The subject of air pollution has appeared in the social media and presented to people in various ways. Research shows that more than 5.5 million people die prematurely as a result of air pollution (Amos). Such deaths are more common in developing megacities in countries such as China and India. At the same time, researchers recently found that major increases of smog appeared in Western U.S. in recent years that started out as pollution emission from Asia. Waves of industrial pollution were released and drifted over the Pacific Ocean to the Western borders of United States. Scientists have found that the amount of air pollution coming from Asia has contributed up to 65% increase in Western ozone levels in recent years (Chappell). Such issues are appearing with increasing frequency and have attracted global attention. Many countries have already taken action to counter the impacts brought by air pollution, but the majority of the world has yet to be decided on the standpoint of pollution reduction. The negative effects of air pollution are significant and obvious. However, countries have waived their decisions toward the drawbacks of heavy pollution emission reduction. With further investigation and research, this paper will provide arguments and attempt to seek a conclusion toward the research question: To what extent has air pollution emission influenced people on a global basis. This essay will approach the topic step by step in the perspective of health and hygiene, economic impacts and development influences.

The most crucial and common impact exerted by air pollution is health and hygiene. As most people know, air pollution inhalation causes health deterioration and increases in the probability of disease. However, the detailed impacts and effects are not considered as common knowledge. 

Since the obvious appearance of ambient air particles in China 2013, people have paid significant amount of attention to the changes that have occurred. Ambient air particles, also known as PM2.5 (Particulate Matter), are the tiny particles and droplets that have a diameter no larger than 2.5 microns (1 inch is about 25,000 microns) (Sørensen). These particles are often produced or formed through chemical processes that involve the combustion of fossil fuels or natural resources when creating heat or energy. They are categorized as air pollution, but the one significant difference, and the most dangerous is the size of these particles. The hair that grows within the nose, known as nasal hair, functions as a filter in the respiration system where it blocks out foreign particles entering when a person inhales through his/her nose (Blume-Peytavi). As these particles collect and gather, people have a certain system to remove such particles. However, due to the significantly small particle size of PM 2.5, they surpass the filtering system of the nose, allowing them to travel through the windpipe and enter the lungs. Short-term affects include lung irritations, worsening of asthma and heart diseases (Health.Ny.Gov). However, scientist recently released findings on the long-term impacts of air pollution toward the human body. From intense research in recent years, Professor Mette Sørensen and his team from the University of Copenhagen have conducted research upon students exposed to ambient particles within the time frame of one year and taken blood samples to assess the extent where air pollution affects different DNA biomarkers. A city experiencing severe air pollution damage was chosen and a sample size of fifty students selected to test their hypothesis, and results show a significant damage toward white blood cells, separation of DNA strands and chemical mutations taking place within the body such as tumors and mutated disease (Sørensen et al). Although a sample size of fifty is not considered a large enough sample size to draw conclusions, a larger participation was not recommended considering other factors that may affect the results of the observation other than influences caused by PM 2.5. They concluded that exposure of ambient air particles can induce oxidative DNA damage and with large quantity exposure can cause biological DNA mutation. Such mutations are not easily spotted or recognized, but its effects can be vital toward future generations of the human species and its biological response to viruses. At this rate the damage inflicted by air pollution toward the human body in the long term is hard to imagine.

Damage done toward the respiratory system and DNA markers are not the only effects of air pollution toward the human body. Additional research published in 2017 written by scientists and engineers from University of Southern California shows that air pollution particles may also cause brain damage. The study found that older women living in conditions where the air particular matter levels exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standards are 81% more at risk for cognitive decline. This includes Alzheimer’s disease, a deficiency in overall intelligence, learning ability and neuropsychological deficits. Associate professor Jiu Chiuan Chen from the study quotes, “The experimental data showed that exposure of mice to air particles collected on the edge of USC damaged neurons in the hippocampus, the memory center that is vulnerable to both brain aging and Alzheimer's disease”. It has been supported by other researches providing evidence that exposure to overwhelming air pollution can cause people with older age to have memory loss or scatter, losing the ability to focus or having trouble performing basic activities such as work, literacy, communication and body functioning. 

It can be concluded and agreed that air pollution poses a significant threat toward the human population. Regardless of gender, race, age or location, air pollution can do serious damage to the human body in various ways, lungs, heart and liver as common subjects. This result led authorities with different backgrounds such as government agencies and research facilities to argue for the reduction of air pollution emission, as well as taking urgent actions to clear up as much pollution as possible that are already released into the society decades ago. To reduce the damage done to the citizens of the world, air pollution must be controlled and reduced to the maximum extent.

However, economists and governments may disagree with significant reduction of air pollution. According to an article by CNBC, Beijing has badly failed air quality standard measurements since 2015, and as a result more than 1.6 million per year die from diseases caused by constantly breathing toxic air. Top leaderships in China have made a commitment to address and counteract the problem by periodically closing down factories and restricting cars on the streets to reduce the amount of pollution emitted into the atmosphere. However, the monetary liability has reached up to 11 trillion dollars plus, taking more than 6.5% of China’s GDP (CNBC). This includes hospital visits, which applies monetary support spent on medical benefits and companies’ annual income from sick employees. Company profits and production levels have significantly decreased over the years due to the government shutting down factories either temporarily or permanently. In addition, a decrease in the production level of goods and services has created a scarcity situation for both domestic and foreign market. Prices of goods and services rose significantly, reducing the consumption of goods from domestic consumers and foreign investors (Tragakes). The reduction of air pollution emission has cost the government a fortune, and pushing the advancement of the Chinese economy and market back years of development and effort. Other sectors of the economy are affected as well, such as tourism, lost in overall productivity of businesses and firms from carbon footprint reduction and closing of factories, schools shutting down to avoid days with severe polluting days, transportations being limited from government policies and the agriculture sector being affected due to insufficient available crops from poor air quality. China has been committed to improving the overall air quality by 10% on a country scale, but in return the economy is forced to shut down more than 2500 small firms in Beijing alone (CNBC). China shows commitment toward pollution reduction, but sacrificing too much as a cost to sustain. It is estimated that the change would not be visually displayed within the next five years. At this rate China’s economy would significantly deteriorate, causing other critical problems to emerge. It is nearly impossible for countries like China to make immediate changes as to significant reduction of air pollution.s

To this point there is a trade-off on the subject whether air pollution should be significantly reduced. Without the significant reduction, the health and hygiene of the global population may be in threat, but implementing a significant reduction in air pollution emission comes with a heavy monetary cost. This cost not only slows down the economic expansion in the short-term, it could also do critical damage toward the overall development of a country in the long-term.

Problems that emerge with the reduction plan of air pollution do not conclude economic pushback. In the long term, the development of the world is directly influenced by the amount of air pollution emission. The trade runs the world between households and firms, where households provide factors of production: land, labor, capital and entrepreneurship to businesses and firms, and in return receives goods and services offered by businesses and firms. These exchanges form markets, and groups of markets form an economy, where economies of countries can further involve in trade to create the unstopping development of the world. In order for businesses and firms to be able to provide goods and services to be consumed or traded, capital is required. The majority of capitals are machineries and factories that are capable of performing heavy production, and to operate such capital requires energy (Tragakes). This source of energy mainly comes from burning fossil fuels and resources. Inevitably, the process produces huge amounts of air pollution. In a ted-talk debate, founder of the Whole Earth Catalog and environmental activist Stewart Brand discusses the necessity of nuclear power plants and its essential function in the future of world development. He claims that the diminishing quantity and availability of fossil fuels forces people to develop alternative resources such as renewable resources to power the world. Statistics from recent years from published scholar research papers show that 40% of energy sources come from nuclear generated energy. However, Professor Mark Jacobson from Stanford University argues that the current usage of nuclear energy has posed great impact on the environment. This damage comes from the formation of nuclear power. He claims that although the formation of nuclear energy does not emit air pollution, the construction of nuclear sites such as power plants and large nuclear batteries require significant amount of process and steps that involves air pollution. One of the sources of air pollution includes the lifecycle carbon-dioxide gas produced through generating electricity that reached up to 60 grams of CO2 per kilowatt of electricity in an hour. According to statistics from the World Bank, the usage of electricity in Canada reached more than 15,000 kilowatts per hour. Assuming that the electricity provided to function Canada is powered by nuclear energy, it will produce up to 900 kilograms of carbon-dioxide gas per hour, more than 7800 tons per year. Another source of air pollution comes from the actual construction of nuclear power plants. In the debate, Professor Jacobson claims that it takes up to nine years for actual construction of one single nuclear power plant. Within the nine years, the CO2 emission from current power mix due to planning-to-operation day can reach up to 110 grams per kilowatts of coal generated electricity in an hour. The cost of constructing alternative resources to replace fossil fuels is significant and not yet suitable for current conditions. With that being said, nuclear energy cannot currently relieve the energy stress cast upon fossil fuels, and people must still consider burning fossil fuels as the main source of energy, as the next upcoming reliable resource is not yet to the point of perfection. In conclusion, no other source of energy can replace fossil fuels yet, and this leaves such resources in charge of supplying major portions of the energy demand. The removal or significant reduction of fossil fuel usage may result in air pollution emission decrease, but the aftermath results in chaotic situations in countries’ economy and world trade, decreases in potential production rates and severe unemployment arises due to factories being shut down and companies firing workers. As a result pushing the development of the world back to the times before the industrial revolution. Air pollution emission can be considered as an upper for development, and without it will result in significant depressions. 

Global warming is an issue that exists since the 1970s, and continues to draw attention nowadays. Official organizations like the European Environmental Agency monitoring the overall changes in the global effects of air pollution have reported multiple phenomenons regarding climate change and ozone damage for the past decade. Climate change, also known as global warming has shown significant effects toward the Earth, and most scientists agree that the greenhouse effect has increased the Earth’s temperature. The IPCC (Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change) has predicted a possible rise in the overall temperature of one degree Celsius by 2025 and three degrees by the end of the 21st century. This is caused by increasing demand of industrialization and rising population that increased the levels of air pollution emission, resulting in the overall damage toward all living organisms on the planet that perform respiration. More and more people are examined to have lung and respiratory diseases in hospitals, as well as children getting asthma at a young age. On the other hand, the agriculture of the economy will be significantly impacted, as well as the consumers who absorb such agriculture that will result in long-term suffering of organ failure. To conclude, air pollution has been a long-lasting problem for the world and has caused severe damage toward overall environment of the Earth. 

In conclusion, by considering health, economics, development and environmental aspects, the issues involving air pollution has invited discussions and debates on the extent of reduction that most suit the current conditions of the planet. The International and European Law states that “no State has the right to use or permit the use of its territory in such a manner as to cause injury by fumes in or to the territory of another or the properties of persons therein” (Post). However, it is noted that pollution, unlike pollutants in the early stages of the industrial revolution, cannot be regulated the same way as back in the old days. A suitable law to regulate pollution reduction has not yet been released or deduced, and thus it will be difficult to regulate at the right extent to minimize the potential loss due to over or under reduction of ambient air pollutant emission. Officials and authorities behind different backgrounds and areas are coming together as to provide the world an answer to one of the biggest problems mankind has ever faced. It is our duty to protect and maintain a clean and sustainable environment for people to live in, as well as taking actions to recover the loss and damage we have done to mother nature, but at this current moment there is nothing that can be done to reduce pollution.
