Air Pollution

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the problems that air pollution causes and the effects that these problems can have on the rest of society. It looks at how pollution affects the most innocent of victims, namely, fetuses. It then discusses how air pollution contributes illnesses such as cancer and respiratory problems throughout the world, especially in countries that are rapidly industrializing. The paper ends by discussing an often-overlooked social and international effect of pollution - that of numerous wars and international conflicts that have begun over issues of pollution.

Table of Contents:
Effects on Fetal Growth
Effects on Adult Health
Pollution and War
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In addition to low birth weights, studies have also linked pollution to birth defects. Epidemiologists with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that women exposed to higher levels of pollutants were more likely to give birth to babies with congenital heart defects. These pollutants include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. The scientists theorized that these pollutants damage a fetus's pulmonary arteries, which connect to the heart and the lungs ("Can Polluted Air Cause Birth Defects?" p. 158)."
"In addition to heart defects, some scientists have also theorized that pollutants could contribute to other physical birth defects as well. A 2002 study conducted in California, for example, linked air pollution to higher instances of lip and palate defects ("Can Polluted Air Cause Birth Defects?" p. 158). These findings are bolstered by the growing incidences of cleft lifts and palates in developing countries, especially those with high pollution rates and lax environmental standards."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Air Pollution Trims Fetal Growth." Science News January 22, 2005: 61-62.
• "Can Polluted Air Cause Birth Defects." Science News September 3, 2005: 158.
• "Outdoor Air Pollution Causes Many Cancer-Related Deaths in Russia." Obesity, Fitness and Wellness Week 29 May 2004:378- . ProQuest. Internet Explorer. New York Public Library. 25 Mar 2006 <www.nypl.org>.
• Wagner, Cynthia. "War Crimes Against Nature." The Futurist May/June 2003: 9-10.
• Whitman, David. "Burning Atlanta." The Washington Monthly September 2005: 17-23.

More papers on Air Pollution:

• Essay # 88967 : "The Economic Effects of Air Pollution"
• Research Paper # 89728 : "Air Pollution Control in Ann Arbor"
• Cause and Effect Essay # 33812 : "Consequences of Air Pollution"
• Term Paper # 121245 : "Air Pollution and Solutions"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: