Alice Vol. 7 No. 5

With the number of threats posed to
human life and success, among the most
hidden are the effects of air pollution.
It is believed that the biggest threats are
visible, however, air pollution is a silent
killer, permeating large cities, populous
regions and industrial plants. As Earth’s
population continues to grow, air pollution
levels increase, the quality of air decreases
and premature death and disease run
rampant.
Air pollution is defined by any physical
or chemical changes in the atmosphere.
Air exists in a balance of gasses, including
nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and
argon. Pollution occurs when other
particles like dust, smoke, exhaust and
smog are mixed into this composition.
Other factors include heat and methane
emissions. According to the Environmental
Pollution Centers, the presence of these or
any foreign chemicals can cause damage to
the ozone layer. The ozone is the protective
layer of the atmosphere that absorbs
ultraviolet radiation emitted from the sun.
The ozone layer is crucial to all species on
Earth, as excessive ultraviolet radiation is
harmful to living organisms. When there
is an excessive amount of pollution in
the atmosphere, the ozone layer becomes
depleted and UV radiation reaches Earth’s
surface in greater amounts.
There are many causes of air pollution.
Some of the most widely known include
traffic and factories. The chemicals
released from buses, cars, trains and other
transportation vehicles cause build-ups
of smog in cities and populated areas.
Industrial factories that manufacture
anything from car parts to construction
equipment use machines that emit
gasses that upset the balance of gasses
in the atmosphere. Additionally,
wildfires, burning waste, construction,
deforestation, demolition, fossil fuels
and household chemicals are all causes
of chemical and physical air pollution.
Not only do these create changes in the
chemical compounds of the atmosphere,
but there is also a visible difference in the
sky. Children draw pictures of landscapes
featuring bright blue skies, white puffy
clouds and a happy, smiling sun. Today,
a more realistic image would depict gray
or brown cloudy skies with low visibility.
Though there are far more harmful effects,
aesthetically, the world does not look the
same as it once did.
Each region of the world is affected
by air pollution predominately through
specific media. According to the National
Geographic Society, large cities in
developing countries are more likely to
have a higher pollution level than rural
areas or more developed cities. This is in
part due to the lack of legislation restricting
transportation and waste production.
Developing countries also tend to use more
basic technology, which is not as friendly
to the environment as more modern
technology, like electric-powered cars
and recycling. According to the National
Geographic Society, the most polluted
cities in the world in the past decade
include Beijing, Los Angeles and Delhi.
In Beijing, the majority of air pollution
is caused by excessive transportation in
an extremely dense population. This,
combined with industrialization, poor
pollution control and few trees, caused
over three thousand deaths in 2021
(Beijing Air Quality Index). Similarly, Los
Angeles is being clogged by diesel engines
and power plants that release fine particles
and dust into the air. On the other hand,
in Delhi, the primary cause of air pollution
is stubble burning, an agricultural method
to clear land after harvest, which produces
almost 15% of the air pollution in the city.
Construction, industrialization and wind
are also major contributors.
“It is important to learn about
air pollution and its health effects
because it disproportionately affects
socioeconomically disadvantaged
populations and minorities,” said Meg
Woodard, a senior urban planning major
at The University of Alabama. “This is
because of racism, class bias, housing
market dynamics and land cost. We can
achieve more environmental justice by
moving to more substantial technologies
and equitable housing practices.”
The air pollution levels in each city in the
world are monitored by the Air Quality
Index, also known as AQI. When a city
scores between zero and 50, it is deemed
good air quality. Between 50 and 100 is
moderate and 100 to 150 dictates that the
air is unhealthy for members of sensitive
groups. A score of over 200 is unhealthy,
and over 300 is hazardous. Many of the
most polluted cities score over 150, which
is dangerous to human health with long
enough exposure.
Currently, the most polluted city in the
United States is Niland California, with
an Air Quality Index of 193. California,
Michigan and Georgia are home to
the top 10 most polluted cities in the
US today, all with scores over 110. By
comparison, Tuscaloosa scores a 38,
with good air quality and low to medium
physical pollutants. By contrast, there
are many reports of individuals living in
rural areas who live long, healthy lives.
This discrepancy further solidifies the
notion that air pollution is a silent killer of
modern society.
There are many health concerns
associated with residing in areas with high,
or any levels of air pollution. According
to an article by InsideClimate News from
2020, air pollution causes more premature
deaths than smoking, HIV/AIDS, violence
and several other diseases. For most
individuals, the presence of altered
atmospheric compounds can cause lung
inflammation and low oxygen levels, which
can then lead to cancer and other chronic
illnesses. More specifically, long-term
exposure can be detrimental to respiratory
health. This can present itself in illnesses
such as asthma, bronchitis and lung
cancer. According to the National Institute
of Environmental Health Sciences, more
recent studies show a correlation between
increased particulate matter in the air and
increased COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Statistics show that almost nine out of
10 people who live in densely populated
developing countries are affected by air
pollution, and the global life expectancy is
reduced on average by approximately two
years.
Dr. Ellen Spears is an award-winning
author and professor of environmental
history and social movements at The
University of Alabama.
“We think of our bodies as containing
us, but they are permeable. Much like
ingestion through eating or drinking,
the skin absorbs substances,” said
Spears. “When we’re introduced to toxic
substances in the air, the body can absorb
these chemicals. This is a major reason for
having a strong public policy concerning
toxic substances and exposures. During
COVID-19, people have learned that more
air pollution results in a higher volume
of cases and mortality. The triple threat
of pollution, injustice and COVID-19
results in higher vulnerability and worse
health outcomes, especially for African
American, Latinx and Native American
communities.”
It is a human instinct to keep oneself
out of harm’s way. There are plenty of
measures that people take daily to ensure
that they are safe and healthy. Dr. Spears
said that people are aware of air pollution
and there have been major strides in
cleaning the atmosphere. However, many
regions have yet to be tested and are still
affected by environmental injustice and
lack of clean-up or enforcement. Being
aware that air pollution is a threat to
longevity is the first step to helping the
environment to recover.
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