Environmental Effects Of Air Pollution

Pollution continues to pose an enormous threat to residents of urban cities worldwide. In the August 2008 Monthly Update, it is stated that approximately 800,000 deaths each year can be attributed to outdoor air pollution, making pollution the single most harmful environmental hazard to human health in urban areas (Kallman). The fact that pollution kills hundreds of thousands of people each year alone portrays just how dangerous living in these conditions can be. Kallman writes about a study which proves an increase in upper respiratory diseases, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, and low birth weights when exposed to air pollutants (August 2008: Monthly Update). These can be very serious diseases and complications which, when contracted, can lead to death or very serious illnesses. There

Air pollution by definition, is the presence in or introduction into the air of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. Beijing is a major Chinese city that endures air pollution significantly. A study on the global burden of disease found that outdoor air pollution contributed to 1.2 million premature deaths in China each year (Chemical & Engineering News,2017). As China is the world's second largest economy behind the United States, it is most definitely under the influence of globalization. Globalization causes industrialization, a process that will inevitably create pollution.70% of air pollution in China is from the tailpipes of automobiles (Conserve Energy Future, 2017). Thus, the introduction of advanced transportation brought by globalization has adversely affected China's atmosphere.

In the past decade, the severe air pollution problem in fast developing countries, particularly in China, has caused highly social and scientific attention. In 2014, 92 % of the world population are exposed over to the WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) PM2.5 concentration level of 10 μg/m3 (World Health Organization, 2016). Ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution ranked as the third leading risk factor in India and Nepal, and ranked as the fifth in China (GBD 2015 Risk Factors Collaborators, 2016). In 2012, about 3 million deaths globally were attributed solely to ambient air pollution, and around 87% of it occurred in low- and middle-income countries (World Health Organization, 2016).

The population growth in Beijing contributes to a big portion of its pollution. The population has risen from 11 million to 16 million in just 7 years, and has nearly doubled over the past century. Factories that utilize coal burning contribute to the smog currently present in Beijing. Many of these factories depend on outdated and inefficient technology which emits air pollutants. Beijing is a victim of its own topography since it's surrounded by mountains which traps pollution within the city. Air quality worsens in the spring and summer seasons when the humidity and temperature levels increase. Air pollution has been so drastic to the point that the city often engulfs in smog making it near zero visibility which in turn causing road

To begin with, the amount of inhabitants in Beijing causes pollution. As the capital of China, most every Chinese person dreams of living in Beijing, for this reason Beijing is full of people, and as they move in the air becomes worse. Beijing population is increasing every day and as people increase car use also increases. With nearly 20 million of people living in Beijing, this amounts to 5 million cars driving around every day. Even though the government tries to limit cars that drive in one day by the plate number of each car, but still these cars create abundant carbon dioxide. To make matters

I am pursing my research in an environmental toxicology lab because I would like to understand the effect of air pollution have on human and animal cardiovascular health. Growing as a child in Taiwan, I remember vividly that I always had to wear masks to prevent allergies such as watery eyes, nasal congestion, and running nose that were caused by the dusty and air pollution in the city whenever I went into the city. I was not the only one who was affected by the quality of air in the city. My younger brother also has trouble with the dusty city air. He had an environmental triggered asthma and had to use rescue bronchodilator inhalers to relieve his symptoms. Due to lack of government regulation in air quality and urban greenery establishment

During the 1980s, China underwent a series of industrial changes leading to severe air pollution (Chen, Ebenstein, Greenstone, & Li, 2013; Chen, Kan, Chen, Jiang, & Hong, 2011; Kan, London, Chen, Zhang, Song, Zhao, & Chen, 2007; Schmidt, & Olicker, 2004). As industries in large cities expanded, the resources required to manufacture goods produced pollution in the air (Chen, Ebenstein, Greenstone, & Li, 2013; Chen, Kan, Chen, Jiang, & Hong, 2011; Kan, London, Chen, Zhang, Song, Zhao, & Chen, 2007; Schmidt, & Olicker, 2004). Over the years China continues to be one of the top manufactures in the world, making industries increase their revenue demands. Although this change has assisted in China’s economic development and growth, it has also damaged the environment these individuals live in. Industries in China have no mandatory rules and regulations that forces companies to control what is released into the air. Thus, greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide are released freely causing severe damages in the environment (Chen, Ebenstein, Greenstone, & Li, 2013; Chen, Kan, Chen, Jiang, & Hong, 2011; Kan, London, Chen, Zhang, Song, Zhao, & Chen, 2007. In terms of air pollution, China even seems to be surpassing other countries globally (World Health Organization, 2010). Data shows that the most serious cases of air pollution in the world are located in nine cities in China and about 1/3 of the 113 cities failed the national

“The health effects of air pollution imperil human lives. This fact is well-documented." - Eddie Bernice Johnson

Historically (pre-1892), the agrarian landscape was conducive to clean air; a time void of pollutants; however, with the advent of the industrial revolution, air quality was forever changed. Interestingly, two of today’s leading contributors of emissions are the result of two significant man-made events dating back to 1892 and 1893, which first began polluting the air. First came the emergence of factories with their emission billowing smokestacks (Davis & Henderson, 2011), which was followed by the first gasoline-powered automobile housing an internal combustion engine in 1983 (The Library of Congress, 2017). Although there’s shared knowledge about the importance of air quality and the health implications associated with air pollution, factories are still releasing toxic fumes and automobiles are releasing exhaust (Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, 2013). Subsequently, that which was the catalyst that carried society into the modern era remains a public health threat 125 years later.

Imagine having your life cut short by at least ten years. This is the reality for many people who are constantly exposed to high levels of air pollution. In the midwestern United States, members of the Teamsters Union are at a higher risk of lung cancer. These union members are truck drivers and mechanics who simply work their hardest every day to make a living. They haul heavy equipment or material to construction sites or warehouses. Workers may have to load and unload equipment as well as repair any problems the vehicles have. Similar to the average American, they work many hours a day and spend even more hours on the road driving and hauling equipment from place to place.

Proctor and Gamble (American multinational consumer goods corporation ), recently released a statement stating that polluted air can contain more than 200 chemicals, that can potentially be a catalyst to the faster-aging skin. Studies done on this topic have proven that women ages 30-40, who are living is polluted arias, have a 10 percent chance of obtaining aging skin symptoms. The effects of air pollution affect everyone, not just women. Inhaling air pollution takes away at least 1-2 years of a typical human life. It has effects as small as burning eyes and itchy throat too as large as breathing problems and death. Air pollution is a problem for anyone who has to encounter it. Nearly 2 million babies die a year due to air pollution. A study done in 2012 proves that air pollution is a devastating occurrence in the world. 570,000 children under five years old died from respiratory infections such as pneumonia, tied to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Fortunately, there are some things that can be done to prevent further damage. First, air pollution can be reduced through efforts in the home. Second, communities can help solve air pollution problems. Third, efforts worldwide can assist at the end of air pollution. If efforts were made to officially stop air pollution, millions of lives would be saved.

In Chinese large cities, however, with the rapid increase in the number of motor vehicles, Chen reported that air pollution has gradually changed from the conventional coal combustion type to the mixed coal combustion/ motor vehicle emission type. In Asia, increasing urbanization and per

In the past recent decades, pollution has become a worldwide known problem. Advancements in technology and machinery have increased the amount of air pollution that is absorbed into our atmosphere. Harsh and toxic chemicals released into the air have many negative effects on not only peoples and animals but our environment as well. Air pollution is a very serious threat the world must face. In some countries, the pollution is so bad that people are forced to wear masks to protect them from the harmful gases and chemicals. What exactly are the effects air pollution can have on the environment?

The airplane is the greatest inventions of the human history at large. Flying higher and higher in the air like birds had always been one of the dreams of humans since the beginning of time. The continuous struggle by Wright Brothers, and many other flying enthusiasts astounded the world when the dream of flying like birds became reality.

Americas need for more has brought upon an increase of SUVs. SUVs have bigger engines that burn more gas than economy size cars, which leads to more toxics released into our air.  We also have freight trucks that run on diesel to worry about. You can see how our form of transportation is a major problem for our air quality.  The Journal of Industrial Ecology points out how, “California, where the demand for freight transportation is forecast to rise 1.8% per year and the state has greenhouse gas reduction goals. With this growth in demand, energy us and GHG emissions will increase unless alternative (or improvements in) vehicle technologies, fuels, or logistics are adopted.” (Nahilk, et al. 317)  If we use more eco-friendly fuel types and change the way we manufacture cars, we could reduce air pollution. Finding a more eco-friendly form of transportation can benefit the environment and our health.  Instead of using a more eco-friendly fuel type we continue to keep gasoline, a crude oil as are primary source of fuel for our cars.  There are still toxics being released from the exhaust from cars that we do not even know about.