Introduction
Air pollution is a leading form of environmental pollution. Many human activities cause air pollution, including emissions from vehicles and power plants, negatively impacting human health and economic efficiency. Researchers are evaluating policies and regulations to stop air pollution and preserve the integrity of the ecosystem. Such policies will also maintain the quality of the various aspects of the environment, including water, energy systems, soil, and resources (Excel High School, 2018). Governments and institutions have developed legislation and policies to curb the growing menace of air pollution. Curbing ground-level ozone and industrial gas emissions, reducing the use of automobiles, and planting more trees will ensure that future generations have clean air.
Steps to Reduce Air Pollution
The first step is to curb the emission of ground-level ozone and gaseous particles from factories. The major contributors to air pollution are fossil fuel emissions from factories and industrial chemicals. Oxides of sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen from production plants and agricultural chemicals are the major air pollutants that threaten atmospheric air quality. Moreover, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds are precursors of ozone (Sicard, 2021). Ground-level ozone is increasingly threatening air quality and exposing people to dangerous health complications. Eliminating these gaseous pollutants is crucial to improving air quality.
Second, people should be encouraged to reduce the use of automobiles or use vehicles that use alternative fuel sources. Hydrocarbons are among the leading causes of air pollution. These are a class of organic compounds, such as petroleum, composed of hydrogen and carbon as the only elements (Balseiro-Romero, 2018). Most automobiles use hydrocarbons as a source of power. With more than 1 billion vehicles worldwide, the energy requirement for automobiles directly increases the use of fossil fuels, consequently increasing air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and smoke. Going for errands on foot, cycling, and using public transport are a few ways to reduce vehicle use and emissions. Electric vehicles are a great way of improving air quality. Instead of using gasoline which pollutes the air, electric cars use electricity and do not produce emissions. Reducing the use of automobiles and popularizing electric cars lowers pollution caused by fossil fuels.
Planting more trees is crucial to improving air quality. Plants have a natural mechanism of filtering the air as they absorb carbon dioxide, which contributes to air pollution. They eliminate pollutants like sulfur dioxide, dust, carbon monoxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide that threaten the safety of humans and animals (Gashaw & Yitayal, 2019). In turn, they produce oxygen which is required for human survival. Scientists have also identified specific plants that filter toxins and harmful compounds from the air. Plants such as English Ivy are instrumental in improving air quality through this process. Planting more of these plants will enhance the air quality and become a long-term solution to air pollution.
Clean Air Act
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is one of the most important environmental laws that actively improve air quality. The federal law was enacted in 1963 to regulate the emission of hazardous pollutants from sources of air pollution, both stationary and mobile (Schmalensee & Stavins, 2019). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was tasked with ensuring communities and families live in environments free of air pollutants. The act mandated the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to control and reduce emissions that contribute to air pollution. The goal of the CAA is to enact and reinforce policies, activities, and interventions that provide maximum reduction in air pollution. The act has influenced a number of changes, including the adoption and promotion of solar energy as an alternative to fossil fuels.
Conclusion
To conclude, air quality is an area of focus in the environmental safety conversation. Governments and private parties should enact measures to ensure sustained air quality improvement. Some of the steps include reducing the use of automobiles, reducing the emission of ground-level ozone and industrial gases, planting more trees, and progressively transitioning to clean energy such as solar.
References
Balseiro-romero, M., Monterroso, C., & Casares, J. J. (2018). Environmental fate of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil: Review of multiphase transport, mass transfer, and natural attenuation processes. Pedosphere, 28(6), 833-847. Web.
Excel High School. (2022). Environmental Science. Web.
Gashaw, T. T., & Yitayal, A. A. (2019). Principal air pollutants and their effects on athletes health and performance: A critical review. Scientific Research and Essays, 14(7), 44-52. Web.
Schmalensee, R., & Stavins, R. N. (2019). Policy evolution under the Clean Air Act. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 33(4), 27-50. Web.
Sicard, P. (2021). Ground-level ozone over time: An observation-based global overview. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health, 19, 100226. Web.