Observation #5

Observation #5 - Air Pollution

My final observation was air pollution. No matter where you are from, chances are you have noticed air pollution before. It normally is where there are a lot of factories, but now, air pollution is almost everywhere. As you can imagine, this is a major problem. Air pollution has both short term and long term effects. Some of the temporary effects are headaches, nausea, dizziness, pneumonia, and bronchitis. It also can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, mouth, and skin. Believe it or not, bad smells from factories, trash, and sewage systems are considered air pollution too, but they aren't that serious. Long-term effects can last a few years or a lifetime. The effects can even kill people. Some of the effects are heart disesase, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases. It can also damage people's nerves, brain, kidneys, and other organs. Some scientists suspect air pollution can even cause birth defects. Air pollution is really bad for the environment too. Whole ecosystems suffer from this. The air pollution particles fall back down to Earth and contaminate bodies of water and soil. This can kill crops and/or reduce their produce. Also, global warming is caused by air pollution.

What can we do about this?

One thing you can do is reduce the use of vehicles. Carpool, use public transportation, bike, or walk to your destination whenever it is possible. Doing this will also help reduce noise pollution (observation 4). Turn off your lights whenever possible. The energy the lights use up also contribute to air pollution. This will help reduce light pollution (observation 1). Also, use fans instead of air conditioning. AC uses up a lot of energy and emits a lot of heat. This is very bad for the environment. Finally, plant more trees! This prevents both air pollution and water pollution (observation 2). Planting trees will help with the release of oxygen, which will help reduce air pollution.

What I Learned/Questions I Still Have

I learned that air pollution particles fall back down to Earth and contaminate soil and bodies of water. I also learned that air pollution can kill crops or reduce the amount of produce. One question I still have is: Why are certain odors considered air pollution?