Pollution: Influence of Environment on Health

Q: Air pollution is one of today’s biggest issues facing the world. What are its problems and what measures can be suggested to resolve this issue?

Title: Pollution: Health and Environment

In recent days, people have a big amount of issues because of air pollution. Pollution is main problem for worldwide. Many kinds of pollutants emitted by cars contribute significantly to pollution of the environment. The increase in cars also adds poisonous gasses to the atmosphere. Because of industrial operations, air pollution has now appeared in developing nations and increases the number of sources of emissions such as inappropriate cars. Pollution damage the environment due to harmful substance or products like carbon monoxide, sulphur and nitrogen oxides. Approximately 4.3 million individuals die from air pollution in the family and 3.7 million from air pollution in the environment, most of whom reside in Asia (Ghorani-Azam, Riahi-Zanjani, & Balai-Mood, 2016). There are several factor including air pollution causes damage to the environment or human health and the solution may be to reduce pollution with the help of technology. The problems are associated with respiratory, cancer and lung patients, also global warming, increasing earth temperature. In response to reducing this problem, use of alternative fuel and electric vehicles in place of fossil fuels.

The connection between air pollution and species diversity reduction shows the negative impacts of pollutants on animals and the environment. According to Ghorani-Azam, Riahi-Zanjani, & Balai-Mood (2016), Ecologically, air pollution can cause severe groundwater, soil and air disruption to the environment. It also poses a severe danger to life’s diversity and effect on the reproduction of an animal. Other significant ecological of air pollution are acid rain, temperature inversion, and worldwide climate change owing to greenhouse gas emissions to the environment. Acid rain is precipitation that contains damaging quantities of nitric and sulphuric acids. These acids are created mainly by oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulphur released into the environment when fossil fuels are burned. These acids drop to the Earth either as moist rainfall (rain, snow or fog) or as dry rainfall (gas and particulates). Acid rain damages trees and creates acidification of soils and water bodies, making water unfit for aqua life creatures. Acid rain has affected lakes, ponds, rivers and soils, resulting in wildlife and forests being damaged. In short, high amount of toxic gases damage the environment and animals.

Moreover, the atmosphere of the Earth includes a sensitive equilibrium of natural gases that trap some of the heat of the sun close to the surface of the Earth. This ‘greenhouse impact’ maintains the temperature of the Earth stable. Unfortunately, proof is increasing that beings have troubled this natural equilibrium by generating big quantities of some of these greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane. Consequently, the atmosphere of the Earth seems to trap more of the heat of the sun, causing the average temperature of the Earth to increase-a phenomenon known as global warming.

The impacts of air pollution on humans are primarily physical but can also be transformed into long-term neuro-affections. Respiratory patients suffer from a different form of allergies, asthma, irritation of the eyes and nasal passages, or other forms of respiratory infections. Bhandarkar (2013) suggested that “The major pollutants emitted by motor vehicles including CO, NOx, sulphur oxides, (SO), HC, lead (Pb) and suspended particulate matter (SPM), have damaging effects on both human health and ecology” (p.33). On top of that, it has been demonstrated that air pollution is a significant factor in cancer growth and damage the environment. This can occur, for instance, when eating reminiscences of pollutants used in the manufacturing of processed foods or crop pesticides. Other illnesses, more rarely, include hepatitis, typhoid, diarrhoea, and hormonal disruption. Since most pollutants enter the body through the airways, the respiratory system is in the first line of battle at the onset and disease progression resulting from air pollutants.

There are some possibilities to reduce this problem’s solution is Electric vehicle. EVs can also decrease emissions that add to climate change and smog, improve public health and decrease environmental harm. By selecting to drive an electric vehicle, it helps to decrease damaging air pollution from exhaust emissions. Increasing the safety of energy supply by decreasing dependence on imported fossil fuels may lead from switching to electric vehicles. According to Ajanovic and hass (2018), an electric car has zero emissions from exhaust. Due to their zero emissions at the point of use, electric battery cars are regarded as environmentally friendly technology. Possibly also to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when recharging electric vehicles using renewable energy. Recharge from the solar photovoltaic system electric vehicle during the day rather than from the grid. Solar energy are renewable sources, so it is benefits for the environment and solar energy never be destroyed. Then recharge electric vehicles from the grid to buy green power from the electricity retailer, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Due to various types of support policies and measures introduced in many nations around the world, the number of electric vehicles is steadily growing. Electric cars have the largest market share in Norway and the Netherlands, 23% and approximately 10% (IEA 2016). In some amount electric vehicle also helpful for human health. Reduced emissions of the damaging exhaust are excellent news for human health. Better air quality will lead to fewer air pollution-related health issues and expenses. Electric vehicles are also quieter than diesel/petrol cars, meaning very little noise pollution. It seems that electric vehicles are eco-friendly as well as beneficial for human health.

Another one solution is to control pollution is an alternative fuel, which is very convenient for the environment as well as vehicles. Alternative kinds of fuel are available for vehicles such as ethanol, natural gas, electricity and hydrogen fuels. Rehman, Phalke, & Pandey (2011) suggested that “Biodiesel can be one of the alternative renewable energy sources for gas turbine. As the properties of biodiesel closely match with the diesel fuel properties, so it can be used as one of the alternative fuels which is of comparable cost and produce less emissions” (p.2635). It means that alternative fuels are like gasoline fuels and fuels produce lack of emission compared to petrol-diesel. Use these fuels as opposed to ordinary gasoline fuels that pollute air and lead to environmental destruction. Some of these alternative fuels may be less convenient to use as they are less available. If people decide to use these fuels, however, they can make the world an environmentally friendly world. Alternative Fuels One of the main concerns of the world today in age is energy. Not only is petroleum limited, it also contaminates the world’s air and depletes the ozone layer as it is burned. It seems that alternative fuel is the proper solution for control automotive pollution.

In conclusion, exhaust fumes and smoke from vehicles are the main causes of air pollution. Pollution is the biggest problem for all over the globe. Pollution, it is direct impact on human health and the environment. Humans suffer from different diseases like respiratory, cancer, asthma, irritation of the eyes and nasal passages, or other forms of respiratory infections. Pollution also affects on earth temperature, animals, sea level. However, it can be controlled by using latest technology. Electric car and alternatives are a better way to control air pollution. Both are eco-friendly and good for human health.

References

1. Ajanovic, A., & Haas, R. (2018). Electric vehicles: solution or new problem? Environment, Development and Sustainability, 20(1), 7-22.
2. Bhandarkar, S. (2013). Vehicular pollution, its effect on human health and mitigation measures. VE, 1(2), 3340.
3. Ghorani-Azam, A., Riahi-Zanjani, B., & Balali-Mood, M. (2016). Effects of air pollution on human health and practical measures for prevention in Iran. Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 21, 65. doi:10.4103/1735-1995.189646
4. IEA, 2016. International Energy Agency 9 rue de la Fédération 75739 Paris Cedex 15, France
5. Rehman, Phalke, & Pandey. (2011). Alternative fuel for gas turbine: Esterified jatropha oil–diesel blend. Renewable Energy,36(10), 2635-2640