Paper Example on Public Health Crisis: Urgent Action Needed to Restore Environment

Introduction

From dangerous mosquito-borne diseases to debilitating heatwaves and lung diseases, environmental conditions are increasingly becoming a public health concern Haque & Singh, 2017). Resultantly, calls have been made by various international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) to restore the environment and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases as a way of protecting human health (Nowak, 2019). If urgent action is not taken, millions of lives around the world will be at risk in the coming years. The effects of environmental conditions are felt most within communities. To understand the full impact of environmental issues on human health, therefore, it is important to narrow down the focus to a specific community. Bakersfield, California, is one of the communities most affected by air pollution in the United States. In its 2016 State of Air Report, the American Lung Association established that the city had the worst quality of air in the country (Berg, 2017). Its year-round particle and ozone pollution were also among the worst nationally. Owing to this situation, thousands of children, seniors, as well as people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma are at great risk. In this light, this paper seeks to discuss the most significant environmental issues in Bakersfield, their health impacts, as well as possible solutions to these problems.

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Most Significant Environmental Issues in the Community

Bakersfield is located within California’s Central Valley. With a population of 375,000 people, the northern part of the valley is among the few big population centers in the region (Berg, 2017). Oil and agriculture are among the major economic activities in the area (Berg, 2017). Unfortunately, the waste released by these industries has made the city one of the most polluted in the country. Other contributors to pollution in the valley include road traffic and rail freight. According to experts, air pollution, ozone pollution, and climate change are the most significant environmental issues in Bakersfield (Berg, 2017).

Air Pollution

As mentioned in the introduction, air pollution is the most significant environmental issue in the city. It results from industrial, agricultural, and transportation activities. The region’s topography and geography also make it more vulnerable to air pollution. For instance, the geography of the San Joaquin Valley makes the city more susceptible to the concentration of particulates and smog formation (The Bakersfield Californian, 2018).

Ozone Pollution

This is a human-made phenomenon caused by air pollution from power plants and internal combustion engines (Zhang, Wei, & Fang, 2019). The gases produced from these activities combine with oxygen to form ozone, especially during warm days. In Bakersfield, smog caused by ozone pollution is common.

Climate Change

Climate change has been blamed for some of the extreme weather events being witnessed more frequently in the world, such as heatwaves, famines, floods, and hurricanes (Konisky, Hughes, & Kaylor, 2016). In Bakersfield, climate change has worsened the air pollution problem. According to experts, higher temperatures increase the severity and frequency of ozone days and also make it difficult to achieve clean air goals. Unfortunately, the temperatures in the city, and in the world, has been rising in recent years.

Health Impacts of the Environmental Issues

It is estimated that more than 70,000, 40,000, and 27,000 people have asthma, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respectively, in the wider metro area (Berg, 2017). According to studies, being exposed to polluted air, whether indoors or outdoors, is risky for all populations (Haque & Singh, 2017). However, some demographics, such as pregnant women, children, and the elderly, are at a higher risk of developing severe health problems. Long-term exposure also reduces one’s ability to be physically active and makes them more susceptible to infections. Studies have also linked cancer and birth defects to air pollution (Haque & Singh, 2017).

Solutions to the Issues

Impressive improvements have been experienced in the recent past. For instance, collaborations with farmers to improve farming techniques have reduced air pollution in San Joaquin Valley by close to 80% (Berg, 2017). The enactment of strict air regulations also contributed to the decline. For example, the Clean Air Act has significantly helped in addressing air pollution in the region. However, since the city remains among the most polluted in the country, there is a need for more stringent measures to improve the quality of air. Other than legislation, the transition from fossil fuels, as well as the adoption of zero-vehicle emissions, should be expedited. Also, more collaboration and coordination between the various stakeholders is needed.

Conclusion

As shown in the paper, environmental pollution is a major public health concern in the modern world. In Bakersfield, for example, thousands of residents are at risk of developing serious health problems as a result of the most significant environmental issues in the city, namely, air pollution, ozone pollution, and climate change. While the efforts of the previous years have led to some improvement, the city is still among the most polluted in the country. Therefore, there is a need to develop more measures. Stricter laws, an expedition of the transition from fossil fuels, as well as faster adoption of zero-emission vehicles, are some of the solutions to the environmental issues.

References

Berg, N. (2017, February 14). Breathless in Bakersfield: is the worst air pollution in the US about to get worse? Retrieved from The Gurdian: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/feb/14/bakersfield-california-bad-air-pollution-us

Haque, M., & Singh, R. B. (2017). Air pollution and human health in Kolkata, India: A case study. Climate, 5(4), 77. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/5/4/77

Konisky, D. M., Hughes, L., & Kaylor, C. H. (2016). Extreme weather events and climate change concern. Climate change, 134(4), 533-547. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-015-1555-3

Nowak, D. J. (2019). The atmospheric system: Air quality and greenhouse gases. Understanding Urban Ecology, 175-199. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-11259-2_8

The Bakersfield Californian. (2018, April 18). Bakersfield ranked worst, second worst and third worst in three air quality rankings. Retrieved from Bakersfield.com: https://www.bakersfield.com/news/bakersfield-ranked-worst-second-worst-and-third-worst-in-three-air-quality-rankings/article_2aa86d06-432d-11e8-b708-9f1da10f570d.html

Zhang, J., Wei, Y., & Fang, Z. F. (2019). Ozone pollution: A major health hazard worldwide. Frontiers in immunology, 10, 2518. Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2019.02518/abstract