As we discussed in class already, air pollution is one of the most important world issues that our planet is facing today. As a starting point in this discussion, the number of average citizens dying at a premature age is increasing astronomically. The California Air Resources Board estimates that within each year nine thousand people in that state alone will die prematurely from the air pollution. 1 Along with the dangers of people directly suffering damage and perhaps causing death, there is the case that the food that we are entrusting our communities and our planet to make are very susceptible to many different types of illness'. Environment Canada states that ground-level ozone can damage all of our crops, flowers, shrubs, and forests by interfering with the crops abilities to store and produce food. Along with these damages, it makes the plants susceptible to diseases, pests and environmental stresses.2 Among all of these issues, many countries have been trying to make major strides in reducing the amount of pollution that is caused. Industrial countries have worked extensively to reduce levels of sulfur dioxide, smog, and smoke so that people could go on living a healthier life. However, by reducing the sulfur dioxide levels too low, this might actually make the process of global warming worse. Cutting the amount of the sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere can actually let more sunlight through and in turn warming the Earth. This effect is only made worse as the elevated levels of greenhouse gases trap additional heat.3 All of these issues within our society and how we are running things is just a small fraction on air pollution problems today. With the society that we have grown up to know, there must soon be drastic changes to perceive our underlying fate if we do not being to change our ways.
While you make a good point, if we look at more recent studies, there’s proof that we are already improving our air quality in a lot of places. 1 While it’s still not amazing, it’s a recognized issue and all the “go green” efforts are starting to prove themselves as effective. To say we need to make a change is true for a lot of people, but it seems everyone is focusing on the negatives of the past rather than the positive that has already happened.
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ReplyDeleteAs we discussed in class already, air pollution is one of the most important world issues that our planet is facing today. As a starting point in this discussion, the number of average citizens dying at a premature age is increasing astronomically. The California Air Resources Board estimates that within each year nine thousand people in that state alone will die prematurely from the air pollution. 1 Along with the dangers of people directly suffering damage and perhaps causing death, there is the case that the food that we are entrusting our communities and our planet to make are very susceptible to many different types of illness'. Environment Canada states that ground-level ozone can damage all of our crops, flowers, shrubs, and forests by interfering with the crops abilities to store and produce food. Along with these damages, it makes the plants susceptible to diseases, pests and environmental stresses.2 Among all of these issues, many countries have been trying to make major strides in reducing the amount of pollution that is caused. Industrial countries have worked extensively to reduce levels of sulfur dioxide, smog, and smoke so that people could go on living a healthier life. However, by reducing the sulfur dioxide levels too low, this might actually make the process of global warming worse. Cutting the amount of the sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere can actually let more sunlight through and in turn warming the Earth. This effect is only made worse as the elevated levels of greenhouse gases trap additional heat.3 All of these issues within our society and how we are running things is just a small fraction on air pollution problems today. With the society that we have grown up to know, there must soon be drastic changes to perceive our underlying fate if we do not being to change our ways.
*1.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/27/state-of-the-air-quality-2011_n_852869.html
2.http://www.ec.gc.ca/indicateurs-indicators/default.asp?lang=en&n=D189C09D-1
3.http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution-overview/
While you make a good point, if we look at more recent studies, there’s proof that we are already improving our air quality in a lot of places. 1 While it’s still not amazing, it’s a recognized issue and all the “go green” efforts are starting to prove themselves as effective. To say we need to make a change is true for a lot of people, but it seems everyone is focusing on the negatives of the past rather than the positive that has already happened.
Delete1 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/25/state-of-the-air-2012-american-lung-association_n_1446786.html