NAME: Chilton John C.

Duat
COURSE/YEAR: BSCE – 2nd Year
Subject/Offer Number: BES 12_24324
 
REACTION PAPER
Air pollution is the contamination of our air with harmful gases and particulates. It is caused by human
activities such as burning fossil fuels, vehicle exhaust fumes, and emissions from agriculture and industry. It has
a huge impact on our health, reducing the quality of life and cutting lives short. Long-term exposure can cause
serious medical conditions, such as cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. Those who are most vulnerable are
children and older people. It can cause children to develop breathing conditions and stunted lungs, as well as
other illnesses. It can also cause greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which lead to warmer temperatures and
climate change. To protect people's health, Client Earth has taken legal action to combat pollution and fight for
clean air in 11 countries across Europe. To reduce pollution levels, people should avoid busy roads and high-
traffic areas, walk on the side of the pavement furthest from the road and choose routes through green spaces. If
you suffer from lung conditions, avoid strenuous exercise on high-pollution days.
Air pollution is closely linked to climate change - the main driver of climate change is fossil fuel combustion
which is also a major contributor to air pollution. Meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement to combat climate
change could save about a million lives a year worldwide by 2050 through reductions in air pollution alone. In
the 15 countries that emit the most greenhouse gas emissions, the health impacts of air pollution are estimated
to cost more than 4% of their GDP. WHO and its partners are convening the first Global Conference on Air
Pollution and Health in Geneva on 29 October – 1 November. The health burden of polluting energy sources is
now so high, that moving to cleaner and more sustainable choices for energy supply, transport, and food
systems effectively pays for itself," says Dr. Maria Neira, WHO Director of Public Health, Environmental and
Social Determinants of Health. The lack of visible smog is no indication that the air is healthy.  There are two
main types of air pollution – ambient air pollution (outdoor pollution) and household (or indoor) air pollution.
Both indoor and outdoor air pollution can contribute to each other, as air moves from inside buildings to the
outside. Air pollution kills 4 million people a year and tends to affect countries in Africa and Asia. Women and
children, who tend to spend more time indoors, are affected the most. WHO has set three interim targets for
cities to reduce air pollution. Air pollution is also causing long-term environmental damage by driving climate
change, itself a major threat to health and well-being. Breathe Life – a global campaign for clean air is
mobilizing communities to reduce the impact of air pollution in cities, regions, and countries. This month, the
UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that coal-fired electricity must end by 2050 if we are
to limit global warming rises to 1.5C. If not, we may see a major climate crisis in just 20 years. The conference
will present activities and results from the ongoing work of the WHO's Urban Health Initiative.
On the other hand, Nutrient pollution is one of America's most costly and challenging environmental problems,
caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the air and water. It has impacted many streams, rivers, lakes,
bays, and coastal waters for the past several decades, leading to serious environmental and human health issues,
and impacting the economy. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus can cause algae to grow faster than ecosystems
can handle, reducing water quality, food resources, and habitats, and decreasing the oxygen that fish and other
aquatic life need to survive. Excess nitrogen in the atmosphere can produce pollutants such as ammonia and
ozone, which can impair our ability to breathe, limit visibility and alter plant growth. When excess nitrogen
comes back to earth from the atmosphere, it can harm the health of forests, soils, and waterways.
My reaction to these articles is that air pollution has a huge impact on our health reducing the quality of life and
cutting lives short. Long-term exposure can cause serious medical conditions, such as cancer, heart attacks, and
strokes. A huge factor in climate change is fossil fuel combustion which is also a major contributor to air
pollution. Although the level of air pollution has reached a critical point. But, there are still ways by which we
can reduce the number of air pollutants from the air. The quality of air can be improved by planting more and
more trees as they clean and filter the air. Strict policies for industries related to the filtering of gases should be
introduced in the countries. So, we can minimize the toxins released by factories. We have to adopt the usage of
Eco-friendly fuels such as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), bio-gas, and other
eco-friendly fuels. So, we can reduce the amount of harmful toxic gases. To reduce pollution levels, people
should avoid busy roads and high-traffic areas, walk on the side of the pavement furthest from the road and
choose routes through green spaces. If you suffer from lung conditions, avoid strenuous exercise on high-
pollution days. Above all, many initiatives like planting trees, and using eco-friendly fuel are promoted
worldwide. We are grateful to know these groups of organizations like the Paris agreement, WHO, and Breathe
Life whose goal is to cut global greenhouse gases in order to limit global temperature and are acting on it.
I have also found that excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the air and water causes serious environmental and
human health issues, and impacts the economy.  I have learned that nutrient pollution occurs when too many
nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, flow into water bodies and act like fertilizers, causing algae to grow
excessively.  This pollution comes from many different things: water runoff, agricultural runoff, stream
instability, and paved/unpaved roads to name a few. Nutrient pollution can occur due to land development,
agriculture, aquaculture, and atmospheric nutrient deposition. The growing human population intensifies food
production and wastewater discharge. These are the main contributors to global nutrient pollution.
Governments, businesses, and individuals must take urgent actions to reduce nutrient pollution. Key strategies
involve controlling nutrient pollutant sources and restoring damaged ecosystems. Businesses can reduce
nutrient pollution by managing and reducing their emissions into air and water. Investing in energy efficiency
and shifting to renewable energy sources helps reduce pollution from fossil fuels. Farm, field, and catchment
management can help reduce nutrient runoff into water bodies.
Individuals can also contribute. For example, choosing phosphate-free cleaning and laundry detergents, soaps,
and shampoos. Conserving energy in the household helps minimize airborne nutrient pollution from fossil fuels.
This includes using energy-efficient domestic equipment and green building design.
Airplanes, buses, cars, and trucks produce significant nitrogen oxide emissions. Therefore, it’s essential to
minimize driving and instead, shift to sustainable transportation modes.