A report on environmental air pollution policy
Introduction
The government of Australia is investing a lot of money to ensure the people are living in a clean and healthy environment. However, there might be human activities that are still causing air pollution, making it unsafe. This increases the risks associated with hazardous air. In this essay, I am going to discuss the air pollution, causes pollution, policy measures of preventing air pollution, techniques of valuing air pollution, and cost-benefit analysis of air pollution.
Air pollution
Air pollution is the release of impurities into the air, making it detrimental to the health of people and even animals on the earth. The issue regarding the quality of the air may be limited to a specific region due to human activities that pollute the air in those regions. However, problems can be more extensive and affecting several jurisdictions. This is due to an air impurity originating from a common source (Akiamoto, 2003, pg1716).
When excess quantities of harmful substances are introduced into the atmosphere of the earth, they cause air pollution. There are many sources of air pollution. They include chlorofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxides, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and even ammonia (Mitchell, 1995, pg503). Polluting air can result in diseases, allergies, or to a worse extent, it can lead to a loss of human lives. Besides, it can harm other parts of biodiversity. Living organisms that include food crops and animals are harmed by environmental pollution. Therefore, natural processes and human activities on the environment are the primary causes of air pollution (Brunekreef, 2002, pg1235).
Air pollution has significantly contributed to many pollution-related diseases. These are lung cancer, stroke, heart diseases, and respiratory infections. Poor quality of air effects on human beings is far-reaching. However, the main results are seen in the cardiovascular system and respiratory systems of the affected persons (Kampa, 2008, pg364).
Air pollutants in Australia
Carbon dioxide is part of the greenhouse gases that have been classified as the leading air pollutants. Carbon dioxide an atmospheric gas. Plants need carbon dioxide to manufacture their own food. However, carbon dioxide emitted annually by human beings through the burning of fossils has largely contributed to air pollution. The increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has led to increased atmospheric temperatures (Mitchell, 1995pg504)
Sulphur dioxide is another air pollutant. It is a chemical compound consisting of sulphur gas and oxygen. Various industries and volcanoes contribute to increased sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere. Also, the coal and petroleum used by human beings generate sulphur dioxide pollutants through the combustion process. When sulphur dioxide is oxidated with the help of catalysts like nitrogen oxide, it can lead to the formation of weak sulphuric acid, hence forming acidic rain that is disastrous (Mitchell, 1995pg, 507).
Nitrogen oxide also pollutes the air. In addition, it originates from high-temperature combustion. Nitrogen oxide is mainly a chemical compound formed from nitrogen and oxygen. Furthermore, increased nitrogen oxide pollutes the atmosphere. It has an irritating odor (Mitchell, 1995, pg510).
This is a toxic pollutant gas. It is odorless and colorless. In addition, it originates from the burning of fuels by human beings. When wood, coal, and natural gas are burned, they produce carbon monoxide that is an air pollutant. The exhaust fumes that come from the vehicles form part of the carbon monoxide air pollutant in the atmosphere. In addition, the smog type form that results from carbon monoxide in the air has been connected with various lung diseases and general damage to the natural environment (Mitchell, 1995, pg514).
The volatile organic compounds are mainly referred to as outdoor pollutants of air. They are classified into either methane or non-methane substances. Methane forms part of the greenhouse gases and contributes to global warming. The existence of contaminants like xylene, toluene, and benzene in the air has been found to increase the risk of getting cancer among people. They have been linked with leukemia when one has been exposed to them for a long time. Furthermore, the origin of these gases has been associated with industrial use. Their release in the atmosphere pollutes the air (Seaton, 1995, pg1279).
Chlorofluorocarbons are air pollutants that harm the ozone layer. The gases from air conditioners, aerosol sprays from the agricultural sector, and refrigerators are critical sources of air pollutants. In addition, when they are released into the air, they move into the stratosphere, where they damage the ozone layer together with other gases. Damaging the ozone layer increases the risks of harmful ultraviolet rays reaching the surface of the earth. Furthermore, after entering the earth’s atmosphere, the ultraviolet rays’ cause eye problems, skin cancer, and damage to the plants (Seaton, 1995pg178).
The primary source of ammonia that is an air pollutant is agricultural waste. It is a gas that has a strong odor. Though it has other good uses, in the air, the excess release of ammonia is scathing and hazardous. Within the atmosphere, it reacts with other oxides like sulfur and nitrogen, forming secondary particles that are also pollutants in the air (Seaton, 1995, pg1276).
Policy measures to curb air pollution.
Monitoring and provision of a report on the quality of the air can reduce air pollution. Furthermore, the various emissions into the atmosphere that causes pollution can be monitored for effective control. Several methods of air pollution monitoring can be employed. These include a remote optical process, photochemical, automatic point monitoring, active sampling, and passive monitoring methods. In addition, when using these methods, data received after testing and analysis can be useful in controlling the emissions that pollute the air (Freeman, 1995pg79).
Passing a law is essential to reduce emissions. A piece of legislation can be put in place that sets out the limit of emissions to the environment. Fines and other punishments should be clearly stated in order to punish severely those who do not adhere to set limits of emissions to the environment based on the law. Furthermore, this will discourage people from uncontrolled emissions that pollute the air. The pollution prevention law will require industries to comply with the regulations that set limits for the release of air pollutants into the atmosphere (Allen, 1976, pg433).
The cooperation among the people in a country, government, and other organizations can help reduce the pollution of the air. In many counties, governments have partnered with the local communities in the planting of trees. Trees utilize carbon dioxide to produce their own food. In addition, the absorption of carbon dioxide by the plants from the atmosphere, the percentage is reduced, and the plants give out oxygen, which is fresh air. This increases the quality of the air (Blowers, 1998, pg229).
Environmental education and awareness is a very crucial tool in reducing air pollution. In addition, the empowerment of the communities with knowledge on the effects of air pollution and ways of handling it improves their awareness and cuts emissions that pollute the air. Furthermore, educating students in schools about the environment can help in raising individuals who are responsible for protecting and managing the environment. In addition, when people build knowledge of the environment, the skills obtained are useful for the healthy use of the environment in a sustainable manner (Walkie, 1985, pg3).
Environmental valuation technique and cost-benefit analysis
The advert behavior method is the best way of valuing environmental air pollution. Based on the above case, emissions from industries and the use of fuels that increases air pollution damages the environment. There is a cost that is incurred in restoring the environment after it has been damaged. For example, the cost of planting trees to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which in return purifies the air by supplying oxygen and lowers global warming. In addition, when people realize that cost, they can start adopting ways of life that reduce the quality of the environment to save that cost. The destruction of the ozone layer by chlorofluorocarbons leads to skin cancer due to ultraviolet rays. When people go to the hospital, they incur the fee of treatment. When they realize that cost, they can reduce aerosol sprays in the agricultural sector to save the cost for cancer treatment that results from damaging the environment through emissions (Freeman, 2014, pg46).
The contingency valuation technique is also appropriate for the valuation of air pollution. Furthermore, it is a survey-based system that tries to estimate the cost that people are willing to incur for various actions and programs to be undertaken for preventing air pollution. For example, people from multiple households are directly asked what they are ready to pay to restore the environment for their benefits. The contingent will define the product itself. In addition, It will also determine the institutional context within which it is offered and the procedure of financing. The valuation by the respondent is hypothetical. However, there is an assumption the respondents will behave in a manner that they are in an actual market. Structured questions on air pollution are essential in these valuation methods. After collecting the answers from the people on the cost they are ready to pay to prevent air pollution, the economic techniques are then used for analysis (Schläpfer, 2009, pg1575).
Conclusion
Air pollution is a severe problem. It affects people, animals, and the general environment. The governments, in partnership with the community and other stakeholders, need to put a concerted effort to control and prevent environmental pollution. Researching is very crucial to enhance the understanding of the nature and extent of air pollution. From there, environmental policy has to be established. In addition, the appropriate measures from the plan should be implemented. However, before implementation, it is good to examine the efficacy and effectiveness of the proposed measures. Furthermore, for effective implementation of the policies to prevent air pollution, there should be collective action involving the government, people, and also other international organizations. In addition, with the strict measures to control air pollution, environmental education and awareness, monitoring and reporting of air pollution, the issue of polluting air and the negative results arising from air pollution can be minimized.
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