Is the air that we are breathing killing us? In this speech you will learn all
that you need to know about air pollution. First I will give you the causes of
air pollution, then I will list the effects of it, and finally I will tell you
how we can prevent air pollution. The average person takes about twenty thousand
breaths a day, obviously air is essential to life. Well imagine that the air
that you are breathing may be killing you, many diseases are aggravated by air
pollution. Scientists believe that all cities with populations exceeding 50,000
have some degree of air pollution. Burning garbage in open dumps causes air
pollution, and also it smells pretty bad. Air pollution comes from many
different sources. One of the major sources is carbon monoxide which manly comes
from automobiles, but also burning of fossil fuels, CFCs etc. Air pollution does
not leave the Earth it all gets trapped up in the atmosphere. This doesn't
bother most people, and they think that it will not harm them. People burn down
forests and people burn fossil fuels, and CFCs from aerosols. Every bit of this
harms our atmosphere. Factories and transportation depend on huge amounts of
fuel billions of tons of coal and oil are consumed around the world every year.
When these fuels burn they introduce smoke and other, less visible, by-products
into the atmosphere. Although wind and rain occasionally wash away the smoke
given off by power plants and automobiles, the cumulative effe! ct of air
pollution poses a grave threat to humans and the environment. A big example of
smog is LA you can see the smog just hovering above the city. I don't think any
human alive should be subject to that kind of environment. Scientists believe
that all cities with populations exceeding 50,000 have some degree of air
pollution. Burning garbage in open dumps causes air pollution Scientist have
discovered that over the South Pole the ozone has a high level of ozone
depletion. Those diseases include asthma, chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, and
allergies. Pollution also has been linked to pulmonary problems in developing
fetuses, and damage to the immune system in adults. Those that are most
vulnerable to problems of air pollution are the elderly and children, along with
people who work and exercise outside frequently and those with chronic
respiratory ailments. Due to the fact that children inhale more air per pound,
and that the elderly lose important defense mechanisms as they age. Working
outdoors may cause you to breathe at a faster rate and inhale deeper. Which
causes high student absences and missed days of work, along with higher health
insurance cost. There are many causes of air pollution, but the main causes of
pollution are motor vehicles. Motor vehicles contribute 40% of pollutants to
react with sunlight to cause ground level ozone also called smog. Ozone causes
burning of eyes, nose, and tissue in lungs, like sunlight burns your skin.
Another cause being a lawn mower, a gas-powered lawn mower can cause the same
amount of air pollution as driving a new car three hundred and forty miles.
Other causes include that of factories, wood burning, and human error. Now after
you have heard about air pollution and all of its dangers I will tell you how
you can help prevent air pollution. First you can start by conserving energy
everywhere that you go such as your home, work, and school. Be careful not to
spill fuel while filling up gas tank and to tighten your gas cap tightly. Keep
your car, boat, and other vehicles tuned up according to owner specifications,
and carpool, ride a bike and walk as much as possible. Along with using
environmentally safe paint and cleaning utensils. You can conserve energy by
turning up your air conditioner up higher. In your vehicle try to refill your
tank after dusk, combine trips and errands, and limit engine idling. In
conclusion I believe that we can stop air pollution and ground level smog be
being more efficient in the way we live. I hope that after you heard about the
causes, effects, and solutions to air pollution you will want to help prevent
it. So do what you can and conserve the air today.