Air Pollution And Its Effects

In the United States alone, nearly 150 million people live in areas that don’t meet federal air quality standards. For many years, air pollution has been on the rise but more recently it’s been proved how pollution poses a greater danger to both the environment and the everyday individual. Its everlasting effects on the world, such as global warming and its depletion of the ozone layer, are going to play a huge role in the years to come. Consequently, there has been an increase in death rates from various illnesses caused by air pollution, varying from breathing problems to even worse, lung cancer. While these effects may go unnoticed, they are still an enormous issue at hand and are triggering more complications within our society. Though

Over the past few years, air pollution has been one of the major problems encountered in the California central valley. The Central Valley, also called as the Great Valley of California, is comprised of approximately about 20, 000 square miles. It is consisted of two parts, the northern portion is called the Sacramento Valley and the southern portion is called the San Joaquin Valley (U.S.). There are several factors that could have contributed to the amount of air pollution in the air, some of which humans have the ability to prevent and mitigate. Many of the activities that we do in our daily lives could result to the development of air pollution without us even knowing it. In this paper, we will discuss what air pollution is and gain a better understanding of what air pollution is, determine its causes, economic, social, and health impacts, and create solutions that would address the problem of air pollution in the California central valley.

In recent years, air pollution has become a growing problem in China (Zhang, Chao). According to the newly released scientific paper by Dan Levin, “Outdoor air pollution contributes to the deaths of an estimated 1.6 million people in China every year, or about 4,400 people a day” (Levin, Dan). Essentially, air is a major part of our overall health. However, people (including ourselves), especially living in developed countries, suffer from the exposure of air pollution. This potentially puts our health at risk. It causes various negative effects to our body that in worst cases leads to death. Air pollution affects our health in multiple ways; as it varies from minimal to serious problems. The air pollutants have negative effects on our cardiovascular system, causing many fatalities as well as diseases to those specifically in China. People can protect themselves from the suffrage of cardiovascular diseases by being cautious with what they are surrounded by.

Air pollution is characterized by the introduction or rise in air gases and particles beyond the standard levels of clean air (EPA, 2016a). Types of air pollutants vary depending on the source, such as industries, motor vehicles, combustion or natural sources; however, certain air pollutants have drawn more attention because of their widespread and health effects (EPA, 2016a). Examples of these pollutants are: ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and particulate matters (EPA, 2016a). A recent report from the World Health Organization states that 98% of the cities in low and middle income countries and 56% of cities in high income countries don’t meet the WHO’s air quality standards indicating high levels of pollution (WHO, 2016). In the US, national data on air quality shows improvement in the levels of air pollutants in the past 16 years (EPA, n.d.). Specifically, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, PM10 and PM2.5 dropped by 60%, 91%, 45%, 69%, 17%, 36% and 37% respectively, yet ozone and particulate matter remained among the highest pollutants (EPA, n.d.; American Lung Association, 2016). While a similar trend of improvement in air pollution can be seen across cities and counties in the US, it is well documented that some counties score substantially higher all year round on air pollution quality standards (EPA, n.d.).

Air pollution is the largest killer in the developing world, taking the lives of over 7 million people annually. While air pollution does take place in America daily, we are not exposed to the high levels of PM 2.5, PM10, and other pollutants that developing countries are. It is very much real, and a global challenge that affects us, as a world as whole, causing global warming, and emission of greenhouse gases. In America we have air regulations in effect, along with other developed countries like Canada, and France, in an attempt to regulate the amount of air pollution released in the air. While we are not a perfect nation, or the most Earth friendly country, we, the population, do not consider the long term effects of air pollution. Many people living in developing countries are basically forced to live in these harsh conditions because of how poor they and their country are; the lack of enforcement on air regulations contributes strongly to the problem. This results in smog filled cities, poor living conditions, millions of premature deaths, and many affected by the heavy amount of air pollution that is shamelessly forced into the air.

In cities with extensive rail lines such as Henan and Anhui within China air pollution concentration can range from 300 ug/m3 to 500 ug/m3 both deemed unhealthy and hazardous atmosphere environments compared to cities where railways are few in number such as Ningxia that has moderate environment at 75 ug/m3. When areas are determined to have either an unhealthy or hazardous atmospheric environment susceptible populations are effected pregnant women, children, and the elderly.

Air pollution in China is a growing environmental hazard that needs immediate attention in order to save the lives of millions of citizens. Air pollution in China is known to cause over one million premature deaths per year (Zhao et. al., 2017). The Chinese have become accustomed to days when a large fog like cloud covers many of the large cities to a point that the sun is no longer visible. The fog like substance is actually polluted air, and it has the ability to turn day into night. The polluted air is not only aesthetically unappealing, it comes with many health hazards that are detrimental. Breathing in toxic air has been repeatedly linked to higher incidence rates of both lung cancer and heart disease (Wu, et. al.,2016). Anyone who breathes in the polluted air is at an increased risk for developing such noncommunicable diseases, but children and the elderly are at a heightened risk due to their often compensated respiratory and immune systems. During an average month, China only meets the World Health Organizations target air quality index for developed countries for six days out of the whole month (Zhao et. al., 2017). The majority of air pollution issues take place in large cities, the majority of which are concentrated on the east coast of the country. Wind conditions can also cause the polluted air to shift to neighboring cities.

“To taste the morning air! The deliciously crisp and sweet air for which I long” (O'Sheridan, 2011). Have you tasted the salty air of the sea or the cold, crisp air of the Colorado Rockies? According to recent studies scientists have found that the human lung can “taste” bitter substances in the air. (Connor, 2010) So how about the layered bitter, astringent, smoky taste of Shanghai? In January of 2013, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing reported that a toxic cloud the size of the Greenland covered parts of China causing the levels of a particulate air pollution that seeps into the lung, vein, and heart tissue, to surge above 850 micrograms per cubic meter. According to the UN, 20 micrograms per cubic meter is considered to be the highest safe level. (Meyer, 2017)

Environmental quality contributes significantly to the liveability of places due to the impact that air pollution, waste and Water quality which negatively impacts the livability of the environment and us humans. Environmental quality can change in many different ways such as the climate change.There are many different types of pollution that negatively affects the environment and our environment and the animals and humans inhabiting it. The environment is also affected by waste such as sewage, rubbish that could damage the environment and its animals, and in the process, it may generate methane gas.The rubbish and sewage cause extinction of marine species if flows in the water.

On certain days one may notice it seems to be a little harder to breath when you’re outside for a while. Or if one is outside for a while they start to cough and get a tickle in the back of their throat. Those are symptoms of a bad air pollution day. These are days when the air pollution could be higher because of certain circumstances. There are different kinds of air pollution and all of it has effects on one’s health.

Air pollution is a major cause of disease and death in large cities, which can be prevented. Despite improvements to enhance air quality through the years, the San Joaquin Valley does not meet the requirements of federal and state health ozone levels and particulate pollutants. Ozone is particularly a problem during the summer because high temperatures "cook" chemicals with sunlight to produce smog. Particles, meanwhile, represent a problem during the fall and winter season, when the increase in vehicle emissions and investing layers prevent the spread of these contaminants. Contaminant particles with a size of 10 microns or less (PM10) are a mixture of soot, chemicals, dust, salt, dirt, metals, smoke and toxins. PM10 are very small, about one-seventh the width of a human hair. Although they are micro size, they are dangerous as they can penetrate the body's natural defenses and concentrate on the depth of the lungs. Exposure to high concentrations of these particles can cause heart attacks, increase the risk of lung cancer, worsening conditions such as asthma and bronchitis, and reduce the function of the lungs. PM10 also include the group of particles known as PM2.5 refined. The sources of air pollution and related poor health are in transportation, power generation, home, for example, and vary between cities and regions. Effective interventions can reduce air pollution related diseases and produce health benefits, example, sustainable transport, energy-efficient buildings

A major public health challenge facing the people of Honduras is the issue of household air pollution (HAP). HAP is a dangerous form of environmental health hazard, so much so that the World Health Organization (WHO) has called it “the most important global environmental health risk today”. HAP is air pollution that is produced inside the home due to cooking, lightening, and heating needs and is typically the result of burning biomass fuels such as wood or coal, which produces “products of incomplete combustion such as carbon monoxide and particulate matter (PM).” Behaviors such as smoking indoors also contribute to poor indoor air quality. The worldwide impact of HAP is massive, with the WHO estimating that a total of 4.3 million deaths were linked to HAP in 2012. Honduras is part of this global burden of disease, as over half of Honduras’s population cooks with biomass, placing thousands at risk.

Many of us don’t realize that the air we are breathing could slowly be prematurely ending our life. Air pollution in the city can affect the human health in many ways. Air pollution is when the air is contaminated by harmful substances. This is caused by the burning of fossil fuels, industrial processes and smoke. Air pollution is often found in poor inner city neighborhoods. With greater amounts of air pollution comes a greater possibility of multiple health risks. Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer and asthma are frequent health impacts that are caused from smog and air pollution. Some of these health impacts can lead to death. According to the World Health Organization, there are three million deaths worldwide due to air pollution. Air pollutants can be transferred from one country to another via the wind. Due to the wind being out of our control, this must be taken seriously in every city, state or country because it can slowly affect everyone around it. I am going to define smog and its impacts on New Dehli, how automobiles contribute to the air pollution and describe possible solutions to air pollution in the city.

Air pollution effects our environment greatly. Air pollution affects things like the animals and people that live anywhere on the planet, but more importantly air pollution affects our ozone layer which protects people from harmful UV rays. If air pollution regulations were better meaning they were stricter then, there would not be as many drastic effects to our environment. Air pollution regulations need to be stricter.

Approximately two million people die prematurely from air pollution each year. For every person that dies, hundreds or thousands more suffer breathing problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and cancers (World Health Organization).