Air Pollution: Causes, Impacts, and Mitigation Techniques

Running head: ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY
Environment and society
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1ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY
Introduction
In the recent time, there are number of issues related to environment are being emerged in
the recent time. This is mainly due to the unsustainable way of lifestyle in the current time and
over exploitation of natural resources. One of the major environmental issues in the recent time
is air pollution. The rapid increase in the rate of air pollution is causing adverse impacts on the
global scenario. In addition, with the increase in population, level of air pollution is also
increasing at same rate (Boubel et al. 2013). The major consequences of air pollution are health
issues with the human beings, change in climatic conditions and change in biodiversity and
ecosystem. Due to the emergence of air pollution, human beings are having respiratory problem
as well as other health issues due to inhalation of harmful substances. On the other hand, it is
identified that global warming is caused mainly due to the air pollution and this is leading to
average increase in temperature. Thus, agricultural production is getting affected due to the
increase in temperature.
Thus, due to the emergence of air pollution, the entire species of flora and fauna are
getting affected and some of them are being on the verge of extinction. One of the groups that
are mostly affected by air pollution is the vulnerable animals. Some of these species are not
being able to cope up with the change in the climate and weather condition. In different cases, it
is seen that many animal species are changing or evolving in becoming more immune to the
change in the environmental factors. This essay will discuss about major causes and reasons for
the emergence of air pollution. In addition, the major impacts of the air pollution will also be
discussed in this essay. Some of the major mitigation techniques will also be identified as well.

2ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY
Causes of the problem
One of the major causes of reasons for air pollution is urbanization. This is due to the
reason that in the current time, majority of the social cultures around the world are inclined
towards more urban approach. Developed countries as well as the developing countries are
mainly facing this issue of urbanization due to the reason that economy is rapidly growing with
time. According to Han, Zhou, Li and Li (2014), China is the prime example about how the
concept of urbanization is leading to increase in air pollution. This is due to the reason that with
the emergence of urbanization, the green areas are getting lowered and getting replaced by
habitats. In addition, the authors have also stated that the more will be the urbanization, the more
will be the use of vehicles in the particular location that will further contribute in air pollution.
On the other hand, with the initiation urbanization, the demand for natural resources will further
get increased and rate of exploitation will also get increased. Thus, according to the authors,
consumption of natural resources such as fossil fuel will lead to increase in air pollution.
Another major reason for air pollution is increase in population. Increase in population is
the major contributor of all types of pollution in the current time. In the case of air pollution,
population plays the role of major source of generating harmful substances. According to Van
Bavel (2013), population explosion can be termed as the major contributor in the air pollution.
This is due to the reason that the more will be the level of population, the more will be the
exploitation of the natural resources. In this article, the authors have stated about the use of fossil
fuels by the average population in the current. Increase in the level of population is also leading
to the increase in energy demand that is further creating increased demand of fossil fuel. Thus,
with the increase in burning of fossil fuels for more energy needs, air pollution is increasing.