Angela Ferr
03.08.11
1:00pm
Air pollution can be found in any big city around the world. Some big examples today are Los Angeles, New York City, Mexico City, Manila, Sau Paulo and more. It isn’t a natural disaster; it is a problem that humans all around the world have made. The effects on air pollution can be extremely harmful and even deadly to people and animals that live in these areas. It damages the pulmonary system, it blackens and pollutes the skies, and it also creates many problems in health. It can lead to cardiovascular problems end heart attacks, and a new study is showing problems it has on the brain.
There has been research done on mice that live outside highway 405 in Los Angeles, California to see the effects air pollution has on them. If you think back on what all is at a highway site that is toxic, there are couples that can be named. You have a big mix of particles from burning fossil fuels and little bits and pieces of car parts and weathered pavement. Living in this area or near it can be very bad for one’s health. The mice showed signs that are similar to Alzheimer’s disease and damage to the memory system. Their data shows that freeway and air pollution can have a profound effect on the development of neurons and brain health especially in children.
We are all in such a hurry to get from point A to point B that we fail to see the harm we are doing on the environment and the people and animals around us, including ourselves. Car pulling or riding the bus can help limit the amount of pollution we are giving out. For those people who drive non-environmentally friendly cars, they can switch their cars out for one that is. These days, it is even possible to work from home and not have to commute every day. In California, they have a fast lane that you are only allowed to use if you have more than 2 people in your car, which is their way of pushing people to car pull. It doesn’t just help the environment; it also puts more money in your pocket when you are using less money to pay for gas.
http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2011/04/07/freeway-air-pollution-linked-to-brain-damage-in-mice/
3 comments:
I think that's crazy that you can take the fast lane in California if you have more than 2 people in the car. I guess its a smart way to motivate people to car pool. I think it is smart for for us to be doing something about air pollution. After reading about those mice, I'm definitely going to make an effort to do better with decreasing air pollution.
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