Our World’s Dirty Air

Our World’s Dirty Air 

            The manufacturing and running of automobiles cause toxic air pollution to roam around our atmosphere. Air pollution is an example of an externalized cost of global capitalism because the effect of air pollution solely affects the people in the atmosphere, and not the automobile company itself. Even though air pollution is a worldwide issue, vehicles are the biggest contributors to air pollution in the United States today. Heavy-duty vehicles encompass around 5 percent of all vehicles on roads, and yet, they produce over 25 percent of global warming’s emissions. Car pollutants cause immediate long-term side effects on the environment, as well as on human life. Our world needs to start realizing the negative impacts these actions are causing because they have far beyond reached their consequences and it is only getting worse, especially for upcoming generations.

            The air pollution that automobiles are emitting is harming our environment and atmosphere in ways that could never be fixed. Car exhausts release several different types of gases and solid matter, the majority of which are harmful to our world and those living in it. They emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, and these types of gases are dangerous because they trap heat inside the atmosphere, which leads to worldwide temperatures to exponentially rise. These greenhouse gases contribute to one-fifth of America’s total global warming pollution. This automobile pollution needs to decrease, or better yet, it needs to stop, because global warming not only affects us humans, but also agricultural, wildlife, sea levels, and landscapes. Automobile pollution also emits nitrous oxide, which reduces the ozone layer from being able to shield Earth from dangerous ultraviolet radiation as a result of the intense sun. Additionally, when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emits from this pollution, it mixes with rainwater and causes the creation of acid rain. This is problematic because acid rain damages forests, crops, and other vegetation. 

            Automobile pollution not only damages our environment but it also negatively affects human life. This specific type of air pollution includes mater like hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, which can severally trigger human health issues. For example, certain engines release a ceertain type of matter, which consists of small dust and metal particles. This causes skin and eye irritations, allergies, and respiratory problems, as the small particles stay deep in the lungs.  Ozone fuels also inflame the lungs, which leads to severe chest pains, coughing, and an overall difficulty breathing. The carbon monoxide that is emitted in this pollution is dangerous to all that inhale it, but particularly infants and those who suffer from heart disease. The reason for this is because carbon monoxide impedes the blood’s ability to carry oxygen to other parts of the body. Overall, the people who are experiencing these externalities are not enjoying the profits because its effects are causing more harm than good. 

            While there is no definite solution to solving automobiles from polluting, there are a few ways that cars and trucks could do to reduce air pollution. Firstly, one could get an electric, hybrid, or another fuel-efficient car instead of driving an old, poorly kept vehicle because those emit the most pollution. Secondly, before purchasing a new car, it is important to check the Fuel Economy and Environmental label. This label shows that the higher the rating, the fewer pollution levels that specific car emits. Therefore, the higher the number, the better the car is to the environment. Lastly, one should bike, walk, or use public transportation as much as possible to use less fuel. 

         However, air pollution is not the only thing harming our atmosphere. In regards to climate change today, it is not looking pretty. There is no category 6 for hurricanes or tropical storms yet, but with the combination of warmer oceans and the increase of water in the atmosphere, there is a very likely chance that we will need a category 6. Throughout history, meteorologists and scientists had not predicted that they would need to exceed a category 5. However, with wind speeds picking up and the drastic increase of water vapor in the atmosphere, they believe a category 6 will be necessary. The question people are wondering is what these category 6 storms will do to a city. In summary, they will cause horrible damage. One city in 2010 predicted that a category 5 hurricane would lead to over 2,000 deaths and $250 billion dollars in repairs from the terrible damage it would cause. Then again, this is the cause for only a category 5 storm. Imagine the effects of a category 6 storm - it’s beyond terrifying. 

It’s a fact that we need to start changing our actions. For myself, I know I need to start changing the way I do certain things because I calculated my ecological footprint, and it said that if everyone lived like me, we would need6.4 Earths. That’s insane. When I first saw these results, I realized I needed to make some serious changes in my life to lower my global footprint. I know one way I could easily help lower this number is by turning off lights more often and using more eco-friendly light bulbs. This is just one way that I could help the environment, but I am aware there is a lot more work that can be done, and you could do the same, too!

Our world and environment are being hurt by such economic costs, activities, and externalities that cause issues like air pollution. Such economies need to start realizing the harm that they are causing. To lessen this impact, people who manufacture goods, like cars, need to start realizing that their actions have far reached its consequence, and it is only getting worse. These costs are going to be paid for future generations, and it is not going to be pretty.