Environmental Issues

Environmental Issues

Air and Water Pollution

Air and Water Pollution

Our country endures many types of air and water pollutants.   Our society has not focused on how dangerous the situation has become nor has the corrective action been taken to fix the problem.   In our country we tend to but band-aids on situations, but what we need to do is discover a more permanent solution to our pollution problems.   Some of the most prevalent of pollutants are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, lead and mercury.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless poison.   Carbon monoxide comes from fuel that is not completely burned from vehicles, home space heaters and industry (, 2008).   The nature of how this gas is emitted into our air makes it a primary pollutant.   Carbon monoxide exposure can lead to central nervous system issues, headaches, and because this gas is incredibly toxic death can occur.
Nitrogen Oxide is another primary pollutant because is directly emitted into our air by motor vehicles and coal/gas fired power stations. Fuel itself can produce small amounts of nitrogen, however most of the nitrogen oxide production comes from the reaction of atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen within the combustion chamber (, 2008).   Nitric oxides are also released by natural resources.   An example would be soil, but it is hard to say if this is caused by fossil fuels that are emitted from road vehicles.   The effects that are seen in humans from breathing in these oxides can be pulmonary edema, but the acid rain that it can be part of will destroy fish and plant life.
Carbon monoxide and Nitrogen oxide are all part of what we call greenhouse gases.   Greenhouse gases come from energy use and is driven by population growth.   Population growth is a huge hindrance on our atmosphere because the demand for more energy and the fuel that is used to produce this energy only emits more gases into the atmosphere.   Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions represent 82% of total U.S. human-made greenhouse...