Air Pollution Essay

Air pollution is found in cities where constant emissions of harmful gasses are introduced into the atmosphere by chemical processes of factories, landfill, waste incinerator, etc. This pollution causes an undesirable environment to residents, which are constantly in contact with this type of pollution that can cause health consequences in the short and long term. The city of Doral located in Miami-Dade county of Florida is threatened by the air pollution induced by waste incineration and landfill, near the urban area. Covanta is an incinerator that burns solid waste to ash while at the same time it creates energy. On the other hand, Medlay Landfill buries waste and covers it with soil. The pollution that these waste management plants produced

This method, according to Palmioto et al. produces landfill gas emissions that are created by the biodegradation of accumulative waste (Palmiotto, Fattore and Paiano). The unpleasant odor that landfills release is formed by different gases like methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur, and volatile organic compounds known to be carcinogens or teratogens (Rushton). An interesting fact comes when talk about the reproductive health outcomes for people near a landfill compared to a waste incineration. The cases of congenital malformations and low birth weight in newborns arise when we assess the consequences of exposure to landfill gases. Filder et al. realized a study to a population near the Nant-y-Gwyddon landfill in South Wales, UK, in order to evaluate the reproductive health outcomes. It turned out that after the landfill was created the incidence of all congenital malformations and low weight arose (Fielder, Poon-King and Palmer). On the other hand, the constant unpleasant odor of medlay landfill can produce emotional disorders, besides, physical symptoms such as respiratory problems, eye irrigation, and nauseas to the residents of Doral (Palmiotto, Fattore and