#airpollution

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6 million can die every year from air pollution

Globally about 3 million people die prematurely from air pollution and it is expected to be 6.6 million by 2050. In Asia, low-quality fuels used for cooking and also heating and waste disposal has led to an increase of deaths. In Europe, East U.S, Russia, and other countries, the premature deaths from  air pollution come from agricultural emission. In the Middle East and North Africa the air pollution comes from the natural sources, such as storm dusts. Any increase of air pollution levels leads to a 3%  increase of deaths.

 

It is important to realize that the problem of air pollution is everywhere in the world. People should realize it doesn’t only come from driving cars but also other factors cause it, such as storm dusts. It is concerning to know that the amount of deaths caused by air pollution is higher than those from HIV, and that the deaths are going to increase even more by 2050. Everyone should take the initiative and do something before it is too late and we cannot revert or fix the harm we’ve done to the world.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/16/health/air-pollution-deaths-rising/index.html

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Indonesia evacuates infants from haze-affected regions

In Indonesia, fires have increased to the air pollution and therefore led to the evacuation of infants and their mothers. Air pollution higher than 300 is considered dangerous, but their air pollution reached a level of 1000. The fires that cause pollution are a cause of the forests fires and the peat fires to get rid of old crops and also for the new land.  Air pollution has been a problem in Indonesia for 18 years, and their condition doesn’t seem to get better. The air pollution has been expanding to nearby countries like Singapore and Malaysia.

 

I think it is very concerning that the air pollution levels in Indonesia have reached a level of 1000. It’s a great initiative that the infants and their mothers were evacuated from the harmful air. However, the problem needs to be solved and not be ignored by just moving the people from one place to another. The problem of air pollution is important, not just for Indonesia but for other countries because just like the air pollution is spreading to Malaysia and also Singapore it will continue to spread all over the world.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/01/asia/indonesia-evacuates-babies-haze/index.html

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California Missed Pollution Deadline

The Los Angeles area is unlikely to make a deadline set for themselves in 2015 to clean coot from their air. The chief smog-fighting agency recently approved a plan to change their deadline for cleaning the soot out of the air, blaming the drought in California for the lack of decline in fine particle pollution. The agency will likely ask for an extension up to the year of 2017. With this extension being approved by a 10-1 vote, many air quality experts are up in arms saying that Southern California needs to do more and by missing this deadline it shows that not enough is being done, despite their being a drought.

 

I am disappointed that California is extending their deadlines and making excuses for this extremely important issue. The issue of smog is extremely relevant to southern Californian’s and it’s visibility, although decreasing is absolutely disgusting. While I understand the drought likely played a role in the original deadline not being met, I would like to see more statistics on their progress rather than just extending their deadline. I hope by the end of next year the new deadline will be met so they can continue to decrease the smog levels in Southern California.

 

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Drought Worsening Smog

The extreme drought in California has dramatically slowed down efforts to remove smog from Southern California air. The prolonged dry spells has translated to a layer of heat trapping cooler air lower to the ground. This action causes pollution’s main concentration to occur closer to the ground. The air pollution in southern California is an extreme burden on citizens and also puts them at health risk. Hot conditions have also led to more forest fires, which increase air pollution with the levels of smoke being released into the atmosphere.

 

This article speaks to how the extreme drought in California has affected the air pollution. With California being in one of its worst droughts ever, the temperatures have increased making the smog’s level of concentration to drop significantly and further impacting humans. This is alarming and particularly scary as there is no clear solution. With this being said relief could come as soon as winter with storms and rain stirring up the air.

 

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Overseas Airs affecting California’s Pollution

Increasing emissions from China and other fast-growing Asian countries are rapidly traveling across the Pacific Ocean and increasing levels of ozone in the California as well as other Western States according to a recently completed study. In a weeks’ time, winds carry ozone formed by emissions Asia to the U.S. where it adds to pollution and smog. Carmel Valley, which scientists say should have extremely clean air have found pollution on their boarders. Three other cities affected by these access emissions are Bakersfield, Fresno and Los Angeles.

 

This study did not shock me as I have previously looked into how terrible China’s contributions to air pollution across the globe is, however China should be punished for their air affecting cities across the world from them. It is not fair to Californian’s that we have to breathe the polluted air being created half way across the globe. While China is attempting to decease their emissions substantially, I think they should have to pay money for their lack of control on the important issue of air quality.

 

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NASA’s US moniter

http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/new-nasa-images-highlight-us-air-quality-improvement/#.VHLE_vl4pcQ

 After ten years, NASA’s satellite which monitors six particularly dangerous pollutants found that people living in big United States cities are breathing nitrogen dioxide (a yellow gas which can cause respiratory problems). The gas is produced during the combustion of gasoline and is a very strong proxy to the overall health of air. Many graphs are depicted which go to show that air pollution in America is decreasing, however in major cities, Nitrogen Dioxide is increasing. This provides a gaping difference between the air quality for those living in rural and suburban areas of America.

The graphs and pictures shown on this website of NASA’s satellite goes to show how air pollution in America as a whole is improving, but the quality of air in big cities is more unhealthy than it has ever been. These pictures give great visual representation as to what exactly is happening in the Unite State’s atmosphere and levels of Nitrogen Dioxide. The purpose of this article was to educate those who live in big cities of their increased medical risks due to this very dangerous pollutant.

NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.22

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Almost Half Living in Dangerous Conditions

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/air-pollution-dangerously-high-for-almost-half-of-us/

A little under 50 percent of Americans are living in unhealthy air conditions. This number has increased five percent from last year, 42 to 47 percent. The five communities with the worst air pollution in the United States were all in the state of California.  Los Angeles-Long Beach had the highest ozone levels, while Fresno-Madera was found to have the most particle pollution. Both of these cities are located in California which is particularly alarming as Californians. This being said, things are not all bad as Salinas California is the least polluted city in the United States.

 This article gave lots of statistics on the health of the air in the United States, particularly the odd trends in California. California has both the five highest rates of air pollution, and the lowest overall rate. This report also goes to scare Americans as over 140 million Americans live in areas with high ozone layers. High ozone layers puts people at risk of premature death, aggravated asthma, difficulty breathing and future cardiovascular problems. This report further goes to show how American cities’ pollution levels have changed throughout the last four years and shows both many promising positives and alarming negatives.

“Air Pollution Dangerously High for Almost Half of U.S., American Lung Association Reports.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.

 

 

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Nations Air Quality Worsens

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/30/nations-air-quality-worsens/8466889/

 The 2014 state of the air report for the United States came out just a few weeks ago and shows many positives and negatives about the pollution levels here in the United States. The most substantial piece of information given was that 147.6 million people live in areas where air quality remains unhealthy. This number is absurdly high and has increased by 16 million since 2013’s report, despite all the regulations that had been put into place. On the brighter side of the spectrum, of the twenty five cities with the highest air pollution rates, 18 of them have dropped. With this being said, all twenty five still have air which does not meet standards of living.

This article’s purpose was to inform and scare readers living in United States that although air pollution levels are getting better, the country still has a long way to go in terms of having healthy air. With regulations and the issue becoming more prevalent, United States citizens should be alarmed to the increase in millions of people living in unhealthy cities. While individually we cannot do a lot to stop this world-wide issue, each of us can play a role. This report helps educated Americans of a great danger we are still facing as a country.

Bowerman, USATODAY Mary. “Good News/bad News for U.S. Air Quality.”USA Today. Gannett, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.

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Smog Worsening in California

http://www.sci-tech-today.com/news/Heat__Drought_Worsen_Calif__Smog/story.xhtml?story_id=023001AFX3S4#

The extreme drought in California has dramatically slowed down efforts to remove smog from Southern California air. The prolonged dry spells has translated to a layer of heat trapping cooler air lower to the ground. This action causes pollution’s main concentration to occur closer to the ground. The air pollution in southern california is an extreme burden on citizens and also puts them at health risk. Hot conditions have also led to more forest fires, which increase air pollution with the levels of smoke being released into the atmosphere.

This article speaks to how the extreme drought in California has affected the air pollution. With California being in one of it’s worst droughts ever, the temperatures have increased making the smog’s level of concentration to drop significantly and further impacting humans. This is alarming and particularly scary as there is no clear solution. With this being said relief could come as soon as winter with storms and rain stirring up the air.

“Heat, Drought Worsen Smog in California | Sci-Tech Today.” SciTech Today RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014..

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Air Pollution Progress in China

Lui, Anthony. “China’s War On Air Pollution Shows More Promise Than Reports Indicate.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 2014. Web. 07 Sept. 2014.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ckgsb/2014/08/06/chinas-air-pollution-better-than-reports-indicate/

China has struggled with air pollution for many years, and their air is often considered to be the most polluted in the world. However, recently China has begun to address this major issue and changes in government have promised change. 71 of 74 major cities still fail to meet air standard regulations despite all of the precautions being taken, showing the severity of this issue. The three main contributors of air pollution are cars, coal, and industry, all of which China has placed regulations to limit the pollution being released into the atmosphere. For cars, China’s cities have placed restrictions that if somebody wants to buy a car, they have to apply only then being placed in an auction. In addition, many Chinese industries have been kicked out of their respective cities. In Bejing, 53 companies have been asked to relocated due to their outrageous emission of pollution into the already polluted atmosphere.

 

In this interview imbedded in an article, the author was stating what China’s officials strides to eliminate their pollution problem included. There are three main causes for why the air pollution is so bad which are coal, cars, and industries. China has taken steps to reduce each of these three areas significantly by limiting cars, removing sulfur dioxide from coal plant emissions, and eliminating industries. The author states positive examples of how far China has come in the past decade, but is still attempting to alarm readers as the problem of air pollution is far from gone in China and all citizens should take strides to help.