Pollution: 7M Deaths Per Year, How To Control It? - Essay Sample

Introduction

Pollution has become an increasing concern around the globe over the years with reported deaths resulting from pollution standing at 7 million people per year. With industrialization evolving and more waste being released in water, air and the land, it has become more challenging to control pollution. Nowadays there are industries in most places around the world, and these industries emit gases and release waste products in water or the surrounding. The world health organization states that out of 10 people, 9 breathe highly polluted air.

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Why is Sulfur Dioxide the Worst Pollutant?

Sulfur dioxide is one of the most dangerous and damaging pollutants since it has adverse effects on the respiratory system as well as other numerous health effects. It is a colorless gas emitted from vehicles, fossil fuel combustion in industries and power plants. Sulfur dioxide is not only harmful on its own, but it reacts quickly with other substances to form toxic compounds. This makes it even more dangerous considering air cannot be avoided and the more polluted it is, the more harmful it gets to everyone breathing it.

Countermeasures to Reduce Sulfur Dioxide Pollution

Different measures have been taken while more ways are being devised to curb this significant concern. The US Environmental protection agency has set up regulations with the aim of reducing, preventing, and control air pollution. These regulations limit the emission of pollutant gases anywhere in the United States. In China, "new instruments which interact with political incentives were introduced in the 11th Five-Year Plan, and the national goal of reducing total sulfur dioxide emissions by 10% was achieved." Jin, et al.,(2016).

One of these measures is bio-filtration. This is where the waste gases from the industries are filtered using bacteria and fungi before being released into the atmosphere. The downside to this is that it requires a lot of space and thus the industries without space do not regard it. The other measure to reduce sulfur dioxide pollution is through changing the fuel used by cars, locomotives or and other engines that require fuel. Fuel with a low level of sulfur is recommended, and most people have taken up the idea to reduce the emission of the gas into the atmosphere.

Risks Posed by Sulfur Dioxide Human Beings, Animals and the Environment

Sulfur dioxide poses numerous health risks to human beings, wildlife as well as to the environment at large. Exposure to these gases to human beings leaves them vulnerable to respiratory and breathing problems. Asthmatic people and those with respiratory issues are sensitive to these effects. The organs affected by these gases ranges from "upper respiratory irritation to chronic respiratory and heart disease, lung cancer, acute respiratory infections in children and chronic bronchitis in adults, aggravating pre-existing heart and lung disease or asthmatic attacks." Kampa, M., & Castanas, E. (2008). As seen earlier, sulfur dioxide also combines with other substances to form harmful substances such as the particulate matter. These are smaller particles that can penetrate the lungs. Accumulation of the particles can cause adverse lung problems as well as reduced visibility. Visibility is reduced when sunlight and the particulate matter encounter each other in the air. These particles not only cause exacerbations of illness in people with the respiratory disease but also rise in the number of deaths from the cardiovascular and respiratory disease among older people. Seaton, A., et al. (1995). Sulfur dioxide does not only affect human beings and animals but also plants. Exposure to these gases damages foliage and decreases growth in trees and plants.

References

Jin, Y., Andersson, H., & Zhang, S. (2016). Air pollution control policies in China: A retrospective and prospects. International journal of environmental research and public health, 13(12), 1219. Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/12/1219

Kampa, M., & Castanas, E. (2008). Human health effects of air pollution. Environmental Pollution, 151(2), 362-367. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2007.06.012

Seaton, A., Godden, D., MacNee, W., & Donaldson, K. (1995). Particulate air pollution and acute health effects. The Lancet, 345(8943), 176-178. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(95)90173-6