Air Pollution and Public Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Air Pollution and Public Health - Essay Example This research paper informs us that the state of public health in the recent years has decreased with increased cases of respiratory, heart and cancer cases on the rise in the United States and other countries across the world. This is particularly the case among the young and the elderly. In addition, exhaust from buses, cars and trucks contribute to the amount of green house gases in the atmosphere. This has led to global warming which has in turn brought about negative effects on health and the climate. Climate change due to global warming has seen temperatures rise leading to death of hundreds of people for example in Chicago due to heat wave. Further, global warming has led to return of diseases such as malaria that for a long time did not occur in United States. Droughts, hurricanes, storms are on the rise due to global warming. According to statistics, air pollution has contributed to 440 deaths each year. Healthcare facilities are increasingly reporting cases of asthma, bronc hitis, heart attacks and cancer. This is highly attributed to pollution particularly air pollution caused by the transportation industry. Exhaust from cars and related industries have contributed to increased levels of dangerous fumes and gases that have in turn greatly affected the state of public health. This study examines ways in which the transportation industry has contributed to poor public health through air pollution. The study will also suggest ways through which air pollution due to cars on the road can be reduced.... Further, global warming has led to return of diseases such as malaria that for a long time did not occur in United States. Droughts, hurricanes, avalanches and storms are on the rise due to global warming leading to more deaths of people around the world (Sierra Club 2). According to statistics, air pollution has contributed to 440 deaths each year in different ways. In Liberia, the well-being of the residents of Monrovia metropolitan area is threatened by air pollution. The ministry of health has recorded an increase in cancer and respiratory ailments in the past two decades. Increase in air pollution in Monrovia is attributed to the second hand cars imported into the country. Most of these vehicles are more than eight years old and significantly contribute to air pollution. Moreover, Liberia is one of the few countries in the world that still uses leaded gasoline. This has serious health repercussion on the population with increased cases of cancer. This is not helped by lack of st ringent environmental laws to protect the people against the effects of air pollution due to second hand cars and leaded gasoline (Nyepon para. 3-7). Of all the cars in use today across the world, light trucks and particularly the SUV is considered the biggest contributor of green house gases in the atmosphere. It emits 47 times more air pollutants than the average car contributing more than 20 percent of the total US carbon dioxide pollution. Despite the US government move to reduce the number of fuel guzzlers on the road, the number of SUV’s on the roads has increased. This is because the SUV is treated as a light truck meaning they are not held up to strict environmental standards as other cars. Light trucks were excluded as they were used to do manual work such as carrying