Air Pollution and the Environment
Although we all are familiar with air pollution, and know it is a very real problem that affects our environment and all of us, most of us tend to ignore it as if it does not exist. This is particularly easy for people who live in rural areas and do not see on a daily basis its extent: they do not see smog, factories, or millions of cars on the road polluting our air.
But air pollution is a problem that cannot be ignored forever, no matter how much we want to. Just smelling the exhaust of cars when standing next to a road, or seeing factories pump smoke into the sky, is a constant reminder that there is damage which is continuously being done to the environment by our modern society.
What is air pollution? Air pollution consists of various types of chemicals and gases being passed into our atmosphere. The main cause of this unwanted pollution is vehicles. Second to to that are industrial factories that release dirty and dangerous fumes into the atmosphere.
Why is air pollution dangerous?
1. Health reasons: air pollution has been linked to numerous types of illnesses such as strokes, heart issues and breathing problems.
2. Global warming: this terms refers to the gradual increase of the temperature of our planet, the Earth. Unfortunately for our modern society, its by products, namely air pollution, are the major cause of global warming. It is already affecting our planet (by destroying ecosystems and melting polar ice caps), but unless it is stopped, it will raise sea levels that will cause coastal cities across the world such as London and New York to be flooded.
3. Ozone layer: air pollution causes the ozone layer to shrink, thus, reducing its ability to shield us from ultraviolet radiation. This not only causes skin cancer, but also damages wildlife and plants.
4. Acid rain: certain pollutants can cause rain to turn to acid rain. This has a great impact on animals, fish and plants that are soaked in it. Acid rain can also affect the ground, making the soil toxic to many animals and plants.
How can we fight air pollution?
1. Hybrid vehicles: One way would be to use Hybrid vehicles. These vehicles produce about a fourth of the pollution of the average vehicle. Just imagine the global effects if everyone started driving such vehicles.
2. By using renewable energy sources, instead of fossil fuels which cause pollution, we could significantly reduce air pollution. Renewable energy sources can be wind power, solar power, hydroelectric power and geothermal power.
Since this problem seems to only get worse in time, and we may reach the point where we damage the environment irrevocably, the only logical solution is that everybody embrace ways that reduce air pollution in the hope that it will eventually, some day, be eliminated.
In this author’s opinion, the only way to truly solve this problem is through education. Most people are aware of the dangers of air pollution and the severe repercussions these hold, and yet many ignore them. Perhaps by educating our children – from birth – to live a green and environmentally friendly lifestyle, and by teaching them of the folly of our mistakes, there may still be hope for our planet – and ourselves.
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