Essay - The Ring of Haze Surrounding Modern Cities Looms Ominously and...

The ring of haze surrounding modern cities looms ominously and the hole in the ozone layer grows, but people rarely understand that air pollution is within our control. The causes of air ***** are many, and save for natural contributions to temporarily poor air quality, ***** bulk of ***** pollution problems are results of human technological advances. Since the Industrial Revolution, massive amounts ***** fossil fuels like coal and oil have been and continue to be consumed. The *****nefits of industry may indeed outweigh the detriments, but it is finally time ***** technology to solve *****s own problems. Until the past few decades, ***** spoils of industrialization were taken for granted. We can forgive our forebears for their ignorance in develop*****g technologies with unforeseen consequences. Who could have known how human life would benefit by burning coal for electricity or oil ***** au*****mobiles? However, the burning ***** these ***** has caused an epidemic of health and environmental ***** ***** contributed to a gener*****l degradation ***** ***** on earth.

Air pollution is a bro*****d term that actually refers to a gamut of familiar environmental problems. These problems include acid rain, domestically produced smoke, smog, the greenhouse effect, particulates, radionuclides, and ***** depletion of the ozone *****. By far the biggest contribut***** ***** air pollution in general is ***** burn*****g of fossil fuels, by both automobiles and factories. Power stations and road vehicles are boons to civilization but ***** also at the root of environmental and health d*****asters. Acid rain is one ***** ***** fallouts of the Industrial Revolution; before the proliferation ***** *****, the pH level of ***** tended to be slightly *****ic, but rarely *****low pH 5. ***** the Industrial Revolution, sulphuric acid and nitrogen gases that evaporate ***** combine with airborne water cause rain to have a pH level of 5 or lower. Cars are also the most major contribu*****r to smog. Cities with huge transportation networks exhibit ***** highest ********** of smog, especially if the city is geographically located in a bas***** that traps air. Los Angeles and Mexico City ***** perfect examples of ***** havens. The internal combustion engine may have revolutionized human l*****e, but it also pollutes it due ***** the number ***** particulates that now litter our air. Particulates are the large particles suspended in ***** air that not only ***** smog ***** seep into the lungs of all animals. They include ***** from *****, diesel fuel, and dust.

Fossil ***** burning at power ***** ***** causes an excess of carbon dioxide to be emitted into the environment. This not only creates acid rain but also contributes to ***** greenhouse effect and global warming. Chlorofluoro*****s, which are comm***** used in ***** conditioning, refrigeration, and solvents, also kindle the greenhouse *****, as does deforestation. Agriculture and w*****te disposal ***** also ***** culprits that bring about global warming as ***** by-products emit greenhouse gases.

Radionuclides come from processes like X-rays that emit ionizing radiation, causing severe detrimental effects on ***** life forms. Besides governmental regulation, steps must