Chance Kangas
Env Sci 102
3/27/19
Air Pollution and Solutions Actively Discussed Through Class Lecture:
Air pollution is a devastating consequence of fossil fuels such the burning of coal in powerplants, the vast amount of gas cars within the United States, and agricultural activities to name a few. Within this paper I will conclude the harsh amount of consequences from these manmade processes that inflict tremendous damage on humans and animals.
We have discussed in class that the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum emit sulfur dioxide that damages not only humans breathing air, but animals as well. From Urban Sprawl, as discussed from lecture, 79% of Americans and 51% of the world lives in an urban area. Because of this, pollution from powerplants, and exhaust of cars are confined in populated area, rather than a desolate area resulting in immense multiplication of polluted air that swells and consumes our precious air. Our ecological footprint particularly in the United States has increased ever since the colonialization of The New World.
We rely on this pollution creating machinery to fulfill our daily lives and needs of transportation. But there are many alternatives that reduce air pollution and the side effects such as electric cars. Electric cars are becoming more abundant by leading car companies and the prices are affordable for middle- and higher-class families. Electric cars do not have exhaust and therefore cannot produce such terrible toxins. Depletion of quality air is also a result from the combustion of fossil fuels which are largely contributed by manufacturing industries and powerplants. A solution to these manufacturing industries is to take steps to manage their greenhouse gas emissions by preparing yearly/annual greenhouse gas emissions and to set goals for reducing these fumes in the long run. Another solution is to increase their energy efficiency by implementing management programs, and to buy renewable energy. Taking these steps will dramatically reduce air pollution from a manufacturing and powerplant standpoint.
Agriculture has become industrialized as we have learned from class teachings. Industrial farming has increased production of food needed for survival, but at the expense of environmental problems. The use of fertilizers has devastated and degraded the land, water and air. Rainwater has been able to sweep these harmful chemicals and help spread them to new areas, slowly contaminating and destroying life and air. In order to diminish this horrible conflict, monoculture can be replaced by polyculture so multiple varieties of food and vegetation can be grew in smaller particular areas of land, and in the same areas’ monoculture has been provided. Solutions to these destructive fertilizers in less-developed countries include using animal manure that offer more nutrients to the crop/plant, while in more-developed countries, they can retain nitrogen in the ground in order to plant winter cover crops, since nitrogen is generally heavily produced in the spring and winter due to heavier rainfall.
Within this paper, the solutions to the problematic ideas of modern-day life and air pollution have been discovered. Through extensive research and participating in any way possible to reduce an individual and companies gas emissions, our polluted air can slowly cease to exist, and we can retain our quality and clean air.
Bibliography/Sources Cited:
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-air-pollution.php
https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-solutions-fossil-fuels
http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2015/2015/solutions_nutrient_runoff.html