Philadelphia is one of the largest cities in the United States.
One environmental issue in Philadelphia County is air pollution. So many chemicals are released from cars, factories, power plants, and other industrial buildings. In 2002, Philadelphia County was ranked among the dirtiest ten percent of all countries in the United States due to toxic air pollution (ScoreCard, 2011). This becomes a problem for the people inhabiting the county inhaling the dirty air. Certain chemicals can cause diseases in humans. Also breathing in the dirty air can be detrimental to the lungs.
Air pollution is a serious issue surrounding Philadelphia. As one of the nation’s largest cities, there are many people and buildings that make up the area. The more people
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Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, as well as others, that trap heat. Greenhouse gases create the greenhouse effect, which is the process of these gases trapping heat in the atmosphere so that Earth’s surface does not get too cold. This is a natural process, but the anthropogenic additions to the amount of greenhouse gases released are causing a problem. (Withgott & Lapasota, 2014). The carbon dioxide gets trapped and ozone and particle pollution occur. Pollution refers to smog, and particle pollution refers to microscopic particles of aerosol floating in the air (Ricci, 2012, 1). Philadelphia “failed miserably” in terms of ozone and particle pollution in the air (Ricci, 2012, 1). A color-coded scale has been created to determine the pollution in the air each day. Philadelphia has seen an average of thirty -four days each year in which orange, high pollution, has been seen. This makes it unbearably difficult to breathe. Philadelphia also averages one “red”, extremely high pollution, day each year (Ricci, 2012). The American Lung Association has become involved because this pollution is effecting people’s lungs and breathing. They are especially concerned about people who suffer from conditions such as asthma and emphysema. Nobody should be breathing this dirty polluted …show more content…
Case specific deaths between the years of 1973 and 1980 due to air pollution were examined and taken from the National Center for Health Statistics mortality tapes with intent to conclude the positive correlation between air pollution and mortality (Schwartz & Dockery, 1992). Deaths due to other reasons were not included in this examination. A considerable positive correlation was seen between mortality rate and pollution in the air. Total mortality rate increased by 7% with each increase of SO2 in the atmosphere. Cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, and cardiovascular disease were also seen to increase with an increase in pollution (Schwartz & Dockery, 1992). This information is important because it displays correlation between air pollution and deaths. It is significant because it shows that there is a serious problem in the air that residents of Philadelphia breathe each
New York City, itself, is the most populous city in the United States and with such a large number of people condensed into such a small area, the pollution is more concentrated. Pollution in the form of smog, photochemical smog, fine particulate matter, and ground level ozone is the outcome from human activity in the region (NYSDEC, 2015). The biggest problem caused by ground level smog and/or ozone is its effects on our lungs. It is especially detrimental when someone already has a respiratory illness, like allergies or asthma, which makes it an even larger struggle to breathe. Heating fuels also contribute greatly towards the area’s air pollution (Kheirbek, 2014). The primary the primary types of fuels used for heating are “liquid fuel oils and natural gas” (Kheirbek, 2014). Burning such fuels releases fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, into the air, which causes adverse health effects like, “increased air way inflammation, reduced lung function, and changes in heart rhythm and blood pressure” (Kheirbek, 2014). These symptoms lead to more hospital visits and even premature death (Kheirbek,
Gulbinas, Vilija. “On the Road to Recovery: an Angelino’s Guide to Smog”. Los Angeles, CA: US. 1998. www.ben2.ucla.edu/~vgulbina
The environment and the health of the surrounding population go hand in hand. The Environmental Protection Agency takes on this ever so important mission of protecting them both. The mission statement of the EPA states, “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Small Business Programs is to support the protection of human health and the environment by advocating and advancing the business, regulatory, and environmental compliance concerns of small and socio-economically disadvantaged businesses, and minority academic institutions (US Enviromental Protection Agency, 2010).” The impact of its mission can be defined clearly as it examines the impact of contamination in the air, the water, and the land on human health.
Land development causes danger to the environment by polluting the air and disrupting geological and animal status. Air pollution is a big problem with urban life. Large cities have the characteristic of having polluted skies. The Environmental Protection Agency passed an act, through legislation, called the Clean Air Act. The CAA set standards for all cities (Environmental Politics and Policies, 195). Some of these cities that do not meet such standards include Los Angels, New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and Houston. These limits are called National Ambient Air Quality Standards (189). The NAAQS sets a limit on the amount of Carbon Dioxide, Hydrocarbons, Air born Particulates, nitrogenoxides, lead, and sulfur oxides, and Ozone in the cities air. Such standards apply for 7 (192). The definition for Ozone: A strong oxidizing agent with disinfecting properties similar to chlorine; also used in odor control and sludge processing (Environmental Engineering, 219). Ozone is present in the high atmosphere, but at lower levels can be one of the most harmful gases on Earth (Our Poison...
We need to be concerned about the condition of the air that we breathe daily, because there has always been a problem with having fresh unpolluted air to breathe,dating back unto the Industrial Revolution the concern of polluted air has raised eyebrows whether it was scientists, government officials, or the general public the complaint of not pollutants in the air was a major health issue since the being of time. The reports of nineteen deaths in 1948, in the city of Denora, Pennsylvania was an eyeopener to the Washington groups, just because they were suppose to regulate industrial emissions made up of a combination of combustion products and thermal inversion these people still died.(Fleming and Knorr , 2009) So therefore it shows how very important it is to have clean fresh air versus polluted hazardous air that has an affects on Americans physically,economically, and socially.
Taking the time to appreciate nature can allow individuals to value naturally produced resources as well as the beauty of the environment. As societies continue to urbanize and strive to prosper, sometimes they neglect these naturally occurring resources. This kind of broad issue can be considered in any city, but one city one should regard is Kansas City and its current standings in terms of being eco-friendly. Thus, several specific issues can arise if the residents of Kansas City do not take the initiative to preserve is natural resources and environments, which include increased air pollution, tainted water sources, and landfills. By considering these problems that potentially harm Kansas City’s local environments, it allows one to decide
The quality of life granted by the air we breathe is protected by organizations such as the GEPD, ALA, and EPA. These organizations operate as a guide to matters about air pollution for Metro Atlanta and cities across the United States. The population of Metro Atlanta is approximately 5.6 million with air pollutant particle matter ranging from PM2.5 and PM10 micrometers. PM2.5 is a measurement of “fine particles produced from all types of combustion, including motor vehicles, power plants, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, and some industrial processes” (AirNow, 2017) while PM10 is a measurement of larger “sources which include crushing or grinding operations and dust stirred up by vehicles on roads” (AirNow, 2017).
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.
Air pollution has become a significant problem in the US as well as the world over years. It’s the result of variety of sources like industrial, agriculture, mechanical and transportation. Sadly, transportation which releases a great amount of carbon dioxides, nitrogen oxides and other toxicity is proven the leading cause of air pollution. There are several transportation factors that contribute to air pollution in the US.
Air pollution in Los Angeles has caused concerns. In 2011, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) Survey on Californians and the Environment showed that 45% of citizens in Los Angeles consider air pollution to be a “big problem”, and 47% believe that the air quality of
Pollution occurs in many different forms such as, air, water, soil, radioactive, noise, heat/thermal and light. People from all around the world experience different levels and effects of air pollution. Millions of Americans live in areas where urban smog, particle pollution, and toxic pollutants are serious health concerns. If exposed to high enough levels of certain air pollutants one can experience irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and breathing difficulties are other fatal effects caused from air pollution. Air pollution is a problem for everyone and can only be fixed if everyone were to work together to help prevent it as much as
The U.S. and global world are in the state of epidemic environmental issues where global warming and climate change is a threat to our biodiversity. Globalization is advancement to the global world in helping our economy; however, it also produces a threat to our environment. One of the threats to our world is pollution. Three of the major types of pollution that are hazardous to our environment are air pollution, land pollution, and water pollution. Air pollution is a result of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, arsenic, nitrogen dioxide, mercury dioxins, and leas being released into the air due to massive amounts of fuel combustion, industrial production, and amount of vehicles being used (Mooney, et al., 2015). The soaring levels of air pollution
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.
Air pollution is a very large problem in bigger cities around the United States of America. In Los Angeles people are at the highest risk of death due to air pollution. Among the most populated areas of the country, Los Angeles had the highest estimated rate of deaths attributable to air pollution. (The Huffington Post 2014) New York City is another huge city that is highly polluted. The death rate due to air pollution is a little smaller in New York than Los Angeles but it is still a huge health risk in New York. Air pollution in New York City is a significant environmental threat which contributes to an estimated 6% of...
The earth cannot lose its greenhouse gases quickly , and we keep adding to them. We do detect the same issue in the exhaust released from different factories, industries and from different types of vehicles. Grunig’s study found the following “First-responder immune cell types, such as alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells, are stressed and activated by air pollutants, such as diesel exhaust particles”.They do aswell release a large amount of carbon into the atmosphere and it causes a lot of problems to every single person that lives in a polluted area. The ignition of gasoline and other fuels in automobiles, trucks, and jetairplanes produce the most familiar pollutants, nitroge oxides, gaseous hydrocarbons and carbonmonoxide, likewise particles of an element like lead. When nitrogen oxides fuse with hydrocarbons they form different types of pollutants. In cities where transportation is the leading cause of pollution, nitrogen dioxide colors the sky brown, because the nitrogen dioxide has connected with other forms of pollution and water vapor to produce