Pollution of the air Problem identification : Clearly indicate the issue you wil
ID: 285119 • Letter: P
Question
Pollution of the air
Problem identification: Clearly indicate the issue you will discuss and the influence this problem has on land, air, water resources, plant life, animal life, and human societies. Discuss the long-term effects this problem will continue to create without a comprehensive solution. The problem can be of local, national, or global scope.
Solutions currently implemented: Discuss how the issue has been addressed historically. Determine the courses of action taken in science, technology, political and economic systems, laws and regulations, community-based initiatives, education, and so forth. Review the successes and limitations of these actions.
Recommendations: Explain the actions that you believe need to be developed and implemented to accomplish change. Discuss your solution from multiple perspectives, such as educational, legislative, scientific, technological, economic, and other points of view.
PLEASE NO PLAGIARISM!!!!!! IN YOUR OWN WORDS!!!!!
Explanation / Answer
Problem identification:
1. Burning of Fossil Fuels: Sulfur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuelslike coal, petroleum and other factory combustibles is one the major cause of air pollution. Pollution emitting from vehicles including trucks, jeeps, cars, trains, airplanes cause immense amount of pollution. We rely on them to fulfill our daily basic needs of transportation. But, there overuse is killing our environment as dangerous gases are polluting the environment. Carbon Monooxide caused by improper or incomplete combustion and generally emitted from vehicles is another major pollutant along with Nitrogen Oxides, that is produced from both natural and man made processes.
2. Agricultural activities: Ammonia is a very common by product from agriculture related activities and is one of the most hazardous gases in the atmosphere. Use of insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural activities has grown quite a lot. They emit harmful chemicals into the air and can also cause water pollution.
3. Exhaust from factories and industries: Manufacturing industries release large amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds, and chemicals into the air thereby depleting the quality of air. Manufacturing industries can be found at every corner of the earth and there is no area that has not been affected by it. Petroleum refineries also release hydrocarbons and various other chemicals that pollute the air and also cause land pollution.
4. Mining operations: Mining is a process wherein minerals below the earth are extracted using large equipments. During the process dust and chemicals are released in the air causing massive air pollution. This is one of the reason which is responsible for the deteriorating health conditions of workers and nearby residents.
5. Indoor air pollution: Household cleaning products, painting supplies emit toxic chemicals in the air and cause air pollution. Have you ever noticed that once you paint walls of your house, it creates some sort of smell which makes it literally impossible for you to breathe.
NOx is formed during the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petrol. Existing data suggests that primary emission source of NOx in the UK is road transport, followed by the electricity supply industry and then other industrial and commercial sectors . For both NOx and PM2.5, industrial sources and power stations combine to contribute 35% of emissions, compared to road transport’s singlehanded contribution of 24% of national primary anthropogenic emissions.
Solution:
1. Use public mode of transportation: Encourage people to use more and more public modes of transportation to reduce pollution. Also, try to make use of car pooling. If you and your colleagues come from the same locality and have same timings you can explore this option to save energy and money.
2. Conserve energy: Switch off fans and lights when you are going out. Large amount of fossil fuels are burnt to produce electricity. You can save the environment from degradation by reducing the amount of fossil fuels to be burned.
3. Understand the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: Do not throw away items that are of no use to you. In-fact reuse them for some other purpose. For e.g. you can use old jars to store cereals or pulses.
4. Emphasis on clean energy resources: Clean energy technologies like solar, windand geothermal are on high these days. Governments of various countries have been providing grants to consumers who are interested in installing solar panels for their home. This will go a long way to curb air pollution.
5. Use energy efficient devices: CFL lights consume less electricity as against their counterparts. They live longer, consume less electricity, lower electricity bills and also help you to reduce pollution by consuming less energy.
Also,
Cultivating a safer and more attractive environment for cycling.
Electrification of public vehicles.
Transforming the private vehicle fleet.
Ecological interventions
Recommendation:
• Integrate cycling into the national school curriculum with a focus on traffic laws and cycling safety
• Include an encounter with a cyclist in the hazard perception section of the driving theory test and two further questions about safety around cyclists
• Install blind spot mirrors at any urban junction at which there has been a recorded collision between a cyclist and a heavy goods vehicle
• Require the installation of side guards and extended mirrors on all heavy goods vehicles
• Reduce speed limits to 20mph on busy urban roads where cycle lanes merge To reduce emissions from transport:
• Retrofit public buses to electrical or diesel-electric hybrids
• Provide retrofitting subsidies for cab owners to retrofit their vehicles
• Set up tax reductions for retrofitting private vehicles to hybrid or electric
• Integrate electric vehicle recharging standards into development planning
• Improve the testing and enforcement of existing diesel fleet engine regulations
• Encourage the adoption of electric vehicles through public awareness campaigns and financial incentives
• Discourage the use and purchasing of high-emitting vehicles by urban residents and within urban areas. Encourage a shift to a ‘sharing economy’, where the ownership of a personal vehicle is no longer the norm, superseded by shared cars, or care hire schemes etc.
To reduce urban air pollution through urban greening:
• Encourage the construction of green walls through subsidies and tax breaks
• Adopt green walls as a mitigation method for developments in areas with high concentrations of NOx