Pollution and Respiratory Disease in Louisiana Term Paper

Pollution has become a prominent problem in the modern world, affecting both individuals and the state of the planet as a whole. Air pollution, in particular, remains among the most pressing problems of today’s age, bringing with it certain systematic issues and concerns. The United States of America is an industrial powerhouse, a powerful nation that devoted much of its time to the growth and development of the petrochemical industry. Subsequently, the need to evaluate the state of the environment becomes more apparent. The state of Louisiana is among the top five in total carbon oxide emissions in the recent years, with 211 million metric tons being recorded in 2018. Previous research from both climate specialists and medical professionals reveals that the levels of air pollution within an area are linked with development of respiratory disease. There is a positive correlation between petrochemical emissions in an area and the likelihood of its inhabitants to fall ill. In order to effectively design public policy, fully understand the healthcare and wellness implications of pollution, and oppose it on a legislative level, it is necessary to do more research. An examination focusing on the state of Louisiana in particular will be conductive towards realizing the unique problems on the state, and furthering the discussion. The main purpose of this research is to determine the significance of corporate CO2 emissions in causing respiratory disease. A quantitative survey will be used to interview participants living near areas of high and low petrochemical pollution, with the subsequent results being compared.

The Research Question(S) and/or Hypotheses That Will Be Addressed

1. Does living in areas of high petrochemical pollution concentration cause people to develop respiratory disease more frequently?
2. How is the prevalence of respiratory disease distributed among the Louisianan population
3. Have the rates of respiratory disease changed within the most recent decades?
4. How do the residents of the Louisiana state perceive the effects of pollution on their respiratory health?
5. What percentage of the population is aware of the implications petrochemical pollution has on their quality of life?
6. Do residents consider air pollution to be a significant part of their quality of life?
7. Is there incentive to stop pollution or regulate petrochemical emissions among the public?

A Description of Research Design and Methods, (Including Data Collection Strategies, A Description of the Sample, Variables (Or Information) Collected, Analysis Plan)

In order to conduct this research, a survey method will be utilized. Surveys allow to gauge and understand the public opinion, while also gathering the necessary data to conduct research. For this work, the intended audience are residents of Louisiana who have lived in their home for at least 5 years. This period of time will allow data regarding respiratory health to be reliably connected with the respondent’s living conditions, and rule out the effects of moving. People of all genders from 18 to 75 years old will be included in the survey. Exclusion criteria includes working in a hazardous environment or high pollution workplaces, as well as having a family history of respiratory disease. The survey will be distributed over recorded phone calls and the internet. According to Louisiana US census statistics, the number of adults in the state between the ages of 18 and 75 is around 3073849 (La demographic statistics). Taking this number, the appropriate sample size for this research, taking an average confidence level of 95% and a 5% margin error, would be 385 respondents.

A survey for 385 respondents within the Louisianan population, with an percentage of respondents from each parish will be completed. The proposed survey questions include:

• What is your age?
• Do you work in a hazardous/pollution heavy environment?
• Have you been diagnosed with a respiratory disease within your time living in your home?
• Have you experienced respiratory problems/concerns?
• Does your family have a history of respiratory illness?
• Do you think the air quality in your area is good?
• Do you think petrochemical pollutions have an effect on the public health?
• Do you think petrochemical pollutions have an effect on your health?
• Are you supportive or regulatory legislation to limit petrochemical pollution?
• Are you supportive of environmental action?

Implications for Public Policy, Practice, and Theory

Public Policy

Discussions about the environment and air pollution are directly connected with concerns of governance, lawmaking and politics. Companies working in industries responsible for high levels of pollution work in a pursuit of profit, growth and potential business benefits. However, environmental concerns and other potential implications of their actions are often ignored. In order to ensure that companies act within the constraints of society without harming people that work for them, public policy adjustments are necessary. If the results of this research showcase that petrochemical emissions cause a significant number of respiratory illnesses in Louisiana residents, both local and state governments have a responsibility of addressing this problem. Emission limits, adoption of better waste management practices or strong financial incentives against polluting can all come into prominence as a result of completing this research.

Theory and Practice

In regards to academic theory and practice, this work may be conductive towards further environmental pollution research, and adoption of similar surveying methods in other parts of the country. The practice of using surveys has been previously explored, but the combination of phone and internet surveying, coupled with a specific set of questions can be useful to scholars in similar fields of research. If the methodology outlined within this paper is found to be sufficient, including its potential limitations or caveats, this will be a productive opportunity to promote discussion. Alternatively, if there are significant problems with the results of research, data collection methods or any other parts of the process, the academic community can engage in discussions that lead to the promotion of knowledge within the field.

Reference

Infoplease. (n.d.). La demographic statistics. Infoplease.