pollution in Egypt

AIR POLLUTION

             Air pollution is actually the addition of any harmful substances to the atmosphere, which causes the damaging of the environment, human health and the quality of life. The fast increase in air pollution in Egypt has become a real threat to the people’s health. The air quality in downtown Cairo is more than 10 to 100 folds of acceptable world standards. Also there are many causes and effects of air pollution.

            Firstly, there are several causes of air pollution. With the development in industry, came along the increase in air pollution, which occurs inside homes, schools, offices even in the countryside. Carbon dioxide is one of the main pollutants that cause air pollution. This is because, although living beings do exhale carbon dioxide, this gas is harmful when emitted from other sources, which are caused due to human activity. An additional release of carbon dioxide happens due to various such activities. Carbon dioxide gas is used in various industries such as the oil industry and the chemical industry. The manufacturing process of most products would require the use of this gas. There are various human activities that add to the increased proportions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Causes of air pollution are not limited to this, the combustion of fuels in automobiles, jet planes; etc all cause the release of several primary pollutants into the air. The burning of fossil fuels in big cities which is seen at most factories, offices and even a large number of homes, it is no wonder that air pollution is increasing at an alarming rate. The release of other harmful gases all adds to the state that we see today .The various causes of air pollution that releases harmful gases into the atmosphere are caused due to the increasing number of power plants and manufacturing units or industries that mostly have activities related to the burning of fuels. Besides,   most automobiles, marine vessels, activities that involve the burning of wood, fumes that are released from aerosol sprays, military activities that involve the use of nuclear weapons, all are the numerous causes of air pollution. These and a number of other dangerous air pollutants are emitted with the various numbers of activities that we carry out during the day which are the main causes of air pollution.

       Secondly; air pollution has a dangerous effect in our life. Consequently there has been an increase in the death rates resulting from various diseases caused by air pollution varying from breathing problem to lung cancer. Air pollution does not only affect people but it also damages the whole ecological system in which plants and animals are harmed as well. Air pollution has reached such a critical stage where it affects the earth's atmosphere as it lets in more harmful radiation from the sun. Consequently, our polluted atmosphere is becoming a better insulator, thus, preventing heat from escaping back into space. That is why there is a global rise in temperature which scientists refer to as "global warming". As a result of this rise in temperature the world food supply and sea level will be affected, also there is the probability of increase in the tropical disease. Also we have acid rain. Acid rain is rain that is more acidic than normal. Acid rain is a complicated problem. Primarily caused by air pollution, acid rain's spread and damage involves weather, chemistry, soil, and the life cycles of plants and animals on the land and in lakes and streams. This form of air pollution is currently a subject of great controversy because of its worldwide environmental damages. For the last ten years, this problem has brought destruction to thousands of lakes and streams in the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe. Scientists have discovered that air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels is the major cause of acid rain. Power plants and factories burn coal and oil. Power plants use that coal and oil to produce the electricity for our homes and to run our electric appliances. We also burn natural gas, coal, and oil to heat our homes. The smoke and fumes from burning fossil fuels rise into the atmosphere and combine with the moisture in the air to form acid rain. The main chemicals in air pollution that creates acid rain are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Acid rain usually forms high in the clouds where sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water, oxygen, and oxidants.

     Finally, how can we solve this problem? We should have many solutions to overcom this problem. We have to do something now to reverse the trend and restore healthier environment. The first step is to increase awareness among the people, the government and businesses. We have to make the environmental protection and restoration a national priority. We are seeking the cooperation of all segments of Egyptian society, the business, the government, the mothers and housewives, the students, the artists and all the professionals inside and outside Egypt to protect ourselves and our county.

          Thus, earth is everybody's home and nobody likes living in a dirty home. Together, we can make the earth a cleaner, healthier and more pleasant place to live.

 

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