Environmental health focuses on public health as a result of influences from natural and man-made environments (Friis 7). Quality of life is often influenced by external environmental stimuli that causes changes in the health aspect of human lives. For this reason, there has been an increased focus on the monitoring of external variables, such as the environment, in an effort to ensure an improved quality of life.
In the recent past, air quality has come under focus as a result of the environmental degradation experienced in many parts of the world. Terminal illnesses, such as a wide range of cancers, have been attributed to air pollution. This alarm has forced environmental scientists and researchers to explore the extent of harm to public health as a result of air pollution.
The increased attention to air quality is a recent development as people were previously not concerned about the quality of air in the atmosphere. However, owing to the harmful effects linked to air pollution, the status of the environment has received the attention it deserves.
Air pollution is primarily the result of carbon emissions that occur from burning fossil fuels. Owing to the dependence on fossil fuels to run industries as well as manage different means of transportation, poor air quality affects the majority of individuals in many countries (Mudakavi 33). The contamination that results from such processes uses the air as the medium. The fact that living organisms depend on air for survival makes air quality a major issue.
This environmental health issue is based on an accurate assessment of its role in the survival of living species. This situation is proven by the existence of the air quality index. The air quality index is a measuring tool that assesses the quality of air in the atmosphere through different color coded classifications (Abhishek and Colls 15).
The quality of air has gotten worse with industrial and economic development. The growth of industries such as the auto industry has brought to focus the effects of discharged pollutants (McGranahan and Murray 23).
Air pollution has adverse effects on human life as a result of illnesses such as cancer and asthma (Hollar 12). If this trend remains unchecked, the loss of human life will be catastrophic.
However, the public has taken notice of the dangerous effects of air pollution and has resorted to using and advocating for green technologies that are friendly to the environment. This development has led to the usage of clean energy such as solar, geothermal and wind energy.
The issue of air quality affects every individual since the premise of human life is based on the presence of oxygen that supports life. Prior to the assignment, I was aware of the principle of air pollution. However, undertaking further research on the topic brought the realization of the dangerous situation currently affecting the human race.
The views of air quality have changed from undertaking research on the topic. In this regard, one is able to realize that a clean environment is as a result of collective effort and every measure, regardless of how small it may seem, is vital for safe and clean air.
According to Howard County, hazards are identified based on the adverse effects on human health and the natural environment (par. 1). In addition, the assessment of the nature of hazards and the overall impact on the exposed population is made to analyze the extent of harm caused by the pollutants. In my community, the proximity to the highway poses an environmental hazard based on the fumes emitted by the large number of cars passing by the community.
Works Cited
Abhishek, Tiwary, and Colls, Jeremy. Air pollution: Measurement, modeling and mitigation. New York: Routledge Publishers, 2010. Print.
Friis, Robert. Essentials of Environmental Health. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2012. Print.
Hollar, Sherman. Poisoning Planet Earth: Pollution and Other Environmental Hazards. New York: Britannica Educational Pub. Association with Rosen Educational Services, 2012. Print.
Howard County. Howard County Health Department, 2015. Web.
McGranahan, Gordon, and Murray, Frank. Air Pollution and Health in Rapidly Developing Countries. London: Earthscan, 2003. Internet resource.
Mudakavi, Rajeev. Principles and Practices of Air Pollution Control and Analysis. New Delhi: I.K. International Publishing House, 2010. Print.