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Nailah Duprey
Dr. Elizabeth Cuddy
ENG 101-19
Air Pollution Editorial
Imagine you have just finished your homework and your dog is whining, standing by
your foot signaling it is time to walk him. You look at your phone to check the time and
notice your reflection, then you think to yourself, am I forgetting something? You pick up
your mask on the dresser then proceed to brace yourself before walking out the door into the
black, smoky air. This is what your daily routine could be if air pollution is not stopped.
Air pollution is a serious issue that affects every aspect needed for a healthy and
successful life. Although there are many issues need to combat before air pollution can be
stopped, the goal is obtainable due to alternative solutions to the things that cause pollution
and campaigns who have set goals leading up to an ending of air pollution. According to
recent studies done by the World Health Organization, Almost everyone on Earth now
breathes polluted air, according to an air quality map released by the World Health
Organization. 1 If air pollution goes unchecked it will continue to cause severe issues until
the effects are irreversible. It was predicted that the skies will become foggier and our
oxygen harder to breathe. This will only worsen the personal discomfort and hazard already
experienced by more than half of the population in China and other Asian countries. The

A statement from the WHO on the current status of air quality.

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quality of air were breathing should be imperative because in order to live you have to
breathe and if the air is contaminated it will begin to harm life and livelihood.
Air pollution is a mixture of natural and man-made substances in the air everyone
breathes. Air pollution can be broken down into two sub-categories; outdoor air pollution,
and indoor air pollution. The main focus of this editorial is outdoor air pollution. Numerous
toxic pollutants from diverse sources, according to the National Institute of Health these
pollutants are, Fine particles produced by the burning of fossil fuels (i.e. the coal and
petroleum used in traffic and energy production). Noxious gases (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen
oxides, carbon monoxide, chemical vapors, etc.). Ground-level ozone (a reactive form of
oxygen and a primary component of urban smog). And lastly tobacco smoke.2 These air
toxics can cause several health issues such as asthma, a respiratory disease; cardiovascular
diseases, pregnancy complications such as preterm birth and, death. Fossil fuels are released
into the air by car and truck emissions. Noxious gases are released by factories on a daily
basis. Tobacco smoke is released into the air by all things containing nicotine. All of which
can be avoided if the problem, air pollution is stopped. Jacobson categorizes urban smog as
the outdoor buildup of gasses emitted from things like vehicles, homes & power plants. (2)
Global warming is the ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth's surface. It
is caused by several pollutions that increase concentrations of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere. One of those pollutions, air pollution, helps to advance the effects of global
warming on the environment. Large levels of carbon dioxide in the Earths atmosphere
would continue to raise temperatures, which then will melt the polar icecaps and raise sea

Data retrieved from NIH on the causes of outdoor air pollution.

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levels. Air pollution would then begin to affect the economy. Air pollution has a high bill of
damage it causes places like the United States of America; according to the Washington Post,
In 2002, the damages totaled as high as $175 billion.3 The pollution of the skies would
eventually block out the sun. Leaving people cold and the atmosphere dark. People would
also be without any way of growing crops and feeding livestock. A huge direct threat to
human survival is agriculture, the ability to grow and acquire that food for energy.
Many Americans may feel like air pollution is not an issue. And that smog only affects
urban and city areas and that the problem is being contained. That is incorrect. While
America has improved the air quality of some areas theres a bigger issue. Researchers found
China's pollution is blowing into the Western United States; which is putting a dent in the
progress. Ignoring the issue of air pollution contributes to why pollution continues to worsen.
There needs to be teamwork in ending the spreading of air pollution.
I propose many calls to action to fix the effects and to end air pollution. Such as, joining
the BreatheLife air pollution by the WHO which includes several initiatives to improve air
quality. This includes public awareness of air pollution as a major health and climate risk.
The campaign stresses both the practical policy measures that cities can implement (such as
better housing, transport, waste, and energy systems) and measures people can take as
communities or individuals (for example, to stop waste burning, promote green spaces and
walking/cycling) to improve our air. It is also recommended to study the Clean Air Act
initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency; they are taking initial common sense steps
to limit greenhouse gas pollution from large sources.

Data retrieved the Washington Post on their information of the costs of air pollution.

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The fight against air pollution can be won. Officials should be encouraged to join
campaigns and apply natives to begin limiting air pollution then possibly eliminating the
sources of air pollution. Also, alternatives should be found for the causes of air pollution for
example riding a bike instead of driving. In order for air pollution to cease changes must be
made.

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Bibliography
1. Bento, A., Freedman, M., & Lang, C. (2015). Who Benefits from Environmental
Regulation? Evidence from the Clean Air Act Amendments. Review Of
Economics And Statistics, 97(3), 610-622.
2. Osseiran, N., & Chriscaden, K. (2016, September 27). WHO releases country
estimates on air pollution exposure and health impact. Retrieved November 15,
2016, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/air-pollutionestimates/en/
3. Howard, J. (2016, September 28). Most of the world breathes polluted air, WHO
says. Retrieved November 15, 2016, from
http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/27/health/air-pollution-map-who/index.html
4. Harvey, C. (2016, January 29). The staggering economic cost of air pollution.
Retrieved November 15, 2016, from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/01/29/thestaggering-economic-cost-of-air-pollution/
5. Air Pollution. (2016, July 15). Retrieved November 16, 2016, from
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution/
6. Jacobson, M. Z. (2012). Preface. In Air Pollution and Global Warming History,
Science and Solutions (2nd ed., p. xvii). New York, NY: Cambridge University
Press.