¶ … Pollution Strategies Improve Air Quality do not think that today's pollution strategies can improve our air quality. Although we are told by the media that the air quality is getting better, why then do incidence of asthma, cancer, acid rain, global warming, Greenhouse Gas levels and the hole in the ozone layer continue to get worse? Each year both larger conglomerates, smaller industrial companies, industrially strong nations like the United States and Germany and up and coming third world nations throughout the world emit millions of tons of pollutants into our air. "Energy, transport, agriculture and industrial activity cause emissions to the atmosphere. Environmental impacts can occur locally or at great distances from the source of emissions. Some emissions have a significant impact on the global environment." (Air Quality Facts and Figures)
In regard to air pollution, what measures are being used today to attempt to control the problem? If we are to control the air pollutant related issues, what measures would be effective to achieve the goal of complete pollution control and strict clean air quality? In addition, there is always the dilemma of injustices derived from the very controls set to stop culprits thus allowing either larger or more financially capable polluters to avoid sanctions or limits. Injustices such as these are often built right into the controls and measures. So, how can we avoid these injustices? As the world's most prosperous nation for example, it is very easy, almost convenient, for us to look at 'have not' Third World nations and dictate that they stop polluting in their quest to become financially equal with the 'have' nations. We must review all of the possible ethical considerations of banning and/or restricting the Third World nations' access to advanced, but polluting, technologies such as fluorocarbons?
These pollutants make it more than just difficult for us to breathe; they also contribute, in addition to auto emissions, cooking oil emissions, fluorocarbons and other forms of air pollutants, to form urban area smog centers which in some situations may even be the cause of diseases like cancer not to mention many other serious health conditions. But we are not really sure of the true effects on the world as a whole. Poor developing nations do not have the studies in place to decipher true effects on the people. "Most medical cost and value-of-life estimates are obtained in developed countries where incomes are higher, as well as the medical cost as a percentage of gross domestic products. There are substantial disparities in life expectancy, age distribution, and the importance of chronic diseases between developed countries and other nations." (Bell et al.)
The Greenhouse Gas effect and that of fluorocarbons on the ozone layer have been well documented. "About 90% of the ozone in our atmosphere is contained in the stratosphere, the region from about 10 to 50km above Earth's surface. In the stratosphere, ozone absorbs some of the potentially harmful UV (ultra-violet) radiation from the sun (at wavelengths between 240 and 320nm). Man made ozone-depleting substances have caused thinning of the ozone layer and the development of an 'ozone hole' over Polar Regions. This has allowed more UV radiation to reach the earth's surface where it may increase the risk of human skin cancers and other biological damage." (Air Quality Facts and Figures)
Air pollution is not something we need to stop because it is a nice thing to do. We are slowly making our planet uninhabitable. "Forty-nine experts from 18 industrial and developing countries met on 6 September 2001 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, to discuss the economic and public health impacts of air pollution particularly with respect to assessing the public health benefits from technologies and policies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Such measures would provide immediate public health benefits, such as reduced premature mortality and chronic morbidity, though improved local air quality." (Bell et al.) It is obvious that nations around the world do recognize the problem as it is.
The measures being used today to control the issue have been politically motivated. Many of the first world industrial nations like Germany,
" A report published by Partnership for Air Transportation Noise and Emissions Reduction (PARTNER) explains that "Aircraft landing take-off (LTO) emissions include those produced during idle, taxi to and from terminal gates, take-off and climb-out, and approach to the airport. Aircraft LTO emissions contribute to ambient pollutant concentrations and are quantified in local and regional emissions inventories (Ratliff et al., 2009)." Local air quality is an important issue that has
ability of pollution strategies to improve air quality. Many scientists believe the way to cleaner air is through limiting the use of automobiles to cut down on harmful emissions. Other experts believe new technologies can greatly reduce the emissions and clean up the air while still allowing Americans the autonomy of their automobiles. Some of these measures are too expensive for many people to afford, and this must be
Pollution From Mining Activities How serious is the pollution that results from mining activities? How clean are the coal mining activities in Kentucky, West Virginia, and other Appalachian areas where mountaintops are stripped away to get at the coal? What other mining activities cause pollution of the air, the land, and the waterways? This paper will delve into those mining activities and report the pollution that results from those strategies. The Pollution
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTHEnvironmental Health on Air Pollution on Lower Income Families/PeopleBackgroundLow income families are disproportionately affected by pollution, particularly air pollution. Essentially, environment is a major determinant of resident health. Research indicates that air pollution is a predictive of different health problems that low income families face. For instance, Kriegler and Higgins (2002) indicate that low-income families live in poor housing conditions that are prone to air pollution. As a result,
Air pollution pertains to substances and gases in the air that threaten health and life. Among these are pollutants and irritants, such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide; particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toxic substances and some natural substances, like pollen. But most of the pollution comes from the by-products of industrialization - fossil fuel combustion, transportation, transportation, power plant emissions and those from other industrial processes. The
Air Pollution The air that surrounds us is a mixture of 78% nitrogen; 21% oxygen; less than 1% of carbon dioxide, argon, and other gases; and varying amounts of water vapor. Any other particles, gases or unoriginal constituents hanging in the air which are not part of its original composition are called 'Pollutants' and this kind of air is called Polluted Air. Even inhaling small amounts of such air pollutants can
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