Essays

Air Pollution and its effects Pollution is one of the most worrying problems of our time. This problem surfaced during the industrial revolution. The great industrial revolution brought about many positive changes to the world; better transportation, cheaper products, and a better life. However, with its riches came the price, pollution. At the beginning of the industrial revolution, no one paid any attention to the problem of pollution. As the science/ progressed people started to realize this problem.

Air pollution arises from many sources. The burning of gasoline in automobiles produces harmful gases and incineration of products. From various factories come millions .of particles that are carried off in the air. Chemical plants produce gaseous by-products that are toxic when their concentration is high enough. As parts of the world become more industrialized, air pollution has generally increased and new health hazards have developed.

Air pollution can result from causes that we cannot control. For example, forest fires, dust storms, and volcanoes. Acid rain is one of the products of air pollution. Acid rain is created when raindrops combine with the polluted air. Acid rain causes erosion of buildings, destruction of crops, and other assets. Air pollution also causes global warming. According to some predictions, significant alterations in climate patterns could become apparent in a few years. Estimates of global average temperatures have projected an increase of as much as 9o F before the year 2100. There are two kinds of sources of air pollution indoor and outdoor air pollution.

The indoor air polluters include many products, from cleansers to furnishings, which release harmful organic compounds into the air you breathe. The EPA has measured levels of organic compounds in both rural and suburban homes that range from two to five times the levels of outside air. Another indoor pollutant is called mold, a microscopic organism, can grow at any surface; it grows at any place where humidity is above 70 percent.

These molds create spores that can go inside a human body and cause many complications. According to the American Lung Association, mold triggers allergic reactions, including asthma. A study by the Mayo Clinic states that mold is the cause of nearly all chronic sinus infections. It can lead to serious complications, including breathing difficulties, memory and hearing loss, and bleeding of the lungs.