Emma Naylor

2/22/12 Air Pollution One of the current environmental issues is both indoor and outdoor air pollution. Most foreign substances that humans release into the environment are considered air pollution. Sometimes, air pollution can contribute to global warming because toxins released into the atmosphere can trap heat energy inside, which can burn holes in the atmosphere. This allows excess sunlight and heat to enter the earths atmosphere. The major cause of outdoor air pollution is carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide that humans and animals exhale is not the problem, but carbon dioxide that is associated with the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide, as explained in the previous paragraph, traps heat energy and doesnt allow it to escape (Hall). If the temperature increases by even just a few degrees, this could cause the glaciers in both the northern and southern hemisphere to melt. Melting could cause flooding of coastal areas. It could also cause polar bears to go extinct (Hall). Another greenhouse gas is methane, which is produced by livestock and emitted from swamps and marshes. This was also used in aerosol spray until it was banned because of the effect it has on the ozone layer. Another air pollutant is sulfur dioxide, a component of smog. When released into the atmosphere, it blocks sunlight, causing temperatures on the earth to cool. When efforts were taken to reduce the sulfur dioxide, it caused more warming because more energy could be directed into the atmosphere. Volcanic eruptions cause massive amounts of sulfur dioxide to enter the atmosphere, and could possibly cause cooling in the area lasting for years. Volcanoes used to be the main producer of sulfur dioxide, but today humans are (National Geographic). Another cause of outdoor air pollution is fires. When farmers burn land to fertilize their soil, it

causes many harmful substances to be released into the atmosphere (Anonymous, Major Causes of Air Pollution-Problems With Smog). Air pollution and smog are worse in cities that are sunny and have warmer temperatures. Pollution is bad in Denver because the mountains surrounding the city help to trap the toxins in the lower altitude (Anonymous, Major Causes of Air PollutionProblems With Smog). Air pollution outside is being worsened by global industrialization. Indoor air pollution is also a concern. Some indoor air pollutants are: carbon monoxide, which can leak from propane furnaces and heating systems; radon, which is a radioactive gas that is released from the earth that is sometimes found in basements in certain parts of the country; tobacco smoke; wet paint; household cleaners; mold; and asbestos, which is sometimes released from old insulation in buildings. These can be present in buildings with poor ventilation and in places that have problems with air ducts or heating systems. Outdoor air pollution is a problem in industrialized countries like the United States, China, and Japan, to name a few. Since so much pollution is produced by these countries and many others, pollution is spreading across the world, becoming a global issue. Average temperatures have risen on the entire globe, which is causing the frozen terrain and ice caps to melt away. As they melt, carbon dioxide is released from the ground, which then goes into the atmosphere, worsening the global temperature problem. Indoor pollution happens all over the world, including third-world countries that heat shelters with fireplaces and the like. When wood is burned and the shelter has either improper ventilation or a clogged chimney, it causes buildup of creosote---which is flammable---and does not allow toxic gases that are released when wood is burned like carbon monoxide to escape the vent/chimney (Morgan).

Currently, air pollution is a major issue throughout the world, and steps are being taken to reduce pollution. There are two types of control: input control, which is supposed to control and prevent problems or reduce the effects of the problem in the future, and output control, which basically cleans up toxins and tries to fix problems in areas where pollution has occurred. Input control methods include things like: raising gas prices to encourage people to cut back on driving, which pollutes the air; passing regulatory laws to control the amount of pollution released into the air; reducing waste; and replacing non-renewable energy resources such as coal and oil with renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro power. Input control is usually more effective and is more supported by the general public because it is not as costly as output control (Anonymous, Air Pollution). Currently, the Kyoto Protocol is in place as an agreement between countries to control and cut back on pollution (National Geographic). The use of renewable energy is also becoming more widespread across the world and in some cities in the United States, there is a program during the summer that encourages people to carpool, ride a bike, or take a bus to school or work. About a year ago, China released a new plan to reduce pollution in Beijing and other large cities (Watts). During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, efforts were also made to reduce air pollution outside because of the health risk it posed to athletes that were competing. If greater steps arent taken to help reduce air pollution, humans could seriously affect the environment and later generations to come. The glaciers could melt, causing coastal flooding. Polar bears could also become extinct because they live on the northern ice caps. Human health could be affected because many of the toxins can cause respiratory diseases such as mesothelioma, emphysema, asthma, and many others. Do people really want to ruin this planet with our selfish needs? Once non-renewable resources are gone, what are people going to do?

Leaders everywhere should consider energy sources that are renewable and will not harm the environment, such as water, wind, and solar power. The general public should take steps to cut back on tasks that involve burning fossil fuels.

Bibliography
Anonymous. Air Pollution. n.d. 26 February 2012 <http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/air_pollution.html>. . Air Pollution. n.d. 26 February 2012 <http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/pollution-main.html>. . Colorado Indoor Air Quality Program. n.d. 26 February 2012 <http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/ap/iaqhom.html>. . Major Causes of Air Pollution-Problems With Smog. n.d. 26 February 2012 <http://www.environment911.org/92.Major_Causes_of_Air_Pollution__Problems_with_Smog>. EPA. Carbon Monoxide (CO)| Indoor Air| US Environmental Protection Agency. n.d. 26 February 2012 <http://www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html>. Hall, Shane. How Does CO2 Affect Global Warming?| eHow.com. n.d. 28 February 2012 <http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4926991_co-cause-global-warming.html>. Morgan, Lee. What Are The Dangers Of Not Cleaning Your Chimney? 11 April 2011. 26 February 2012 <http://www.ehow.com/info_8206681_dangers-not-cleaning-chimney.html>. National Geographic. Air Pollution Facts, Air Pollution Effects, Air Pollution Solutions, Air Pollution Causes-National Geographic. 1996-2012. 23 Feb 2012 <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollutionoverview/>. Watts, Johnathan. China Sets New Pollution Controls. 14 January 2011. 26 February 2012 <http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/14/china-pollution-controls>.