Environmental Challenges of Air Pollution

In today's economy, there have been increasing rates of air pollution especially in the urban areas when industrial related activities take place. This pollution has consequences to the environments. Air pollution impacts are affecting many economies environment on a daily basis, and they include effects like the formation of acid rain. The precipitation that has sulfuric and nitric acid will be formed when oxides such as nitrogen and sulfur are produced from burning fossils fuels (Muller & Schubert, 2001, 44). These fuels will be remitted to the atmosphere and eventfully cause acid rain. Acid rain, in turn, will fall on the environment in the form of normal rainfall, particles, gas, fog or even snow and which led to effects such as damaging the trees. Creating much acidity in the soil which hinders soil productivity

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Secondly, air pollution causes eutrophication which occurs as a result of an overabundance of different nutrients such as nitrogen release into the atmosphere which in the long run causes the development of algae in water bodies. As a result of this, living organisms such as plants, fish, and animals will not survive an instead perish (Schreiber, 2014, 77). It is worth noting that, in as much as there exist algal blooms that naturally occur, human-related activities are the major contributors to many levels of these nutrients from, automobiles, power plant among other sources which eventually cause contamination and lead to negative impacts on the aquatic ecosystem.

Moreover, air pollution has led to the production of haze in the environment. Haze arises when sunlight collide with particles such as nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide in the atmosphere, emitted from different power plants and industries (Vallero, 2014, 88). Haze which is responsible for air pollutant can be moved by the wind to form particle away from the place where the pollutants were produced. In summary, the great effect of haze on the environment is that it is making it difficult for humankind and wildlife to view objects around them. In addition to this challenge, wildlife is not left behind on the problems of air pollution. When very toxic pollutants are present in the atmosphere, surface waters or soil, the health of different wildlife are threatened in such forms as congenital disabilities, reproduction issues, and other related diseases.

In an aquatic ecosystem, prolonged air pollution accumulates in sediments and eventually magnify up the food chain in much higher concentration. As if this is not enough of the challenges of air pollution on the environment, another serious challenge on the environment is the depletion of the ozone layer. Typically, ozone takes place in the atmosphere when it is natural and assist in protecting the earth from the UV rays and also on the ground level where it can be detrimental to our health. Sadly enough, the ozone in the atmosphere has been subjected to any damages by ozone-depleting gases and chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (Kiss & Shelton, 2007, 101). The negative effects of ozone damage include, increase the rate of skin cancer which affects both humankind and animal. Moreover, it causes the impaired immune system not forgetting the damage to plant life hence reducing their growth.

Finally, the last challenge of air pollution on the environment is the massive global change in most countries. This arises due to human-related activities such as the excessive burning of fossil fuel. There now exist overabundance of carbon-related greenhouse gas pollutant in the air such as methane and carbon dioxide that are responsible for increased global temperatures. Global climatic change has got numerous negative challenges which include stronger storms, droughts, and increase in diseases and pests which have been accelerated by warmer global temperatures and very long seasons of erratic weather patterns. These challenges have now seemed to have become the earth's normal climatic condition. Also, climatic change has also been predicted to have a significant negative challenge on human health, water, forest, agriculture and different coastal areas. The challenges of air pollution on the environment will still be on the increase hence different nations should come together to find a long-lasting solution to this persistent problem before it eventually changes the global climate and causes serious side effects and threats to wildlife and humankind.

Constructivism and Ecological Modernization Perspective of Air Pollution

Constructivism perspective emphasizes the importance of individuals constructing their subjective representation when it comes to addressing air pollution-related challenges (Vallero, 2014, 113). This approach states that addressing air pollution challenges is a contextualized and active process that should involve a construction of knowledge-based solutions on how the issue of air pollution should be addressed. Moreover, individuals should not aim at solving the challenges of air pollution on the already existing methods but should be constructive and come up with their solution which may be based on personal experience and environmental hypothesis (Vallero, 2014, 88). With this, step full sustainability will be reached.

On the other hand, ecological modernization perspective emphasizes on the biological concepts which are used to address the issue of air pollution. This approach uses biological concepts which describe how people can manage air pollution that takes place on their environment (Schreiber, 2014, 78). The ecological perspective can be traced back to different biological theories that help to explain how people can adapt to their environment to control air pollution (Schreiber, 2014, 111). By this environmental adaptation, individuals will achieve sustainability on air pollution issues.

Many social scientists have examined the aspects of ecological modernization, and one of the empirical examples is the changing role of the different nation in safeguarding its environment so that air pollution do no lead to global climatic change. Moreover, few attempts have been made using the approach of ecological modernization to formulate more precise and general explanation of the current air pollution challenges. One of the major sustained efforts has been growing number of publications which can collectively be under ecological modernization (Schreiber, 2014, 93). Also, the present scientists have aimed at contributing to critical improvements of ecological modernization theory.

In comparing behavioral science and ecological modernization perspectives, behavioral science is stressing on the importance and benefit of a better environment which entails improved quality of air to the entire ecosystem since its act as a significant addressing of public health issue. While on the other hand ecological modernization approach stresses on the capturing and evaluation of contemporary environmental reforms that will assist in reducing air pollution while also presenting new challenges from the outside school of thought. Ideally, when evaluating at the two approaches, they both present adequate ways on addressing the challenges of air pollution which are centered on creating a healthy environment hence the two perspectives should be analyzed and developed further to curb air pollution challenges.

Behavioral Science Perspective on Air Pollution

Behavioral science perspective emphasizes the importance of an improved quality of air and human health. Air pollution has been acknowledged by many nations to be a significant public health issue which is responsible for increased health effects. Other perspectives such as constructivism perspective and ecological modernization have ignored this fact. Hence behavioral science is vital in pinpointing the relationship between air pollution and the behavior of the ecosystem it affects including humankind (Mathy, 1988, 88).

Different behavioral scientists have indicated that rapid urbanization has exposed human beings and other living organisms to serious health effects. Moreover, they further indicate that air pollution challenges can eventually cause unhealthy concentration and a more variety of ambient pollutants to the atmosphere. Once it has become a common routine of humankind and other living organism living in the same environment and bearing the air pollutants, gradual behavioral change will be noticed as many living organisms will be affected.

As most behavioral scientist indicates, indoor air pollution has been associated with acute respiratory infection such as pneumonia-causing behavioral change. Behavioral science perspective argues that finding a sustainable solution to air pollution start from an individual level. They state, that, individuals who are aware of the causes and effects of air pollution can educate their families and friend to use no pollutant locomotives such as bus, bikes when moving places for a shorter distance. This will reduce the number of vehicles that emit gases in the atmosphere (Gulden, 1992).

A variety of measures have been put in place to curb the challenges exposed by air pollution. For this issue to be solved, a joint effort among different nations has to take place. For instance, it mainly requires behavioral change and institutionalization of different measures that can adequately improve the condition in the short term as well as in the long run. The solutions to air pollution have mainly focused on creating diverse technological solutions, regulations and encouraging behavioral change.

The following are the ways of addressing the problem of air pollution. First, cleaning smokestacks and exhaust pipes from different factories and power plants this will help in reducing the rate of emission in the air. Secondly, the creation of different laws and regulation. Some nations have come together to create international policies that are aimed at controlling air pollution. For instance in England, after the 1952 smog incident, that claimed thousands of lives in the city of London the government decided to launch its Clean Air act law in 1956. This act placed a limit on burning coal and demanded industries to build higher smokestacks (Okowa, 2000, 172).Other solutions include the use of renewable energy sources like geothermal energy. Since fossil fuel and coal are the main contributors to air pollution, opting for other energy sources will for sure present a practical solution to air pollution and finally creating awareness through various campaigns and advocacy on the effects of air pollution among the public will also help reduce air pollution.

Reference List

Gulden, G. (1992). Macromycetes and air pollution: mycocoenological studies in three oligotrophic spruce forests in Europe. Berlin u.a, Cramer.

Mathy, P. (1988). Air pollution and ecosystems: proceedings of an international symposium held in Grenoble, France, 18-22 May 1987. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4003-1.

Mcgranahan, G., &murray, F. (2012). Air Pollution and Health in Rapidly Developing Countries.

Muller-Starck, G., & Schubert, R. (2001). Genetic Response of Forest Systems to Changing Environmental Conditions. Dordrecht, Springer Netherlands.

Kiss, A. C., & Shelton, D. (2007). Guide to international environmental law. Leiden, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.

Okowa, P. (2000). State responsibility for transboundary air pollution. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Schreiber, R. K. (2014). The effects of air pollution and acid rain on fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Washington, D.C.,The Team.

Vallero, D. A. (2014). Fundamentals of air pollution.