Air pollution consists of pollution in various ways by humans and are not limited to just smog and CFC emissions. Although that doesn’t mean the emissions are negligible as CFCs and HCFCs deplete the ozone layer, more solar radiation will be able to pass. The particles and chemicals released into the air can have serious health issues for everyone. Air pollution is linked to many respiratory diseases and has had adverse effects on a wide group of Americans ranging from different age groups. The state of air pollution in America is improving steadily in many states however reforms have not become nationwide yet. As humans we can help lessen the effects but first, we must understand where air pollution stems from.

Sources of Air Pollution

Emissions from the factories, cars, and hair spray products are common and obvious to the public. However, it has been recently discovered that the thawing of permafrost could release mercury into the air. It has been estimated that the amount of natural mercury inside the permafrost could be up to 10 times greater than humans have released in the past 30 years. Geophysical Research Letters suggests this amount is not insignificant by giving us a scale of how much natural reserves of mercury there are. This also lets readers know the importance of preventing global warming to stop the thawing of permafrost. Mercury is not very dangerous in lower concentrations. It can be found in thermometers at your home which pose no threat to your health. However, once it is airborne it can then enter your blood stream directly through inhaling. This is when issues occur to humans such as shortness of breath, motor dysfunction, and headaches. The most common way for humans to be affected by mercury poisoning is inhaling it through the air. In high concentration it can result in death along with the issues listed above. (Welch, Melting Artic Permafrost)

Dirty heating oil can also pollute the air. Half of the residential buildings in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx were found to be heating residual fuel oil. Heating residual fuel oil instead of cleaner heating sources such as natural gas, they produce more particulate matter. PM2.5 is one of these types of particulate matter. ED visits are emergency department visits and occur depending on the situation. Data from various ED visits have shown that during the warmer season when the concentration of PM2.5 is higher there is more ED visits than when it is cold season and the concentration of PM2.5 is lower. This correlation helps prove that PM2.5 is in fact causing more ED visits the more concentration there is of it. Reforms have been taken in New York to switch apartment complexes and homes to cleaner heating fuels. These regulations are supposed to phase out the use of unclean heating fuels over time. Changing something drastic like this cannot be done overnight and needs to be slowly implemented. (Freed, How can we improve)

Greenhouse gases consists of Nitrous Oxide, Fluorinated Gases, Carbon Dioxide, and Methane. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels, coal, oil, and natural gases for energy. Carbon dioxide is also the largest contributor to greenhouse gases. This echoes how much of it is produced by humans. Looking at statistics all other natural gases don’t even make up a quarter of CO2 emissions. Methane (CH4) gas is from landfills, coal mines, and farms. Methane can be found in natural gases and in many cases will mostly be methane. Recently artic methane has been discovered by Professor Wadham and her colleagues to be potentially trapped underneath the ice in Antarctica. The mining of coal and petroleum is where the natural gases are released. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is common in fertilizers, manufacturing processes, and burning fossil fuels. It is used to increase oxygen available in combustion. This increased combustion helps diesel engines run at peak efficiency. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are produced when disposing of appliances such as refrigeration units, air conditioning units, and hair products. They are used to replace the more harmful greenhouse gases CFCs and HCFCs which damaged the ozone layer. (EIA, Energy and Environment)

The thawing of Ice in Antarctica is another source of air pollution. Underneath the ice is trapped two gases that can heat up the earth and at the same time be dangerous to humans. Methane is one of them as mentioned in the previous paragraph it has been stuck under the ice. As the ice of Antarctica is melting the methane gas could rise to the surface and even into the atmosphere. Professor Wadham has theorized “You’ve got bugs, you’ve got organic carbon in sediments, and there’s no oxygen because it’s so far from the atmosphere” her philosophy in describing this situation is that bugs being trapped under ice over millions of years will naturally excrete and methane will build up trapped under the ice. “When you put all those things together, it’s perfect for the production of methane. It’s like a huge wetland.” She uses her knowledge as a researcher in Ice and biogeochemical cycles in order to make this inference. Her background in the study of glaciers gives me confidence that her prediction is accurate. Microbes are more commonly known as bacteria however; these microbes have been surviving in cold and less luminous places in Antarctica. These places may include but are not limited to lakes, glaciers, and minerals in rocks. Microbes have been eating organic matter and producing methane gas as a byproduct. Estimations say that methane gas trapped under ice is potentially more than the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as of today. Mercury like Methane is trapped under the permafrost in the artic. Now that we have gone over the sources of air pollution, we must now understand the effects in order to see why it must be prevented. (Kunzig, Antartic Methane could)

Effects of Air Pollution  

Mr. Freed’s son suffered many episodes of respiratory distress as a child. Respiratory distress can include asthma attacks, type 2 diabetes, and acute lung injury. The causes of these effects are PM2.5 and other airborne pollutants in urban areas. Urban areas refer to places such as New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. According to Freed children naturally are vulnerable to these diseases. The biology of their bodies makes them breathe at a faster rate than adults and therefore, more pollutants are inhaled. It was also noted that preexisting conditions increased the chance of respiratory diseases. (Freed, How can we improve)

Asthma is a respiratory disease that causes bronchial tubes or airways to become irritated and inflamed. The most common way for people to contract asthma is through airborne particles. Children that contract asthma can become better or worse depending on how their lungs grow. However, it is a life long disease that does not go away in other words chronic. PM2.5 is a major offender in this case because of its nature to build up plaque and block airways. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association long term exposure to PM2.5 plaque builds up in arteries and inflammation occurs as a result. The arteries can also become hardened which leads to heart attacks and strokes. This means the blocking of airways by PM2.5 leads to many issues later on as more blockage builds up. PM2.5 does not only affect the lungs but also the heart and mortality rates in humans. (What is PM2.5)

 

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is more commonly known as type 2 diabetes. It is also a chronic disease like asthma however it is correlated more with high blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes has a major impact on the function of lungs and the quality of life for humans. It is correlated strongly with pollutants in the air such as nitrogen dioxide, tobacco smoke and even PM2.5. A study done by Diabetes Care with California residents concludes that those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have a higher chance of contracting asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases. Americans in California were inhaling more pollutants and particle matter due to living in an urban setting. The lungs of residents cannot deliver oxygen efficiently as those without type 2 diabetes and the size of lungs is decreased. Living in other areas away from factories and pollutants may be a viable option for those suffering from preexisting conditions. (Rushlow, How Diabetes)

Acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome is a deadly disease which leads to shock, trauma, and burns. It is offset by inflammation or irritation of the lungs. As mentioned before PM2.5 could cause this kind of inflammation. Treating this disease is also difficult because failure of the procedure known as VALI (ventilator associated lung injury) could cause multiple organs failing. Mercury could also have the same effect however, through its vapor/gaseous state. In this state it can spread rapidly through the body utilizing the blood stream and alveolar membrane. Inhaling mercury vapor is usually fatal because of progressive pulmonary failure. This means chronic respiratory failure or reoccurring failure of the respiratory system. There are three phases of mercury vapor inhalation. In the first stage the patient displays flu like symptoms. The second stage consists of multiple organ symptoms occurring. The third stage will conclude with the nervous system failing. The organs affected are lungs, heart, etc. In most cases patients will not survive all stages. There was a single case where said patient survived due to corticosteroid and penicillamine. In order to stop these effects regulations must be created. (Lim et al. Mercury inhalation, Acute lung injury)

Regulation

In states such as New York certain regulation are being taken regarding dirty heating fuels. New York City Department of Environmental Protection has started phasing out the older and unclean heating fuels. They also set a date for which all buildings must switch to cleaner fuels by. This reduces the footprint left behind by the continual burning of unclean heating fuels. Emissions of HCFCs and CFCs have been reduced thanks to manufactures switching to HCFs. Although it still impacts the ozone layer regulation has compelled large corporations to switch to using HCFs which has less impact on the ozone layer. Regulation has existed in the past and had less impact in London before when there was an event known as the Great Smog of London in 1952. Pollutants at that time were poorly managed and the smog occurred as a result. Regulation has had a major impact on the 21^st century and its footprint on the earth but reduction and resolutions must also be explored. (NYCcleanheat)

Reduction/Resolution

Reduction of pollutants released into the air would have a benefit for all humans including Americans. As a country America is taking the right steps in reducing air pollution. Moving plants producing a high amount of pollutants away from the major cities or residential areas would keep children safer from suffering like Mr. Freed’s child. Using cyclone collectors to help remove finer particles from the air such as PM2.5 is possible through electrostatic precipitation. Providing aid to developing countries would reduce the amount of pollutants worldwide as those countries are still using unclean fuels. Writing to local/national politicians can help get legislation passed to reduce airborne pollutants in your area. Passing legislature would protect not only the present but also the future generations. The children of the future won’t have to worry about ED visits because of asthma offset by PM2.5.

Citation Page

Model Essay: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/air-pollution/

Freed, Adam. “How Can We Improve Air Quality In Cities?” How Can We Improve Air Quality In Cities?, 2018, www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20181004.768360/full/.

Bowe, B., Xie, Y., Li, T., Yan, Y., Xian, H. and Al-Aly, Z. (2018). The 2016 global and national burden of diabetes mellitus attributable to PM 2·5 air pollution. [online] The Lancet. Available at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpla/article/PIIS2542-5196(18)30140-2/fulltext [Accessed 4 Nov. 2018].

Tamayo, Jovelle, and Will Matsuda. “Wildfire Smoke Makes Seattle and Portland World’s Dirtiest Cities.” Seattle and Portland Air Is Now Dirtier Than Most Polluted Cities in Asia, National Geographic, 23 Aug. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/08/news-seattle-portland-dirtier-air-quality-than-parts-of-asia/.

Sabit Cakmak, Chris Hebbern, Lauren Pinault, Eric Lavigne, Jennifer Vanos, Dan Lawson Crouse, Michael Tjepkema. (2018) Associations between long-term PM2.5 and ozone exposure and mortality in the Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CANCHEC), by spatial synoptic classification zone. Environment International 111, 200-211.
Online publication date: 1-Feb-2018.

“Regulations.” The Problem | NYC Clean Heat, www.nyccleanheat.org/content/regulations.

Stachnik-Rushlow, Amy. “How Diabetes Affects Your Lungs.” Healthgrades.com, Healthgrades, 9 Nov. 2018, healthguides.healthgrades.com/take-charge-of-your-diabetes-treatment/how-diabetes-affects-your-lungs.

Ragaller, Maximillian and Torsten Richter. “Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome” Journal of emergencies, trauma, and shock vol. 3,1 (2010): 43-51.

Lim, H E et al. “Mercury inhalation poisoning and acute lung injury” Korean journal of internal medicine vol. 13,2 (1998): 127-30.

Bliis Air, “What is PM2.5 and Why You Should Care”

https://blissair.com/what-is-pm-2-5.htm

“Air pollution control.” Environmental Encyclopedia, edited by Deirdre S. Blanchfield, Gale, 2011. Global Issues in Context, https://link-galegroup-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/doc/CV2644150042/OVIC?u=cuny_ccny&sid=OVIC&xid=5190d3a7. Accessed 19 Nov. 2018.

Kunzig, Robert. “Antarctic Methane Could Escape, Worsen Warming.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 02 May 2016. Web. 19 Nov. 2018.

Welch, Craig. “Melting Arctic Permafrost Could Release Tons of Toxic Mercury.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 06 Feb. 2018. Web. 19 Nov. 2018.

“Where Greenhouse Gases Come From.” Factors Affecting Gasoline Prices – Energy Explained, Your Guide To Understanding Energy – Energy Information Administration, 2017, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.php?page=environment_where_ghg_come_from.