One of the most polluted cities in the United States is Bakersfield, California. The 142-square miles city is located near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region with a population of over 365,000. Emissions from industries coupled with geographical and climatic conditions make the city a hard place to breathe in due to its highly polluted air. The polluted air has had adverse effects on the residents. Of the total population, 70,000 have asthma, 40,000 cardiovascular diseases, and 27,000 chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (Ostro et al. 2007). In general, air pollution effect has cost the region about $3 billion in a year. The polluted air plays a part in the global climate changes such as warmer temperatures and rising sea levels. The water in the city is also not spared by the industrial effluents. The water has been found to contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are chemicals from industrial discharges. The residents, therefore, are prone to health hazards associated with the toxic …show more content…
Although the sectors sustain the place economically, it brings with it both air and water pollution. The American Lung Association (ALA) report stated that the city has the most polluted air in the United States. Another indicator of the menace is the amount of fine particle the air. Bakersfield’s has been on a high and World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that it reaches an average of 40.5 micrograms per cubic meter annually (Zanobetti et al. 2009). Pollution is so high in the region that it can even be seen in the air appearing as a fog. An analysis of the water has also indicated that it has an arsenic concentration of 2.28 parts per billion (Welch et al. 2007). Arsenic is a toxic element that is also carcinogenic and can cause other effects such as liver damage, skin problems, and vascular
Gulbinas, Vilija. “On the Road to Recovery: an Angelino’s Guide to Smog”. Los Angeles, CA: US. 1998. www.ben2.ucla.edu/~vgulbina
This era brought economic growth as well as harsh air pollutants. As the population mass migrated from rural farms to industrial cities, poor air quality resulted in chronic illness and premature deaths among laborers and residents. Second, “the CAA is a good economic investment for Americans” (EPA). According to an EPA study, the benefits of the CAA are projected to exceed the compliance costs by 30 – to – 1 in the year 2020. The study concludes that the CAA positively impacts the overall “economic welfare of American households” because higher air quality leads to less adverse health problems, reducing medical visits and increasing working days, which “more than offset the economic impacts from expenditures for pollution control” (EPA).
Imagine living in a smog, pollution free environment where the air was clean and skies were clear. Unfortunately, we do not have this luxury of that reality in the Central Valley. As many are aware, the Central Valley has a reputation of being one of the most polluted areas in California. With the air so polluted, it makes living in the Central Valley a little more difficult for everyone, whether it is realized or not. Although there are many reasons that cause the air to be polluted, the air in the Central Valley is polluted mainly because of the large manufacture infrastructures, semi/diesel trucks, fireplaces, and farming. Indeed, there are many reasons for air pollution, but let’s move on to the first reason.
When we think of air pollution we think of the refineries in our cities and the exhaust coming from our cars mostly. In reality there are many more pollutants that we don't think about every day. The six most common air pollutants are; “Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides, Particulate matter, Volatile organic compounds, and Ground-level ozone (nitrogen oxide and Volatile organic compounds reaction)”(David Suzuki Foundation). The fact is people are dying from air pollution and we are doing nothing to make it better, in fact air pollution is getting worse.
They try to prove that the emission of chemicals from the Shell company are actually hazardous and are released at unsafe concentrations. With respect to the Ecological Model of health, the focus here is the relationship between the citizens and their environment, so any change in the environment can affect the health of citizens (Drummer. 2008). Another focus is the location relative to the Shell company that is an issue. The residents of this town are faced with health problems due to the location of the Shell company, which enforces that Health Geography is a big influence here (Drummer. 2003). Citizens within the Diamond community report increasing rates of asthma in children, along with machines in their house to help prevent/cope with allergies. The location plays a major role as to why these negative health effects are occurring since the chemical plant is emitting these chemicals nearby. When the air was tested, multiple chemicals were found but one that stood out was Benzene which is known to have cancer causing effects (WHO. 2018). Even with this knowledge, the Shell company continued to claim that the living conditions within this city were adequate (Grunberg.
People who work or exercise outside for a lengthy period are also vulnerable. Exposure to air pollution increases sensitivity to allergens, impairs lungs, causes asthma attacks and death (Climate change, 2007). Air pollution can cause short-term respiratory symptoms such as coughing, throat irritation, and shortness of breath (California’s drought, 2015). The most harmful pollutants in the air are ozone, fine particles, and air toxics. Since the drought causes warmer weather, levels of ozone or smog increase in the air. Ozone is the principal component of smog and it is dangerous on ground level, which affects human health, crops, and buildings. Ozone smog is formed when vehicle and factory pollution react with sunlight and heat (Climate change, 2007). The lack of storms due to the drought eliminates the natural cleansing effect of precipitation. The low levels of precipitation trap fine particles on ground level. Fine particles in the air are harmful when inhaled and can heighten respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. Air toxics are the chemicals in the air that can cause cancer or serious health problems. Mercury, asbestos, and benzene are dangerous air toxics and diesel exhaust particulate is the number one airborne carcinogen in California (California’s drought, 2015). Allergens in the air also affect pollution as
Mexico City adds an estimated one million new residents each year, resulting in one million new aggravates to the city’s already abominable air quality (Collins, 119). Over the span of a generation, Mexico City’s air has gone from being one of the world’s cleanest to one of the world’s most polluted, as well as the most polluted in its country. The average visibility in the city is down from almost 100 km in the 1940s to only 1.5 km today, removing the once beautiful landscape of the surrounding snow-capped volcanoes (Yip, 1). More significantly, however, Mexico City’s air problems have resulted in a notable decrease in the health of its residents, particularly its children. There are a variety of reasons for the decline in air quality, including factory emissions, suspended particles, vehicles, as well as problematic geographic hindrances. Fortunately, Mexico City is doing a lot in response to the problem, including vehicle control, mass transit improvements, required industry emission reductions, and an investing in research and education programs. Regardless of these actions, however, Mexico City’s air is still significantly affecting the quality of life for its residents, and the city must continue to make changes in order for real progress to occur.
One of the most dangerous environment issues Southern California is facing today is air pollution. This includes the burning of fossil fuels and natural disasters. Los Angeles is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and the most polluted city in the United States. I will research information about the causes, the effects, and the history of air pollution in the Los Angeles. For my research, I have relied mostly on, the school’s database and library, as well as current events.
Contamination of Water and Air. Urbanization enhances the proliferation of industries, automobiles, and agricultural practices. Most toxic air contaminants are produced as we endeavor to fuel our homes, automobiles, factories, energy production facilities, and might also be discovered in indoor cleansing mixtures, and construction supplies. Furthermore pollutants found in gasoline, dry cleaning services, and paint thinners and strippers; som...
Air Quality Air quality is one of the most significant environmental issues facing Australians in urban areas. As the Australian population continues to grow, the more we pump pollutants into the atmosphere by burning fuels for industrial production, domestic use and transport are having harmful effects. Over the past twenty years there has been a large increase in the population in urban areas such as Sydney and Melbourne. This influx of people into these areas means there is going to be a rise in the air pollutants being forced into the atmosphere.
Air pollution is caused by many things such as car fumes, burning of fossil fuels,
The effect of air pollution is heavier on the country itself. The effects of air pollution to the Filipinos and the Philippines are as follows- One is the health of the Filipinos, two the global warming and three is the depletion of ozone layer. As pollution gets higher the ozone layer gets thinner, and all of these consequences are made by humans. The Filipinos also need to know where does pollution came from.
Many cities are currently affected by air pollution and Hong Kong is one example. Hong Kong’s air pollution level often exceeds the recommended air pollution level put out by the World Health Organization, and Hong Kong’s pollution index was at “very high” meaning that it exceeded 101, for 34% of the time (Hunt, 2011). Another example, when Hong Kong excee...
Every other day a new industries are being set up, new vehicles on roads and trees are being cut to make way for new homes. All of them, indirect way lead to increase in CO2 leads to melting of polar ice caps which increase the sea level and pose danger for the people living near coastal areas. Pollution can have an impact in our health not only affects people with impaired respiratory system such as asthmatics, but very healthy adults and children too. Exposure to pollution for 6 to 7 hours, even at relatively low concentrations, reduces lung function and induces respiratory inflammation and, healthy people during periods of moderate
Are you aware of the detrimental impacts that we have had on our environment? Every second, the Earth is being polluted by poisonous gases, waste products and due to human activities, the world’s climate is dramatically changing. In other words, these impacts do not only harm our environment but also our health. It has been scientifically proven that air pollution causes respiratory diseases and cancer, due to the inhalation of all the harmful chemicals. Water pollution can also lead to typhoid, diarrheal diseases and other waterborne disease, due to the intake of bacteria and parasites. Many people have died due to these health-related illnesses. So why are we still living in this awful condition? Air sustains us and water is a basic necessity, so we should do what we can to prevent pollution. In short, we should protect our environment to ensure a healthy life a...