Air pollution
Presence
of matter (gas, liquid, solid)
or energy (heat,noise, radiation) whose
nature, location,or quantity directly
or indirectly alters characteristics or processes of
any part of the environment, and causes (or
has the potential to cause)damage to
the condition, health, safety, or welfare of
animals, humans, plants, or property. The
air are surrounded by a blanket of air called atmosphere. Without the are, we
will be burn by the intense heat of the sun during the day or frozen by the
very cold temperature at night. Any additional gas, particles or odours that
are introduced into the air to disort this natural balance and cause harm to
living things can be called air pollution.
Causes by air pollution
the connection between air
pollution and human health is very closed and very related. Once your air are
polluted there’s many things that can bring the harmful to the healthy. According
to the World Health Organization (WHO),
air pollution is one of the world's biggest killers. The air pollution
can bring the bad effects for those who had an asthma. The asthma is the one of
disease about someone who had trouble in breathing. Asthma is a chronic,
sometimes debilitating condition that has no cure. Some of these fine particles can
become lodged in the lungs and could trigger asthma attacks. Studies have shown
that the number of hospitalizations for asthma increases when levels of
particulate matter in the air rise. Coal-fired power plants, factories, and
diesel vehicles are major sources of particulate pollution. Around 81 million
people live in areas that fail to meet national air quality standards for
particulate matter.
Coughing
and wheezing are two of the mild problems associated with inhaling PM2.5. However, this type of air pollution can also
cause or worsen serious illnesses such as heart disease, chronic bronchitis,
emphysema and pneumonia. Exposure to PM2.5 is associated with a significant rise
in the number of premature deaths from respiratory and heart disease. It's also
linked with more emergency room visits, hospitalization, and time off work and
school. Long-term exposure in pregnant women can cause premature births and low
birth weights.
Air
pollution also give effect to the environmental. A relatively recently discovered result of air
pollution are seasonal "holes" in the ozone layer in the
atmosphere above Antarctica and the Arctic, coupled with growing evidence of
global ozone depletion. This can increase the amount of ultraviolet radiation
reaching the earth, where it damages crops and plants and can lead to skin cancerand cataracts. This depletion has been caused largely by the emission of
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from refrigerators, air conditioners, and aerosols.
The Montreal Protocol of 1987
required that developed nations signing the accord not exceed 1986 CFC levels.
Several more meetings were held from 1990 to 1997 to adopt agreements to
accelerate the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances.
How
to prevent air pollution
Air pollution can be
preventing by stop the open burning. Open burning is the one causes of air pollution.
Open burning means burning of any materials in
the open air without any enclosure nor any chimney to direct the smoke away so
generated. For example, recovering metal from used electric wires or tyres, and
disposal of wastes in construction sites and countryside by open burning are
the common malpractice. As a member of society, you can help protect the
environment by refraining from carrying out prohibited open burning activities,
and to advise your staff and others to abide by the regulation. Any waste
should be properly disposed of at landfills or recycled at a recycling plant
with emission control equipment. If you notice any open burning activities,
please report the incident to our Regional Offices (see Annex) immediately so
that our
enforcement staff can take necessary legal action
under the Regulation to stop further burning.
Another
ways to prevent is manage your heating and cooling. Turn your thermostat down in the winter
and up in the summer whenever you are at work, sleeping or on vacation. You can
also turn your water heater down to 120 degrees to save power. Make sure your
insulation is up to the recommended level for your area, and insulate pipes
that pass through unheated spaces. Check to see that your windows and doors are
not leaking warm or cool air. To make sure your furnace and air conditioners
are running efficiently, perform regular maintenance.
