Pollution is one of the single largest threats to our ecosystem today. Things like litter, air pollution, and pesticides have been wreaking havoc on native species and lands. It also has a direct connection to climate change and global warming. This is not news, and most people are aware of how destructive pollution is. Things like atmospheric CO2 levels and sea animals ingesting plastics get a lot of media coverage, but they aren't the only consequences. It's not to say that these things aren't important, but some aspects of pollution (and climate change) go unnoticed by the general public. While there is an obvious connection between ocean litter and plastic content in sea creature's stomachs, not all consequences are so clear-cut. Things like the human impact, the sociological impact, and some elements of the environmental change are beginning to surface. Today, I'd like to share some of the things I find to be particularly saddening. The Production Issue - Air PollutionOne of the well-established facts about air pollution is that much of it comes from China. While they actually have much lower per capita emissions than the US, their high net emissions often result in them being blamed for the climate crisis. While it is easy to place the fault of high emissions on the country of their origin, the situation in China is not so clear cut. When we think ostensibly about air pollution, we have to ask who it's coming from - but also who it benefits. For a long time, China has been the center of global manufacturing, making electronics and commodities at a fraction of the price that they could be made for in countries like the United States. This production, however, comes at a huge cost to the vast majority of Chinese citizens. Pollution in China is rampant- and is killing hundreds of thousands of people every year. In the US, we see the benefit of this cheap production without any of the cost. In a way, people like us, who rely on China for production, are partially responsible for industrial air pollution. If we as a world are really concerned about the scope of pollution that is coming from China, we should consider seriously aiding them in moving towards a greener form of industrial manufacturing, or even taking that burden upon ourselves. Impact on Mental HealthThis comes as no surprise - there is now evidence showing that the higher frequency of extreme weather events, such as floods and hurricanes, can trigger numerous mental health issues. Things like PTSD, anxiety, major depressive disorder, grief, substance abuse (eg alcoholism) and many other disorders are mentioned. When considered with the fact that pollution and climate change can undermine development in vulnerable countries, this is especially concerning. Many of the countries and groups most affected by these events simply don't have access to quality mental healthcare or treatment. Even in developed countries this is an issue, as a study of rural Australian communities found a connection between drought and higher suicide rates. This means that the number of diseases that stem from mental health -7.8% of all diseases globally- will only continue to grow. Environmental MigrationAnother serious issue that is brought by both pollution and climate change is the people displaced by their homes becoming inhabitable. On the climate front, we see massive swathes of land being overtaken - whether it be the expansion of deserts in China or the increased frequency of flooding in Bangladesh. People in these communities are often forced to move, putting an extra burden on the governments and economies of neighboring countries. If we continue to look at China, we find higher rates of net outmigration in regions with more air pollution. This is very troubling, especially when considering how the the most densely populated areas of China closely correspond with the most polluted areas. This is an issue that will only get worse as the climate crisis progresses. Public Health & DiseaseIn addition to mental health problems, climate change and pollution are associated with numerous public health problems. Many people are aware of how dangerous air pollution is (in fact, it claims as many as 6.4 million lives a year), but few consider how global warming changes the prevalence of dangerous diseases. A study recently revealed that Malaria migrates to higher altitudes when temperatures rise, and that "because these populations lack protective immunity, they will be particularly vulnerable for severe morbidity and mortality”. Additionally, massive droughts leading to the slowing of river and creek flows are creating more stagnant water, ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. This could lead to more cases of West Nile Virus, as well as a litany of other diseases mosquitoes carry, such as Chikungunya, Dengue Fever, Zika, and Malaria. Warmer weather also helps mosquitoes incubate faster, meaning they can reproduce more frequently. There is also evidence suggesting that global warming will allow them to evolve faster. While mosquitoes are important to the ecosystem, they present a dangerous challenge to public health. Pollution, climate change, and global warming will only make these issues worse. Mitigating the EffectsIn conclusion, it is important to consider all of the indirect effects that pollution and climate change have on people, as well as the environment. If we continue the way we are with our unclean and excessive consumption, our troubles will magnify tenfold. Experts already know how to slow down this change - but it will come at a cost to our extravagant lifestyles. If we are really concerned about the health and wellness of our global population, we need to make a decision - do we value lives more than our systems? I think most people know the answer to that question, but are unwilling to think critically about what sacrifices need to be made, and how quickly things need to change. For now, all we can do is try to get people to make that leap.
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AuthorI'm Sabrina, a student at New Tech High. Archives
April 2019
CategoriesAll After Affects Biology Digital Media Environmental Oceanography Personal Research Tutorial |