Introduction
With the great concern surrounding the destruction of the earth's atmosphere
due to air pollution, the immediate and direct harm caused to the human body is
often over shadowed. While many are aware that our careless use of hazardous
chemicals and fossil fuels may leave the planet uninhabitable in the future,
most over look the fact that they also cause real damage to our bodies at this
moment. Such pollutants cause damage to our respiratory system, leading to the
fluctuation of the life span of an individual depending on a number of
conditions. Amongst these conditions are the individuals specific geographic
location, age, and life style. In this essay I will try to explain what
pollutants are and how they affect our bodies.
What are the pollutants? And how do they affect our bodies?
In order to understand how air pollution affects our body, you must understand
exactly what this pollution is. The pollutants that harm our respiratory system
are known as particulates. Particulates are the small solid particles that you
can see through a ray of sunlight. They are products of incomplete combustion
in engines (example: automobile engines), road dust, and wood smoke. Billions
of tons of coal and oil are consumed around the world every year.
When these fuels burn they produce smoke and other by-products into the
atmosphere. Although wind and rain occasionally wash away the smoke given off
by power plants and automobiles, much still remains. Particulate matter (soot,
ash, and other solids), usually consist of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon
monoxide, sulphur dioxide, various nitrogen oxides, ozone, and lead.
The process by which these pollutants harm our bodies begins by simply taking a
breath. Particulates are present everywhere, in some areas they are as dense as
100,000 per millilitre of air.
There are also other pollutants that you cannot see such as Carbon Monoxide
(CO). Carbon Monoxide comes from cars, trucks, gas furnaces and stoves, and
some industrial processes. CO is also a toxin in cigarettes. Carbon Monoxide
combines with haemoglobin in the red blood cells, so body cells and tissues
cannot get the oxygen they need. Carbon Monoxide attacks the immune system,
especially affecting anyone with heart disease, amenia, and emphysema and other
lung diseases. They also combine with other compounds to help form ozone.
Nitrogen Oxides cause eye and lung irritation, and lowers the resistance to
respiratory illness, such as chest colds, bronchitis, and influenza.
Conclusion
It is apparent that our careless use of fossil fuels and chemicals is
destroying this planet. And it is now more than ever apparent that at the same
time we are destroying our bodies, proving that our pollution is not just a
problem that we can pass on to our children.
Written by Thomas Grome