Pollution Environmental Issues Have Long

Pollution

Environmental issues have long been at the forefront of American life. Global Warming and pollution are the issues that have shaped environmental policy in America and throughout the world. The purpose of this paper is to discuss global warming and pollution.

Global Warming and Pollution

One of the most well-known and controversial programs created to reduce global warming and pollution is the Kyoto Treaty. The treaty was developed in Japan in 1997 and involved the cooperation of several different nations including America. The various nations agreed to reduce the amount of pollution caused by harmful emissions. In recent years, America's involvement in the treaty has been reduced. In 2001, President George W. Bush withdrew from negotiations from the Kyoto Protocol. According to an article found in Harvard International Review,

Bush had been in office only a matter of weeks when Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christine Todd Whitman's restatement of Bush's commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions touched off a storm of criticism from conservative Republicans. By mid-March, the White House could only calm the storm by releasing a letter from the president to a prominent congressional foe of carbon emissions reductions renouncing his campaign pledge....the Kyoto Protocol was "dead, as far as the President is concerned." At a subsequent press appearance, Bush reaffirmed the position taken by his national security adviser, ill-advisedly using the word "dea d" himself to describe the Kyoto Protocol. In a breathtakingly short time, these clumsily executed moves reversed years of assiduous and successful Clinton administration work to keep climate change out of the political spotlight. Instead, global warming was forced to the front of the president's international and domestic agenda by the heavy criticism generated by the administration's actions."(Wirth 2002)

According to the Kyoto's official environmental website, Global warning is the process by which global air temperatures rise at a rate that is higher than normal. (Global Warming in Brief) More specifically global warning is a result of the greenhouse effect," which is essential to life as we know it on planet Earth. Electromagnetic energy coming from the sun is absorbed by the Earth, which radiates some of this energy outward as infrared energy (heat). Some of this infrared energy escapes into space, but much of it is absorbed by "greenhouse gases" in the lower atmosphere (the troposphere) and is radiated back to the Earth as heat energy. The greenhouse effect, then, is a warming of the Earth's surface that makes it hospitable to life. Without the greenhouse effect, the surface of the Earth would be a frigid -100 [degrees] F. Alternatively, a "runaway" greenhouse effect, like that found on the planet Venus, would result in a surface temperature of 900 [degrees] F. Or more." (Rubba et al.)

According to the site, global air temperatures have risen by.45 Celsius over the past 100 years. Although there has been an increase in global air temperature, the site also reports that air temperatures have cooled over the last eighteen years.

In addition, an article entitled "Global Warming and Ozone Layer Depletion: STS Issues for Social Studies Classrooms" explains that the impact of Global warming may prove detrimental in the future. The article asserts that continued global warming will result in "melting polar ice along with thermal expansion of the oceans could raise the sea level, flooding coastal cities, and many agricultural landscapes could dry out, becoming deserts (Rubba et al.)." The article also explains that many believe that global warming is a result of industrial activity. The authors assert that the emissions that are produced from factories, vehicles and other sources result in the acceleration of the greenhouse effect.

Pollution

There are many different type of pollution including air pollution and water pollution. As we stated previously in the discussion most air pollution has occurred as a result of industrialization. The emissions from cars, factories and power plants have a profound impact on the quality of air. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, air pollution can be in the form of acid rain, smog, holes in the ozone layer and the greenhouse effect. (What is Air Pollution?) the laboratory's official website this type of pollution can have a negative impact on the human body and the environment as a whole. The site asserts that one of the most harmful types of pollution is known as black carbon pollution. (What is Air Pollution?) the article explains that this type of pollution occurs as a result of particles that are released into the air when fuel is burned. (What is Air Pollution?) the article asserts that diesel fuel is one of the most harmful forms of black carbon pollution. In addition charcoal and wood are believed to release black carbon into the air. (What is Air Pollution?) the laboratory explains that dependence on fossil fuels has created a serious black carbon problem that will affect us for years to come. (Why study black carbon pollution)

The website also asserts that noxious gases also contribute to air pollution. (What is Air Pollution?) the site asserts that these gases are released into the air from carbon monoxide, chemical vapors nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. (What is Air Pollution?) the site explains that when these gases are released into the air that combine with other particles to form acid rain and smog. (What is Air Pollution?)

The aforementioned forms of pollution are considered outdoor pollutants. However, the site also explains that there are indoor pollutants. (What is Air Pollution?) These pollutants come from smoking and cooking. (What is Air Pollution?) the article asserts that most human beings spend 80% of their time indoors and should be mindful of the impact of these pollutants on their health. (What is Air Pollution?)

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory explains that the health effects of air pollution can be long-term and short-term. The website contends that short-term health problems associated with pollution include nausea, headaches, upper respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. (How can air pollution hurt my health?) in addition air pollution can result in irritated eyes and throat. (How can air pollution hurt my health?) the website asserts that air pollution can also further irritate people with preexisting conditions such as asthma.. (How can air pollution hurt my health?)

Some of the long-term health conditions associated with air pollution includes chronic lung cancer, respiratory disease, and heart disease. (How can air pollution hurt my health?) the website also asserts that air pollution can result in damage to the liver, kidneys, brain and nerves. (How can air pollution hurt my health?) in addition, long-term exposure to pollution in the air can stifle lung development in children and irritate preexisting medical conditions in older people. (How can air pollution hurt my health?)

Prevention

As you can see global warming and pollution are major environmental issues. The prevention of these two phenomenon will be pain staking and difficult to achieve. The difficulty lies in the fact that many of the sources of pollution aid in the development and maintenance of world economies. For instance, there must be manufacturing plants to create products such as cars and industrial supplies. This makes it difficult to control the amount of emissions.