Air Pollution Due to Transportation
Air Pollution due to Transportation
Recently there has been a great emphasis in the media on pollution. In general, it seems that governments and citizens are becoming more aware of the impacts of pollution worldwide. One of the most significant forms of pollution is air pollution. Air pollution is a major concern. Transportation is the 3rd major contributor to air pollution. Air pollution caused by cars and airplanes do a lot more damage to the world than most people are aware of. Education is the key to bringing about change to the air quality of our generation.
A. Scientific background
Air pollution consists of many types. Smog, acid rain, ozone layer, and the green house effect destruction all cause serious problems for people and the environment. Smog and acid rain are caused by the release of noxious gases, like carbon monoxide. The ozone layer is being destroyed by another form of air pollution, Chlorofluorocarbons, even though these were band in 1995 people now use hydro chlorofluorocarbons, which destroy the ozone more slowly (maybe take this out?). Burning fossil fuels cause another type of air pollution that releases very small particles into the air.
The three main forms of fossil fuels are natural gas, coal, and oil. Fossil fuels take millions of years to form, and are made by layers of organic matter made into sediments over time. Eighty percent of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels (www.solcomhouse.com, 2/2/07). Crude oil is a dark sticky liquid made from hydrogen and carbon. Oil wells are used to dig deep into the earth’s crust to get the oil. “Oil provides about 40 percent of the energy Americans consume and 97 percent of U.S transportation fuels.” (www.solohouse.com, 2/2/07).
B. Impacts
One of the major damages fossil fuels cause that is due to its combustion. When fossil fuels are burned, like when we drive a car, the gasses that it gives off are contributing to air pollution. These gasses are: carbon monoxide, nitrogen
Recently there has been a great emphasis in the media on pollution. In general, it seems that governments and citizens are becoming more aware of the impacts of pollution worldwide. One of the most significant forms of pollution is air pollution. Air pollution is a major concern. Transportation is the 3rd major contributor to air pollution. Air pollution caused by cars and airplanes do a lot more damage to the world than most people are aware of. Education is the key to bringing about change to the air quality of our generation.
A. Scientific background
Air pollution consists of many types. Smog, acid rain, ozone layer, and the green house effect destruction all cause serious problems for people and the environment. Smog and acid rain are caused by the release of noxious gases, like carbon monoxide. The ozone layer is being destroyed by another form of air pollution, Chlorofluorocarbons, even though these were band in 1995 people now use hydro chlorofluorocarbons, which destroy the ozone more slowly (maybe take this out?). Burning fossil fuels cause another type of air pollution that releases very small particles into the air.
The three main forms of fossil fuels are natural gas, coal, and oil. Fossil fuels take millions of years to form, and are made by layers of organic matter made into sediments over time. Eighty percent of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels (www.solcomhouse.com, 2/2/07). Crude oil is a dark sticky liquid made from hydrogen and carbon. Oil wells are used to dig deep into the earth’s crust to get the oil. “Oil provides about 40 percent of the energy Americans consume and 97 percent of U.S transportation fuels.” (www.solohouse.com, 2/2/07).
B. Impacts
One of the major damages fossil fuels cause that is due to its combustion. When fossil fuels are burned, like when we drive a car, the gasses that it gives off are contributing to air pollution. These gasses are: carbon monoxide, nitrogen