Air Pollution Blog by Harrison Cui
Air Pollution
Harrison Cui
Air
pollution is, as we all know, the contamination of air by chemicals or
compounds that pose a level of health risk. The World Health Organization
estimates there are 4.2 million deaths every year due to ambient air pollution,
and they report over 91% of the world’s population live in places where air
quality exceeds WHO guidelines. In addition, the Earth’s ozone layer in the
stratosphere is being depleted by chlorofluorocarbons and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons. The ozone layer is what protects us from harmful UV
rays from the sun.
We were
taught from a very young age what air pollution is, how it’s caused, and what
can be done to slow its progression. I remember
walk-or-ride-your-bike-to-school day was a huge deal at Old Settlers
Elementary, but nowadays I don’t see the same enthusiasm or effort to be a
greener people. Granted less than half of an elementary school student body
riding bikes to school 1 day out of 365 is microscopic, it was something.
Here are
some ways you can help:
Conserving
Energy:
- The
majority of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. Turning
off lights or other appliances when not in use are small steps that can be
taken right now to reduce your electricity consumption.
Better
Transportation:
- A
lot of us are getting cars these days and it doesn’t hurt to look for cars
with more efficient gas mileage.
- Carpooling
takes a bit of organization, but it is something within your ability to be
a part of change.
CFL
Lights:
- Compact
fluorescent lamp lights
consume less electricity, last longer, and lower electricity bills. So
the next time a light bulb goes out, encourage your parents to replace it
with a CFL light bulb.
Questions:
What are
some other ways you can think of?
Are there
anything you are already doing to reduce air pollution? If so, what are they?
Works Cited:
Comments
I’ve never heard of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) before, so I did a little research and it turns out they are used in appliances that need insulation such as refrigerators. The release of HCFC doesn’t have a noticeable impact on its immediate vicinity, but as a whole, the earth’s ozone layer is being destroyed because of it. Being exposed to high levels can be harmful to a person’s health, but it hasn’t been identified as a carcinogen (something that can cause cancer). I wasn’t aware that insulation in appliances like ACs could have such an effect on the environment....
Personally, I’ve never thought about how CFL Lights can act as a better alternative to incandescent light bulbs. Upon further research, they appear to use about 1/5 of the electric power and last as much 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs. My question is, why aren’t CFL lights commonly advertised over incandescent ones? Interestingly enough, because they contain toxic mercury, many countries have banned their disposal with regular garbage, and they tend to cost more; even with these issues, I still don’t understand why CFL bulbs aren’t as common as incandescent bulbs (considering they are much more sustainable).
Additionally, LED bulbs, in comparison to CFL and incandescent bulbs, appear to have a better efficiency and longer lifespan. The fact that many don’t use energy-saving, more efficient, and long-lasting light bulbs as alternatives to incandescent ones begs the question as to whether we, as members of society, are too lazy to try to help the environment or whether we simply don’t know the true effect of our actions on the environment.
I did some research regarding additional detrimental effects of ozone depletion. It turns out that the higher levels of UV radiation you mentioned can cause non-melanoma skin cancer in humans, effect plant growth, alter the development of aquatic life, and increase the amount of CO2, CO, COS, and ozone in the biosphere. Regarding the hypoflourocarbon emissions you mentioned, reduction of emissions will likely be up to AC and refrigeration companies, but we can also take smaller steps to reducing air pollution in our daily lives such as carpool, choose environmentally friendly cleaners, and avoid sitting idly in a car that’s turned on.
Reading all this made me more conscious of what I’m breathing in, and is a scary fact. Hopefully these numbers can be reduced around the world...
And if the entire U.S. did not eat meat or cheese for just one day a week, it would be the equivalent of not driving 91 billion miles – or taking 7.6 million cars off the road. All of this brings light to how much our diets affect the air, and hopefully many of us can contribute to a better future.
To answer your questions, I often try to carpool with as many people as I can to reduce the total distance traveled by cars that burn nonrenewable resources. Some other activities that contribute to air pollution are not recycling, since a lot of trash is burned, while recycled materials are re purposed, leaving electrical appliances on when they're not needed, and eating ice cream. By recycling more and using electrical appliances and eating ice cream conservatively, we can all help to cut down on air pollution. I feel like replacing outdated, inefficient lightbulbs is a very easy, effective way to reduce our electricity consumption and burning of fossil fuels, so it was a good idea to include that in your post. I also like how you appeal to the audience reading your post, as you point out that many of us at this age are getting driver's licenses and buying new cars, so it might be beneficial to pay a little less attention to flashiness and a bit more attention to efficiency.
I also found the WHO’s estimation of 4.2 million air pollution related deaths very shocking. I think we are inclined to relate environmental issues with simply nature and animals rather than humans as well. Our own daily practices are proving detrimental to our lives.
Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/2166542/air-pollution-killing-1-million-people-and-costing-chinese