Smog is a type of air pollution. In its most basic form, smog is the result of fog mixing with smoke or other atmospheric pollutants. Photochemical smog, however, is an “air pollution that is a result of the interaction of sunlight with certain chemicals in the atmosphere” (Oblack). Smog-forming pollutants derive from several sources “such as automobile exhaust, power plants, factories and many consumer products, including paint, hairspray, charcoal starter fluid, ... and even plastic popcorn packaging. In typical urban areas, at least half of the smog precursors come from cars, buses, trucks, and boats” (West).
Smog and Your Health
According to the American Lung Association, your lungs and heart can be permanently affected by air pollution and smog. While the young and the elderly are particularly susceptible to the effects of pollution, anyone with both short and long term exposure can suffer ill health effects. Problems include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, bronchitis, pneumonia, inflammation of pulmonary tissues, heart attacks, lung cancer, increased asthma-related symptoms, fatigue, heart palpitations, and even premature aging of the lungs and death. (Oblack)
Cleaning Up the Mess
Smog and other forms of air pollution can be reduced through energy efficiency and conservation improvements at both the industrial and consumer level.
Air quality regulations such as the federal Clean Air Act in the United States have led to significant progress over the last twenty years. Additionally, new industrial facilities and power plants are being designed with innovative technology that creates substantially fewer pollutants than facilities with older technology. (Kammen)
Of course, cleaning up pollution means spending money and lots of it. Many fear that the cost will ultimately fall onto the taxpayers’ laps. And yes, taxpayers and consumers would be expected to help pay for purifying their environment. And why shouldn’t we pay? I mean, after all, we are the ones causing the pollution; therefore we cannot expect our government to flip the whole bill. A major share of the cleanup cost should be placed on the government, but not the entire cost. It is called giving back. When it comes right down to it, the cost is not a matter of money but a matter of our health.
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Doing the right thing and combating pollution – be it air, water, soil, etc. – is a must for our survival. Perhaps a fair amount of people do not care about other life forms or habitats, but surely those people care about their own health and safety. Paying higher prices and taxes is not fun for anyone, but the benefits of a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment will pay off in the long run.
My Perspective
When we turn on a light or crank up a car we tend to not focus on how the energy being utilized is generated. Furthermore, we tend to not think about all the harmful emissions being released. And yet, when we carry out these routine activities subconsciously, we are contributing to the increasing levels of hazardous air pollutants in our atmosphere. Pollution, in any form, is not only unhealthy but expensive as well. Air pollution carries the potential to destroy crops, depreciate property value, raise bills and taxes, create health problems for humans and other forms of life, and create countless other environmental hazards whose cost is impossible to calculate. Letting pollution continue will prove to be far more expensive than spending the money necessary to reduce levels of pollution. We have to do whatever it takes.
Citation(s)
Kammen, Daniel. "Energy Issues - Air." Chevron - Willyoujoinus.com. Chevron Corporation.
Web. 06 July 2011.
<http://www.willyoujoinus.com/energy.issues/energychallengesandopportunities/
energyandtheenvironment/air/?gclid=CPaW4_7n76kCFQHu7Qodi0B5Yw>.
Oblack, Rachelle. "What Is Smog? - Air Pollution and How Photochemical Smog Forms."
About.com - Weather. The New York Times Company. Web. 06 July 2011.
<http://weather.about.com/od/ozoneinformation/qt/smogcity.htm>.
West, Larry. "What Causes Smog?" About.com - Environmental Issues. The New York Times
Company. Web. 06 July 2011.
<http://environment.about.com/od/smogfaq/f/smog_faq_five.htm>.
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