Air Pollution In Atlanta, Georgia

Air Pollution in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the capital city of the state of Georgia. It has an average population of over 450,000 residents making it one of the most populated cities in the United States. In fact, the greater Atlanta metropolitan area is the 9th largest metropolitan area in the United States with a population of about 5,300,000. Atlanta city has magnificent sceneries, diverse cultures, and a thriving economy (Noonan 23). The city's annual revenue output is about $250 billion, and it is expected to increase as the economy expands and diversifies. In relation to revenue collection, Atlanta is ranked 6th in the U.S. and 15th in the world.
Unfortunately, its thriving economy, people, and environment are under the threat of
pollution, especially air pollution. The future of the city and its population is uncertain because of the increasing levels of air pollution that pose a threat to the health of the people as well as the environment. Substances that cause air pollution are referred to as pollutants that comprise of carbon monoxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxides, and particulate matter (Sjoquist 107). The sources of air pollution in Atlanta are mainly vehicle and industrial emissions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta is the second most air polluted city in the United States after Los Angeles, California. As such, the research paper posits that air pollution causes health problems for the people living in the city of Atlanta and the environment. Methodology The study utilized the content analysis research methodology to review the findings of various scholarly texts related to the problem of air pollution in Atlanta, Georgia.
The researcher used the Galileo library database to search for peer-reviewed articles and books that have covered different aspects of air pollution in Atlanta (Frank and Engelke 200). The articles and books were selected based on their relevance to the topic as well as the most recent publications. The data collected was analyzed to identify patterns and trends related to the impacts of air pollution in the city. The information gathered helped to reveal the effects of air pollution in Atlanta on the people, economy, and the
environment.
Findings
The results of research revealed that air pollution in Atlanta causes health problems to the people and is also responsible for the deteriorating state of the city's environment.
The economy is also significantly affected because the investors are uncertain about the future of the city. The majority of the private businesses operating in Atlanta have put their expansion plans on hold until the current threat of air pollution is effectively eliminated (Dolšak and Sampson 321). Furthermore, the number of smog days, commonly referred to as Code Orange Days, has increased drastically in the last five years. For example, the city of Atlanta experienced 34 smog days, edging closer to Los Angeles, which is ranked first in the United States with 40 days of smog. In relation to health care, an increase in the number of smog days in a year poses major health threats to individuals with respiratory and cardiac illnesses and conditions. For example, asthmatic children cannot engage in outdoor games and activities during Code Orange Days. Taylor (2012) asserts that the high levels of ambient air pollution directly affect the birth weight of infants born to mothers living in the Atlanta metro area. Apparently, 60% of all the children born between 2010 and 2013 showed a significant decrease in their average birth
weight.
The significant decrease in birth weight within the city has raised concerns among medical practitioners and parents in Atlanta. The concerns are caused by their fear that the children may develop health complications as they grow up. Children are likely to develop bronchitis and asthma because their organs are not fully developed, thus cannot cope with the high levels of ambient air pollution. Statistics gathered during the Summer Olympics in 1996 when conventional means of transport served as the only transit facilities in Atlanta; the hospital emergency department recorded a 45% decrease in child visits related to asthma attacks (Frank and Engelke 201). This statistics mean that personal means of transport contribute significantly to the high levels of ambient air pollution currently threatening the future of Atlanta metro area, the environment, and its people. In a different study, Sjoquist (2009) noted that the number of elderly hospital admissions significantly increases during Code Orange Days. Quite a large number of the elderly individuals living in Atlanta have respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses and conditions. Air pollution, primarily as a result of particulate matter, is known to cause a 20% reduction in the capacity of human lungs. The elderly face a greater health risk because their lungs are already weak. It is unfortunate that the high levels of air pollution have led to an increase in their hospital admissions. The majority has resulted to staying indoors during Code Orange Days to avoid further health complications. It has become a routine for the elderly to depend on the young to perform their outdoor errands during Code Orange Days. Consequently, the economy is weakening because much of the tax is used to offset the health care bill that is steadily increasing. Regarding the environment, air pollution in Atlanta is responsible for elevated levels of ground-level ozone commonly known as smog. This pollution has led to a decrease in the visibility of Atlanta's skyline consequently affecting the aviation industry. There are several complaints from the air transport industry that the Atlanta skyline is full of dust, soot, and other particulate particles (Taylor 42). The condition is not only challenging for the aviation industry but is also harmful to the wildlife population, especially birds. Also, electric plants that use coal to generate energy store the coal ash wastes in huge ponds. These dump ponds pose a major environmental threat because the toxins present in coal ash leak into the ground polluting underground water. From an economic perspective, air pollution has caused significant adverse effects on the economy. These effects include reduced work capacity, increased medical bills, and the high cost of restoring the environment for future generations. Family's increased spending on health care has had a ripple effect of reducing their buying power (Dolšak and Sampson 324). Consequently, businesses in Atlanta have recorded declining sales as people are spending more on health care. The service industry has also been affected because there has been an increase in sick-leaves as well as reduced capabilities of the workers due to health issues. Nevertheless, efforts have been made to combat the increasing levels of ground-level ozone by both the government and the private sector. On its part, the government has launched a campaign to encourage the residents of Atlanta city to use the common means of transport to help reduce vehicle emissions that have led to high levels of air population. Furthermore, the government has established strict regulations to control industrial emissions and those caught violating the established standards face severe fines or jail sentences (Taylor 172). Each private company operating in the Atlanta metro area is expected to provide accurate reports of their carbon print related to carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, coal-based electric energy generating plants are required to properly dispose of coal ashes that are a result of the generating process. The coal ash dump ponds should be well maintained to avoid the leakage of toxins into the ground. Private parties have also joined government efforts to curb air pollution in Atlanta. As such, major corporate organizations operating in Atlanta recently renewed their commitment to environmental conservation. The commitment comes with a requirement to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 to contribute to reducing ambient air pollution (Dolšak and Sampson 330). So far, a few of the corporate organizations have published their environment scorecards that indicate a significant reduction in carbon emissions. Air pollution in Atlanta poses a significant threat to the people, the environment, and the economy. Already, several health complications are known to be caused by ambient air pollution. Children are at a high risk of developing bronchitis and asthma while the elderly are already struggling with recurrent lung and heart complications. The economy has suffered significantly due to increased health bills and reduced capacity of the workers. Finally, the condition is not only challenging for the aviation industry, but also is also harmful to the wildlife population, especially birds and requires significant corrective measures from all stakeholders.