The quality of the air we breathe is an essential factor in maintaining our health. However, it is sad that advances in our technology have resulted in the development of chemicals and machines that pollute this important need. Numerous studies have unequivocally pointed out the need to correct this situation. Despite this awareness, most people are unwilling to sacrifice certain comforts for the good of the environment.
Six Common Air Pollutants at Ground Level
There are six major air pollutants whose sources a serious environmentalist should avoid using, or if there is no other resource, at least limit their spread into the atmosphere at ground level.
The most common is ozone from vehicle exhaust gases and factory emissions. Ozone can be a beneficial thing if it is found in the upper atmosphere. However, it causes health problems if inhaled. It is also produced by the interaction between certain plastics and the air. Other pollutants from the same source are carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and lead. There have been significant advances in limiting the production of these gases by cars and factories. However, due to its widespread use and its need by a growing population around the world, scientists are setting the bar at zero emissions.
Another pollutant, sulfur oxide, also comes from the transportation industry. It comes from locomotives and ships. The sixth main pollutant is particles from the burning of various materials such as cigarettes, plastics, paper, etc. This burning results in tiny particles, around 2.5 micrometers in size, easily carried by the wind that can enter the lungs and from there into the bloodstream.
A change in our way of thinking is in order
The prevailing mindset, inadvertently, is that air pollution is a national concern, so the government needs to address it. Citizen participation is not needed because they, through their taxes, employ agencies such as the EPA to resolve this concern. Therefore, they should not be forced to change their way of life.
This way of thinking will not produce the desired results. In reality, they all contribute to the problem, in one way or another, either directly or indirectly. To have a measurable impact on the problem, the solution must be one that everyone actively supports. Even if it deprives them of certain things that they have become accustomed to.
Things are not quite dreamy. The petroleum-based products that fuel most modern cars are one of the roots of this problem. The recent development of alternative fuel and electric cars that do not emit air pollutants bodes well for the future. Its popularity is aided by the rising cost of petrochemical fuels like gasoline.
A comparison between a densely populated city, in a third world country like the Philippines, with an equally dense city in Europe, which is serious about controlling air pollutants, will show what a difference the right mindset can make. In places where people are serious about controlling the threat of air pollution through lifestyle changes and equipment choices, citizens are healthier, live longer and enjoy their surroundings better.