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Running Head: COMMUNITY PROBLEM

Community Problem Report: Air Pollution

Jocelyn Navarrete
The University of Texas at El Paso
November 1, 2015

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Running Head: COMMUNITY PROBLEM

Table of Contents
Introduction
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Reference
1
3-4
Reference
2
4-5
Reference
3
5-6
Conclusion
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References
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List of Illustrations
Illustration
1
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Illustration
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Running Head: COMMUNITY PROBLEM

Pollution issues are one of the most important environmental, social, and health
issues in the world. The rapid growth of world population has been closely accompanied by
the rapid increase in all forms of pollution, especially air pollution. Air pollution is an
important matter that should be closely pay attention to because it not only affects the
environment, but it can also raise serious health concerns.
You may be wondering what exactly is air pollution, the answer is quite simple. Air
pollution occurs when the air becomes contaminated with harmful chemicals, either as a
mixture of natural or man-made substances. This substances are introduced into the
atmosphere as gases, dust particle, fumes, or odor in harmful amounts. Such substances are
called pollutants. According to National Geographic, six of the most common air pollutants
include Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Ground-level Ozone, Lead,
and Particulate Matter. This pollutants are negatively affecting the air we breathe. It is
essential to pay close attention to this harmful pollutants. In fact, the Clean Air Act requires
the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, to set National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for the six most prevalent, and dangerous, air pollutants. In addition, the Clean
Air Act is being used to reduce carbon pollution from existing power plants. In the United

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Running Head: COMMUNITY PROBLEM

States, electric power plants emit about 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year, or
roughly 40 percent of the nation's total emissions. The Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC) has proposed an effective, affordable and flexible approach to cut carbon pollution
from existing power plants under the Clean Air Act. The approach includes an innovative
provision that will drive investment in cost-effective energy efficiency, substantially
lowering the cost of compliance, lowering electricity bills, and creating thousands of jobs

across the country. Further, NRDC's updated analysis shows that the benefits; in saved
lives, reduced illnesses, and climate change avoided, far outweigh the costs, by $21 billion
to $53 billion in 2020. This idea is just one step closer for improving the health and welfare
of Americans and the stability of the environment.
Air pollution may be caused by natural and human activities. Such actions can result
very harmful and detrimental to the planet and to the health of millions of individuals.
Natural causes include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal,
natural radioactivity, and evaporation of organic compounds. Forest fires (which often start
naturally) can produce huge swathes of smoke that drift for miles over neighboring cities,
countries, or continents. Giant volcanic eruptions can spew so much dust into the
atmosphere that they block out significant amounts of sunlight and cause the entire planet
to cool down for a year or more. Radioactive rocks can release a gas called radon when
they decay, which can build up in the basements of buildings with serious effects on
people's health. Human activities are huge causes of air pollution as well. Such causes
involve automobiles, pesticides, factories, burning of coal and fossil fuels, power lines,
mining operations, and radioactive fallout. The biggest contributor of human activities that

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Running Head: COMMUNITY PROBLEM

cause air pollution is industry with 52 percent. There are numerous serious ecological
implications and health risks associated with industrial air pollution. Industrial air pollution
contributes to global warming, it creates acid rain, and causes respiratory problems. Other
common effects often associated with air pollution caused due to industrial emissions
include increasing risk of occupational diseases such as pneumoconiosis and asbestosis.

When air pollution accumulates in the air in high enough concentrations, it can raise serious
health concerns. Millions of Americans are exposed to air pollution, especially in urban
areas. In general, long term exposure to air pollution can cause cancer and damage to the
immune, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems. In extreme cases, it can even
cause death. According to the World Health Organization, 2.4 million people die each year
from causes directly attributable to air pollution. The causes of air pollution are quite
serious since they negatively impact the health of the human race and the planet.
As citizens of this planet, we are committed to take care and try to improve the
conditions of the environment in order to have a better quality of life through prevention
and solutions. Governments throughout the world have already taken action against air
pollution by introducing Green Energy. Additionally, some governments are investing in
wind energy and solar energy, as well as other renewal energy to minimize the burning of
fossil fuels, which cause heavy air pollution. Car manufacturing companies are also
building energy efficient cars, which pollute less than before. The Economic Times reported
that British scientists are using smart electric vehicles fitted with specialized air monitoring

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Running Head: COMMUNITY PROBLEM

sensors to measure the city pollution levels. The University of Leicester researchers have
designed and installed special sensors into electric vehicles (EVs) that can measure
pollutant concentrations around the city. The information from these sensors will provide
insight into the quality of the air people inhale in polluted urban areas. We can also take
action individually against air pollution. Encouraging your family to use the bus, train, or
bike as a form of transportation would be very helpful because there will be less cars on the
road and less fumes, causing less pollution. It is very important to use energy, such as

light, wisely. This is because lots of fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity, and if the
use is cut down, it will also cut down the amount of pollution created. It is important to
make decisions as individuals and as a community that will help reduce air pollution.
Nowadays, air pollution has become a threat to the environment and to each living
creature in this planet. Planet Earth is the home of thousands of forms of life and unique
wonders in the universe. It is important to take action and take care of our environment, our
world, in order to enhance our life, our present, our future, and that of our descendants.
Therefor it is essential to raise awareness so that humanity is informed of what is really
happening and encourage to take urgent measures. It is still not too late to take action
against air pollution in the planet. If we all unite in this cause, we can help the world
become a better place.

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References
Brown, J. (2013, May 12). What is Air Pollution? Retrieved October 17, 2015
Essick, K. (2011, November 19). Air Pollution. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
Epstein, P. (2014, February 5). Air Pollution Facts, Air Pollution Effects, Air Pollution
Solutions, Air Pollution Causes - National Geographic. Retrieved October 17, 2015

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Running Head: COMMUNITY PROBLEM

Farley, A. (2014, August 4). How Does Pollution Affect Humans? Retrieved October 17,
2015
Morrow, J. (2009, November 10). Pollution articles. Retrieved October 17, 2015
NYU Langone Medical Center. (2015, September 15). Link between air pollution,
increased deaths and increased deaths from heart disease affirmed. Science Daily. Retrieved
October 17, 2015
Whistler, P. (2014, July 13). Smart electric cars to measure air pollution. The Economic
Times. Retrieved October 17, 2015