Often people breathe in the air pollutants that come from the cars we drive, but how many times do people actually stop and think of what it might be doing to ourselves and the world around us and perhaps how we could possibly fix it? The black smoke, and sometimes invisible pollutants, are causing harm all over the earth without people realizing it. Car pollution can cause disruption to human 's health, the environment, and the cities in just a matter of time and in many different ways. The air pollution from cars contains various components that all can factor into harming humans health. According to The Environmental Protection Agency’s actions, they took away a key part of the pollution from gasoline:lead. This is a dangerous component of gas because it affects parts of the body such as organs, the brain, and the nervous system. Children gain the worst effects from the lead but everyone can gain bad side effects and problems from a simple part of pollution going into the air (Cars, Trucks, Buses, and Nonroad). Lead is a very harsh component of gas and is definitely a part of pollution that you do not want to expose kids to because of the even more dangerous effects it has on them compared to adults. It was dangerous enough to have them remove large amounts of it from lead, making it less of a issue. Along with the elimination of lead, Baines states that "Diesel engines power most large vehicles like buses and trucks. They are also becoming more popular in
If people didn't at least try to keep air pollution to the EPAs standards, it would be devastating for all of us. The OECD ( The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) says that by the year 2050, 3.6 million people will die by premature death due to high amounts of air pollution. The report is based on the current policies that scientists say are safe. We need to make the right changes now or we are basically sentencing ourselves to
In areas where air pollution is often dangerously high, many suffer from respiratory illness. The “poor air quality increases respiratory ailments like asthma and bronchitis, heightens the risk of life threatening conditions like cancer and burdens our health care system with substantial medical costs” (Scientists). There has even been a “20% increase in ER and hospital admissions of patients with heart and lung diseases when particulate pollution peaks” (Roppolo). Since there are many contributors to increased illness from particulate matter, the government should impose a change. When such effects begin to burden the lives of many individuals, there has to be some course of action to resolve the issue. The government should require that all car companies begin manufacturing vehicles that are more fuel efficient, which would certainly limit the emissions by vehicles. If there are nearly “30,000 premature deaths each year” (Scientists) from vehicular pollutants, then there should be more “fuel-efficient technologies” (Lott). Though there are steps being taken, more progress needs to be
Vehicle are one of the lead contributors to air pollution; in the United States transportation causes seventy five percent of carbon monoxide (Brinson). The author Linda Brinson states “the U.S. has thirty percent of the world's automobiles, yet it contributes about half of the world's emissions from cars” (Brinson). Also, air pollution poses a serious threat to human health; it ranges from birth defects to lung diseases like tuberculosis. According to the Urban Environment Unit “urban air pollution is linked to up to one million premature deaths and one million pre-native
The negative effects of automobile emissions pollution were recognized long ago. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare estimated in the late 1950’s that nationwide, cars contribute 48 percent of the carbon monoxide, 4 percent of the sulfur dioxide, 32 percent of the nitrogen oxides, 59 percent of hydrocarbons and 8 percent of the particulate matter in our atmosphere. With all of these figures together, it meant that the automobile was by far the nations largest polluter, being responsible for 43 percent of all air pollution (Patterson 6). These numbers were staggering and brought many people to the opinion that something had to be done.
In past years, levels of air, noise, and sight pollution were much lower than they are today. There are more cars on the road today, and because of this we experience higher levels of pollution than before. The automobile is one of the leading suppliers of pollution in our cities. They release toxic emissions into our atmosphere that are affecting not only humans but affecting the world around us. Automobiles are linked particularly to carbon monoxide pollution.
There is no question that pollution from automobiles is a major problem in industrialized countries and is increasing in developing nations. And the number of cars is increasingly rapidly: in the United States, the automobile population has increased 6X faster than the human population and 2X faster than the number of new drivers (Motavelli, 2000). At the same time, the average fuel economy of the 2001 fleet decreased to 20.4 miles per gallon, the same it was in 1980. This decrease is fueled by the growing trend in
Car pollution causes immediate and long-term effects on our environment and our health. Car exhausts emit a wide range of gases and solid matter, causing global warming, acid rain, and harming the environment.
It is a known fact that we as a society are having a major affect on the earth’s atmosphere. Since the Industrial Revolution technologies have advanced and a lot of our means of energy give off harmful pollution. Mass production has allowed the number of cars in production to grow exponentially, and the increasing population is keeping them in demand. Pollution is at an all time high now and continues to get worse with the growing populations. More and more people are driving vehicles and able to afford their own transportation, which has really driven the amount of pollution in the atmosphere up over the past century. Emissions from our vehicles make up about twenty percent of the global warming pollution. This poses a real threat to our environment that needs to be changed. I am not saying that is it bad to drive cars or that people should go on a strike from driving. All I am saying is that we need a major change in our current thinking and process. We are battling the effects and concerns of vehicle emissions everyday, and the change is not happening as fast as it should be going. In order for change to take effect there is going to need to be support from everyone. One way that the majority of us can help in this epidemic is by making more environmentally conscious choices. Choosing a cleaner and more efficient fuel option for our vehicles can make loads of difference if everyone joins in, and create plenty of positive externalities that everyone can enjoy.
It is estimated that 6.5 million people die from air pollution every year. When gases, smoke, or dust particles enter our atmosphere in ways that become harmful to plants, animals, and humans it is called air pollution. Now, some air pollutions occur naturally for example during forests fires or volcanic eruptions, but the air pollution caused by human activities has become more prevalent and serious. The burning of fossil fuels, from coal-fired power plants and vehicles, causes smog and acid rain which includes particulate matter such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide that are released into the air.Air pollution has also become a global issue that has been taken more seriously every year. In the United Nation’s 2015 plan for Sustainable Development, air quality was mentioned three times. Most notably was this following indicator: “ Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution”. Ambient air pollution is just another way of saying outdoor air pollution that is usually caused by what I mentioned earlier—fossil fuel burning and vehicle emissions. Many of these deaths were a result of strokes, cardiovascular diseases, and lung cancer. The small particles of pollutant are called PM 2.5 which can harm the lungs if it is ingested to potentially cause these deaths along with asthma. Many countries are dealing with air pollution, but two countries of note are the United States of America and China. Although, both the United States and China are suffering from air pollution, there are clear differences in how it affects these nations and their desire to address these problems.
The ecosystem provides its own bio-indicator called a lichen. Lichens consist of two organisms, a fungi and a cyanobacteria (algae) which grow symbiotically. Lichens while they grow symbiotically their relationship of interaction can be described as mutualism. Three basic types of lichens include foliose, crustose, and fruticose. Lichens are durable and can grow in harsh environments where there is little or no soil. Lichens can tolerate severe temperatures both hot and cold. Despite their durability lichen are not impervious, many are sensitive to air pollution because they are dependent on moisture from rain for growth. Smog is a common air pollution which is the result of the burning fuels like coal and gasoline which releases sulfur
Even though many do not care about the pollution in the environment, society is not doing enough to prevent pollution. Everyone could have a better quality of life and many diseases could be prevented. Air pollution is one of many types of pollutions, but one of the most harmful form of pollution to come upon. Air pollution has many causes. People wonder how we could lower this risk of this air pollution and overall every type of pollution. Of course, there are many things to do, but what's best for the environment? "Air pollution is by far the most harmful form of pollution in our environment. Air pollution is caused by the injurious smoke emitted by cars, buses, trucks, trains, and factories, namely sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides."(as cited in http://www.uccee.org. 2006).
We used to think that air we breathe is oxygen, and that is 21% true; 78% is Nitrogen and the remaining 1% is a compound of Helium, Hydrogen, Argon, Neon, Krypton and Carbon dioxide (CO2). All this mix is call atmosphere and those percentages were taken in 1987. Today thirty years later the production of CO2 and Ozone as result of burned fossil combustibles and other gases produced through natural sources and human activities, including the decomposition of wastes in landfills, and agriculture, is increasing, even until toxic levels, the air around the planet.
Diesel emissions are the greatest output of atmospheric nanoparticles such as cerium oxide and nitrogen oxides which are the cause for more than two-thirds of all particulate matter that will emit from U.S. transportation alone.1Since diesel emissions output these semi-volatile particles at such a high rate, they have started to create a ground level ozone which can irritate the respiratory system and cause cardiovascular illnesses. While diesel fuel is combusting, any excess turns into soot or particulate matter. This is composed of hundreds of elements which include particulates of all sizes, including ultra-fine particulates that are small enough to pass through the cells of human lungs. When these particulates get brought into the atmosphere they will vaporize and oxidize which forms a greater mass of secondary organic aerosol. These ultra-fine particles are such an increasing danger to humans because they make up 80-90% of all diesel emissions. They are causing tens of thousands of deaths worldwide but particularly in Europe, where there are higher populations in smaller areas.2These deaths are mostly coming from the nitric oxide being emitted by the uncombusted diesel. (See Figure 1.) An estimated 100,000 people will continue to die a year from diesel pollutants if governments don’t start to take action. The strange part about nitric oxide is that the same chemicals that come out of diesel emissions are currently being used as a steroid for bodybuilders. The use of this steroid and the additive of nitric oxide in the atmosphere can cause
To eliminate dust mites, pollens and polluting particles from our daily atmosphere, one solution exists, and it is the air purifier. In addition to its invisibility, all the complexity of this pollution lies in the large number of pollutants of various types. The sources of indoor air pollution are multiple: some building materials, furniture, air, lifestyle of occupants (smoking, etc.), combustion appliances, insufficient ventilation, biocontaminants (house dust mites, etc.), allergens, human activity (cooking, etc.), cleaning products, equipment, etc.
Air pollution is a very serious problem throughout the world. Exposure to air pollution is easy and it can affect your health. Air pollution is the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into Earth’s atmosphere, causing diseases, death to humans, and damage to other living organisms such as animals and food crops, or the natural or built environment (Air Pollution, 2016, June 27). This definition proves that exposure to air pollution can harm the main things that we need to survive on earth. Depending on the environment an individual live in the quality of air can be good or bad. People living in the urban area have a higher chance of being exposed to air pollution than those living in the rural. I think if air pollution keep effecting the things we need on earth than we would no longer have any resources. In order to keep the resources we need we should decrease the exposure of air pollution in our environments and make the quality of it better. Use of hybrid cars might improve the quality of the air. For this reason, tax credits ought to be given to drivers of hybrid vehicles.