1. 1. AIR POLLUTION By Cassidy Houston
2. 2. Where does this pollution occur and who is responsible? Most air pollutants originate from human- made sources, including mobile sources (e.g., cars, trucks, buses, etc.) and stationary sources (e.g., factories, power plants), as well as indoor sources (e.g., some building materials and cleaning solvents). Some air toxins are also released from natural sources such as volcanic eruptions and forest fires. One can also cause air pollution by simply lighting up a cigarette. Although a single cigarette is small in size and typically weighs less than 1 gram, a cigarette typically emits between 7 and 23 milligrams (mg) of PM2.5 when it is smoked, depending on the manner of smoking and the brand.
3. 3. Possible Solutions As there are many different forms of air pollution, there are also various forms of solutions. Since people usually use nonrenewable resources to generate electricity, such as coal, dangerous levels of toxins are emitted during the process. These toxins may be SO2, NOx, particulate matter, mercury, and/or other harmful pollutants. Increasing the use of wind/solar power, reducing the use of coal/oil, and improving fuel efficiency in automobiles are all possible solutions to fix the pollution in the air we breathe everyday of our lives.
4. 4. The Clean Air Act In my opinion, the best solution is for the government to enforce The Clean Air Act. The remaining benefits are roughly equally divided among three categories of human health and environmental improvement: Preventing premature mortality associated with ozone exposure; preventing morbidity, including acute myocardial infractions and chronic bronchitis; and improving the quality of ecological resources and other aspects of the environment, the largest component of which is improved visibility. This net improvement in economic welfare is projected to occur because cleaner air leads to better health and productivity for American workers as well as savings on medical expenses for air pollution-related health problems. The beneficial economic effects of these two improvements alone are projected to more than offset the expenditures for pollution control.
5. 5. How would taking action benefit the community overall? Renewable energy is clean, affordable, domestic, and effectively infinite. It produces no emissions and results in cleaner air and water for all. Renewable power creates jobs and generates revenue for local communities. Revenue from solar and wind farms helps stimulate local economies that need new roads, schools, libraries, and hospitals. The United States has some of the best wind resources in the world, with enough potential energy to produce nearly 10 times the country's existing power needs. Wind energy is now one of the most cost- effective sources of new generation, competing with new installations of coal, gas and nuclear power. Its cost has dropped steadily over the past few years, as wind turbine technology has improved. Currently, over 400 American manufacturing plants build wind components, towers and blades.
6. 6. Works Cited 1) http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/c02c.html 2) http://airawareness.webs.com/ 3) http://tobaccosmoke.exposurescience.org/abcs-of-shs/the-cigarette- is-a-major-source-of-pollution 4) http://homeguides.sfgate.com/pollution-affect-living-things- 79218.html 5) http://www.wikihow.com/Take-Action-to-Reduce-Air-Pollution 6) http://www.cleanlineenergy.com/technology/wind-and-solar 7) http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/
7. 7. Works Cited 1) http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/c02c.html 2) http://airawareness.webs.com/ 3) http://tobaccosmoke.exposurescience.org/abcs-of-shs/the-cigarette- is-a-major-source-of-pollution 4) http://homeguides.sfgate.com/pollution-affect-living-things- 79218.html 5) http://www.wikihow.com/Take-Action-to-Reduce-Air-Pollution 6) http://www.cleanlineenergy.com/technology/wind-and-solar 7) http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/