global concern aims at going beyond caring for them, but to provide environmentally sustainable methods and solutions. Reference List: (2008). Environmental sustainability: an evaluation of World Bank Group support. Washington (D.C.), World Bank. Buckingham, S., & Theobald, K. 2003. Local environmental sustainability. Cambridge [u.a.], Woodhead [u.a.]. Kreiser, L. A. 2012. Green taxation and envrionmental sustainability. Cheltenham, Edward Elgar. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=483162 Vezzoli, C., & Manzini, E. 2008. Design for environmental sustainability. [Berlin], Springer. Read More