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Air and Water Pollution

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Air and water pollution has become a very important problem that has to start being resolved. Although this isn’t something that can be resolved over night it is a problem that can slowly but surely improve a little at a time. The two types of air pollutants I have chosen are carbon monoxide and lead. These are both pollutants that harm our air majorly and need to be reduced. The two types of water pollutants I chose are surface water and groundwater pollution. All of these pollutants need to be more well-known that way each individual can do their part to help protect our environment.
One type of a common air pollutant is carbon monoxide (CO). This is the type of pollution that occurs when combustion process. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that is more common in urban areas. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “CO can cause harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body's organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues. At extremely high levels, CO can cause death.” [ (Carbon Monoxide, 2012) ] This pollutant can be modified as either a primary or secondary pollutant. It is a primary because it can directly enter the air as a harmful substance. It can also be a secondary because it can also be created by the combustion process. Air pollution has a lot to do with greenhouse gases and our environment. When fuels are burned some of the pollutants are greenhouse gases.
Another type of common air pollutant is lead (Pb). This is a metal that is found in the environment as well as in manufactured products. It has become such a problem because it is has been found in fuels that are in on-road motor vehicles. There has been a great amount of use of lead to decrease which has been helping the environment slowly. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Today, the highest levels of lead in air are usually found near lead smelters. The major sources of lead emissions to the air today are ore and metals processing and piston-engine aircraft operating on leaded aviation gasoline.” [ (Lead in Air, 2012) ] Toxic metals, such as lead, are a primary pollutant because they are directly released into the air. Other examples of toxic metals that are a primary pollutant include cadmium and copper.
The first type of water pollution to discuss is surface water. This is one of the most visible pollutions because it can be seen floating on water, or could change the discoloration of the water. Surface water pollution includes trash from humans that float right on top of the water, such as plastic water bottles or any other waste products. Also these types of pollution include oil spills and gasoline wastes. [ (Hearn, 2013) ] This is an example of a primary pollutant because it is coming directly from humans or sewage to cause the pollution to occur.
The second type of water pollution I chose is groundwater pollution. This type of pollution is very important because it affects our drinking water. According to the Water Benefits Health website, “Groundwater pollution is usually caused by highly toxic chemicals and pesticides from farming that leak through the ground to contaminate the wells and aquifers below the surface. [ (Hearn, 2013) ] This is an example of a primary pollutant because it is coming directly from the resources and contaminating below the surface and aquifers in the ground.
As I have discussed air and water pollution are becoming bad problems that we all can do our part to help solve. Carbon monoxide is very dangerous to us humans because it affects the heart and brain. The second air pollutant lead, it is such a problem because it is ran in motor vehicles however they have reduced this problem a lot over the past few years. Surface water really affects the aquatic life and creates a deadly habitat for it. Groundwater pollution really affects our drinking water and we need to be more careful what toxin goes into the ground. With everyone being more careful these pollutants could become less and less of a problem.

Works Cited
Carbon Monoxide. (2012, December 10). Retrieved from United States Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/carbonmonoxide/
Hearn, M. (2013, February 2013). Basic Types of Water Pollution. Retrieved from Water Benefits Health: http://www.waterbenefitshealth.com/types-of-water-pollution.html
Lead in Air. (2012, April 12). Retrieved from United States Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/lead/

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