Understanding Pollution: Visual Pollution Is More Than Just a Bad

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Understanding Pollution: Visual Pollution Is More Than Just a Bad Understanding Pollution: Visual Pollution Is More than Just a Bad View Pollution doesn’t always have to be about earth shattering issues that will determine the fate of the planet. Sometimes, pollution is about the little things that determine whether we have a good day or a bad day. I am speaking specifically of what is known as visual pollution. I remember as a kid walking out the backdoor of my house, and seeing nothing but woods as far as my little eyes could see. It was beautiful, and I have dozens if not hundreds of memories of exploring those woods with a wide eyed wonder. Then, when I was a teenager, I walked out my backdoor, and those woods were gone. They were replaced by construction sites as dozens of new homes were being built. Far be it from me to deny anyone a home, but I never had the same feeling of serenity walking out and seeing those construction sites, and later houses, as I did those woods. Now, you may be thinking “boohoo, cry me a river.” I understand, but visual pollution isn’t simply just a desire for an aesthetically pleasing view. The term visual pollution “encompasses different visually unattractive elements of a certain landscape. This type of pollution doesn't have to be necessarily connected to environmental damage, and is in fact more an aesthetic issue that can vary from one person to other.”i Visual pollution can encompass things from landfills to advertising billboards, telephone and power lines, street signs, graffiti, traffic lights, and really anything that someone might consider an eyesore.ii Visual pollution is also connected to most other forms of pollution. If you see a lake that is full of empty soda cans, garbage bags, and used tires that is actually two forms of pollution. One is water pollution, because I really wouldn’t want to drink water that had trash floating in it, and two it is visually not attractive at all; thus visual pollution. The same connection exists between visual pollution and littering, industrial pollution, air pollution (think smog), and light pollution.iii Think about how bright some of those electric billboards in cities are, how disgusting it can be to see used condoms and ripped garbage bags on the street, or how you feel when you’re driving on the highway through a major city right into some smog. These things all encompass their respective forms of pollution, but are also part of visual pollution. The negative effects of visual pollution are actually more serious than you would think. For example, the World Health Organization determined that people who have a bad view out their window are 40% more likely to fall prey to depression.iv Have you ever just felt like you had to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and gone camping or taken a trip somewhere else? You wake up in the morning the first day of your vacation and see nothing but woods, or sandy beaches, or beautiful mountain ranges and you feel invigorated. Why? Because you’re not waking up and seeing a brick wall, or a giant billboard, or a construction site. Our surroundings affect us. There have been multiple studies that have found that our physical environment has an impact on our stress levels and mental health.v One conducted in Texas discovered that people who drive in city streets had much higher stress levels than those who drove on roads in the country side.vi Another effect of visual pollution is that it destroys the uniqueness that makes our world so truly unique. It used to be that every town, city, and suburb had its own unique character. Did you ever see “Back to the Future’? How many times did they mention the town clock tower? It was a unique piece of history that set the town apart from every other town in America. Now, our towns, cities, and suburbs are starting to morph into one ball of sameness. You have fast-food restaurants, billboards, highways, Walmart’s, and gas stations that, for the most part, all look the same no matter where you go. What used to make the United States so amazing was the level of diversity that existed. New York City alone had Hell’s Kitchen, Little Italy, China Town, and hundreds of other little districts that all had their own unique character and history. Though those places still exist it is harder to tell them apart. A final impact of visual pollution is the effects on tourism. In 2012 the tourist industry in the United States accounted for 1.5 trillion in economic output, or 2.8% of total GDP.vii That is a lot of money! Needless to say, people don’t want to see graffiti, trash, brick walls, polluted water, smog, and decaying buildings and structures when they’re on vacation. They want to see something that will wow them in a good way. They want to feel reinvigorated from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Is a little trash going to stop someone from going to see Mount Rushmore? Probably not, but I bet if someone spray-painted mustaches all over the old presidents they might be annoyed. The point is that when people are on vacation they are trying to escape the dreariness of their day-to-day lives. They don’t want to see all the things that they see every day at home. They want to see beauty. They want to see wonder. That’s hard to do over electric billboards, flying trash bags, and cigarette butts. Is visual pollution as serious an issue as water or air pollution? No, but it is connected to them. Think of visual pollution as a by-product of every other form of pollution combined, and then throw in man’s constant need to commercialize. I grew up in a small town that had a great deal of character and history. As I grew up, my town grew with me, until you couldn’t tell where my town ended and the next began. You can’t stop human reproduction, and expansion, but you can ensure that it is done in such a way that the world in which we live is preserved for future generations. I don’t want any future children that I may have to grow up in a world where everything looks the same. I want them to be able to see the wide diversity of this great big world in which we live. I want to continue to see that too. About the Author Dominick Principe is a graduate of Rowan University with dual Bachelor Degrees in Elementary Education and Writing Arts. He is a prolific reader who devours any book put before him, and feels that life is one great long book without an end. He fills his hours constantly exploring new information, and seeking to educate himself in the ways of the world. He puts all of that knowledge and his passion for learning to good use teaching English as a second language to students of all ages. When his nose isn’t buried in a book, or in class teaching, then he can generally be found typing away at his computer working on some random piece of writing that he was inspired to do. i "Pollution Articles." Visual Pollution Definition. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://pollutionarticles.blogspot.com/2012/09/visual-pollution-definition.html>. ii "The Environment Report." The Environment Report. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://www.inquirer.net/specialreports/theenvironmentreport/view.php?db=1&article=20060512- 1758>. iii "Pollution Articles." Visual Pollution Definition. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://pollutionarticles.blogspot.com/2012/09/visual-pollution-definition.html>. iv"Large Analysis and Review of European Housing and Health Status (LARES)." Euro WHO. World Health Organization. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/107476/lares_result.pdf>. v "How Does Your Personal Environment Impact Your Wellbeing? | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing." Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/environment/your-personal- environment/how-does-your-personal-environment-impa>. vi "Visual Pollution - More Dangerous than You Think It Is." ::CPREEC::. CPR Environmental Education Center. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://cpreec.org/161.htm>. vii "The Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industry in the United States." The Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industry in the United States. Select USA. Web. 18 Nov. 2014. <http://selectusa.commerce.gov/industry-snapshots/travel-tourism-and-hospitality-industry-united- states>. .
Recommended publications
  • Hording and Billboards in Cities a Major Source of Visual Pollution
    www.ijcrt.org © 2018 IJCRT | Volume 6, Issue 1 March 2018 | ISSN: 2320-2882 HORDING AND BILLBOARDS IN CITIES A MAJOR SOURCE OF VISUAL POLLUTION. ROMANA AFREEN 1,JYOTHI.J 2,RUBINA ANJUM 3. 1. Assistant professor in Department of Zoology and principal Alsharay Women’s Degree College ,Kalaburagi. karnataka,india 2. Research Scholar Department of Zoology, Gulbarga University, Kalaburagi. Research Centre Bi Bi Roza Degree College For Women’s Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India. 3. Assistant lecturer in chemistry. Alsharay Women’s Degree College ,Kalaburagi.karnataka.india. ABSTRACT: Visual pollution is the term given to unattractive or unnatural visual elements of a vista, a landscape, or any other thing that a person might not want to look at. Commonly cited examples are houses, automobiles, traffic signs, road signs, highways, roadways, billboards, litter, graffiti, overhead power lines, utility, contrails, skywriting, buildings, weeds and advertisements. These are ually considered visual pollution when placed in a landscape or surrounding where the person seeing them things that they do not fit. For example big billboards n a countryside village or graffiti on an old eighteenth century house can be seen as visual pollution. KEY WORDS: Visual pollution, poisonous chemicals, heavy metals, toxic substances. INTRODUCTION: The word pollution implies a negative impact on our environment. When a reference is made to polluting the environment we commonly think of land, air and water pollution. The types of images we conger up are the dumping of chemicals into our environment, toxic smoke being released into the air, litter lining our streets and parks, poisonous chemicals following into our ponds and rivers, toxins and heavy metals penetrating our ground water supplies.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impacts of Leisure Travel
    Natural England Research Report NERR014 The Impacts of Leisure Travel www.naturalengland.org.uk Natural England Research Report NERR014 The Impacts of Leisure Travel Sarah Clifford, Davina Fereday, Anthony McLaughlin, Sofia Girnary Transport & Travel Research Ltd Published on 3 July 2008 The views in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Natural England. You may reproduce as many individual copies of this report as you like, provided such copies stipulate that copyright remains with Natural England, 1 East Parade, Sheffield, S1 2ET ISSN 1754-1956 © Copyright Natural England 2008 Project details This report has been prepared for Natural England. Transport & Travel Research Ltd cannot accept any responsibility for any use of or reliance on the contents of the report by any third party. A summary of the findings covered by this report, as well as Natural England's views on this research, can be found within Natural England Research Information Note RIN014 – The Impacts of Leisure Travel. Project manager David Markham Natural England Northminster House Peterborough, PE1 1UA [email protected] Contractor Transport & Travel Research Ltd, Minster House Minster Pool Walk Lichfield Staffordshire WS13 6QT United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1543 416416 Fax: +44 (0) 1543 416681 The Impacts of Leisure Travel i Summary Natural England works for people, places and nature, to enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promote access, recreation and public well-being; and contribute to the way natural resources are managed so that they can be enjoyed now and in the future.
    [Show full text]
  • Air Pollution Awareness in the Scope of the Community Service Practices Course: an Interdisciplinary Study
    International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education Vol.8, Issue 1, 2018, 35-63 RESEARCH ARTICLE Air Pollution Awareness in the Scope of the Community Service Practices Course: An Interdisciplinary Study Funda AYDIN-GÜÇ* Giresun University, Giresun, TURKEY Müge AYGÜN** Giresun University, Giresun, TURKEY Derya CEYLAN* Giresun University, Giresun, TURKEY Seda ÇAVUŞ-GÜNGÖREN* Çanakkale On Sekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, TURKEY Ümmü Gülsüm DURUKAN* Giresun University, Giresun, TURKEY Yasemin HACIOĞLU* Giresun University, Giresun, TURKEY Ayşe Dilek YEKELER* Giresun University, Giresun, TURKEY To cite this article: Aydın-Güç, F., Aygün, M., Ceylan, D., Çavuş-Güngören, S., Durukan, Ü., G., Hacıoğlu, Y., & Yekeler, A., D. Air pollution awareness in the scope of the community service practices course: An interdisciplinary study. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education, 8(1), 35-63 Abstract The aim of this study is to determine the effect of the interdisciplinary (the disciplines of Turkish, Social Science, Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Public Administration) activities performed in the scope of the Community Service Practices Course on the air pollution awareness (APW). This study has been performed as a multiple case study. Participants consisted of 32 pre-service elementary school teachers and 122 elementary school students enrolled in a 4th grade. Data were collected using the Air Pollution Awareness Questionnaire, Know-Want-Learn forms and interviews. Content analysis was used for analysis of data. The APW of participants have increased. It has been determined that the pre-service elementary school teachers have evaluated the implementation as being generally successful. Also it has been seen that the implementation has served different purposes out of the study aim for the pre-service elementary school teachers like providing teaching experience and how to teach the interdisciplinary subjects.
    [Show full text]
  • Pollution Is Defi Ned As Contaminants That Enter the Environment Pollutionpollution and Cause Damage Or Negative Changes
    DOWNLOADABLE EXTRAS Ecology and the Environment 1 Making a Food Web Cut around the following name and pictures to build your own food web. Remember to layout a draft food web fi rst before gluing them permanently onto page 14 of your workbook. magmama gots deadedeeaaddl leaveaavveses pospoposo sumsus huhu beeeete le ratraatat funfuunngusgugusus kekerkerereruereru gecgge ko deaddeeaadda animninimimalsaalllss eareaara thwthhwh ormoorrms rotrorotottinttiininggw woodoodd mirmim o ttototaraararaa sslslalaaterteterers frofrfrog kiwkiwiwi wetw a Pollution is defi ned as contaminants that enter the environment PollutionPollution and cause damage or negative changes. Pollution can include chemicals such as oil, CFC’s, radioactive compounds or even energy like heat, light and sound. These contaminants are referred to as pollutants. There are many different kinds of pollution and three keyy ones are outlined below. Air Pollution This is when particulates or other harmful materials are released into the atmosphere. Our atmosphere is vital to the survival of all living things and is what makes our planet habitable. It has been estimated that seven million people die each year from air pollution related illness and disease. As well as death, air pollution also causes breathing diffi culties, heart disease, asthma, stroke and lung cancer. Air pollution also affects plants and animal growth, and can destroy habitats through the production of acid rain. Smog is a combination of soot, smoke and sulfur dioxide mainly from vehicles, burning fossil fuels and factory fumes. Not only this but it can form ground level ozone which is quite toxic to all living organisms. This combination of emissions creates a thick smoky fog that covers cities and contributes to the major health problems stated above.
    [Show full text]
  • A Hybrid Tool for Visual Pollution Assessment in Urban Environments
    sustainability Article A Hybrid Tool for Visual Pollution Assessment in Urban Environments Khydija Wakil 1,*, Malik Asghar Naeem 1, Ghulam Abbas Anjum 2, Abdul Waheed 1, Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem 3 , Muhammad Qadeer ul Hussnain 1 and Raheel Nawaz 4 1 Department of Urban & Regional Planning, National University of Science & Technology (NUST), Islamabad H-12, Pakistan; [email protected] (M.A.N.); [email protected] (A.W.); [email protected] (M.Q.H.) 2 Department of City & Regional Planning, University of Engineering & Technology (UET), Lahore 54000, Pakistan; [email protected] 3 Department of Construction Engineering, National University of Science & Technology (NUST), Islamabad H-12, Pakistan; [email protected] 4 Department of Operations, Technology, Events and Hospitality Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +92-333-626-0791 Received: 3 January 2019; Accepted: 24 February 2019; Published: 12 April 2019 Abstract: With increasing focus on more nuanced aspects of quality of life, the phenomenon of urban visual pollution has been progressively gaining attention from researchers and policy makers, especially in the developed world. However, the subjectivity and complexity of assessing visual pollution in urban settings remain a challenge, especially given the lack of robust and reliable methods for quantification of visual pollution. This paper presents a novel systematic approach for the development of a robust Visual Pollution Assessment (VPA) tool. A key feature of our methodology is explicit and systematic incorporation of expert and public opinion for listing and ranking Visual Pollution Objects (VPOs).
    [Show full text]
  • Measuring Visual Pollution with Tangential View Landscape Metrics
    land Article Chaos in Motion: Measuring Visual Pollution with Tangential View Landscape Metrics Szymon Chmielewski Department of Grassland and Landscape Studies, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15 St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland; [email protected] Received: 21 November 2020; Accepted: 10 December 2020; Published: 12 December 2020 Abstract: Visual pollution (VP) in the form of outdoor advertisements (OA) is a threat to landscape physiognomy. Despite their proven usefulness in landscape aesthetic studies, landscape metrics have not yet been applied to address the phenomenon of VP. To fill this knowledge gap, a methodological framework for the measurement of VP using tangential view landscape metrics is proposed, which is accompanied by statistically significant proofs. Raster products derived from aerial laser scanning data were used to characterize two study areas with different topographic conditions in the city of Lublin, East Poland. The visibility of the cityscape in motion was simulated through viewshed measurements taken at equal intervals in the forwards and backwards directions along pedestrian walkways. The scrutinized tangential view landscape metrics (visible area, maximum visible distance, skyline, Shannon depth, view depth line) was the object of a two-fold interpretation wherein the spatial occurrence of VP as well as its impacts on the visual landscape character (VLC) were examined. The visible area metrics were found to be highly sensitive VP indicators. The maximum visible distance metrics provided evidence for the destructive effect of OA on view corridors. The Shannon depth and depth line metrics were not found to be statistically significant indicators of VP.Results from directional viewshed modelling indicate that distortion in the analyzed cityscape physiognomy depends on the view direction.
    [Show full text]
  • National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas (November 2005, EPA-841-B-05-004)
    This PDF file is an excerpt from the EPA guidance document entitled National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas (November 2005, EPA-841-B-05-004). The full guidance can be downloaded from http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/urbanmm/index.html. National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Urban Areas Management Measure 9: Pollution Prevention November 2005 Management Measure 9: Pollution Prevention MANAGEMENT MEASURE 9 POLLUTION PREVENTION 9.1 Management Measure Implement pollution prevention and education programs to reduce nonpoint source pollutants generated from the following activities: — The improper storage, use, and disposal of household chemicals, including automobile fluids, pesticides, paints, solvents, etc.; — Lawn and garden activities, including the improper application and disposal of lawn and garden care products, and the disposal of leaves and yard trimmings; — Turf management on golf courses, parks, and recreational areas; — Commercial activities, including parking lots and gas stations; — Improper disposal of pet wastes; and — Activities that generate trash. 9.2 Management Measure Description and Selection 9.2.1 Description This management measure is intended to prevent or reduce nonpoint source pollutant loadings generated from a variety of activities within urban areas. Everyday activities of citizens, municipal employees, and businesses have the potential to contribute to nonpoint source pollutant loadings. These activities include improper use and disposal of household chemicals, lawn and garden maintenance, turf grass management, operation and maintenance of diesel and gasoline vehicles, illicit discharges to urban runoff conveyances, commercial activities, and improper pet waste disposal. Reducing pollutant generation can decrease adverse water quality impacts from these sources.
    [Show full text]
  • Soil Factors Influencing Eutrophication. in Soilguide. a Handbook for Understanding and Managing Agricultural Soils
    Research Library Bulletins 4000 - Research Publications 2001 Soil factors influencing eutrophication. In Soilguide. A handbook for understanding and managing agricultural soils. (ed. Geoff Moore) David Weaver Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia Robert Summers Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/bulletins Part of the Agriculture Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Soil Science Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons Recommended Citation Weaver, D, and Summers, R. (2001), Soil factors influencing eutrophication. In Soilguide. A handbook for understanding and managing agricultural soils. (ed. Geoff Moore). Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth. Bulletin. This bulletin is brought to you for free and open access by the Research Publications at Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Bulletins 4000 - by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Soil Interpretation Manual Chapter 7: Sustainable soil management 7.3 Soil factors influencing eutrophication David Weaver and Rob Summers Eutrophication is essentially the nutrient enrichment of waterways leading to algal growth. It must be controlled to maintain sustainable agricultural systems and the main mechanisms of control are stabilising catchment processes and reducing nutrient output. Eutrophication can be defined as 'the nutrient enrichment of waters which results in the stimulation of an array of symptomatic changes, among which increased production of algae and macrophytes, deterioration of water quality and other symptomatic changes, are found to be undesirable and interfere with water uses' (OECD 1982). The word eutrophic is a Greek word that means 'well fed'.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Pollution and Ways to Reduce Contamination with Use of Environmental Engineering Techniques in Metropolises of Developing Countries Pedram Saremi
    International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology, 5(3) May-Jun, 2020 | Available: https://ijeab.com/ Environmental Pollution and ways to Reduce Contamination with use of Environmental Engineering Techniques in Metropolises of Developing Countries Pedram Saremi Master Student in Transportation Engineering Civil Engineering Dept. Sapienza University, Rome, Italy Abstract— Environmental pollution comes from a variety of sources. With the advancement of human civilization and the development of technology and population growth, now the world is facing a problem called pollution in air and land, which threatens the lives of the world's inhabitants. One of the current crises is environmental pollution, which mostly is considered to be the result of the technology, industrial and agricultural development expansion. If there is no control over the Progressive and exponential growth of this phenomenon, we will face an environmental catastrophe and disaster. In a simple definition, environmental pollution is any change in the Features of environmental components, i.e. water, soil, air, etc., so that it is impossible to use them optimally and endangers the lives of living organisms directly or indirectly. Access to healthy and adequate food, drinking water and clean air is the most obvious right of all humans, and the production and provision of these needs for citizens is an inherent duty of all governments. On the other hand, preserving the environment along with agricultural and industrial production activities is very important. The issue of environmental pollution and the creation of a sustainable environment is the main concern of all humans on earth. Fortunately, with the use of biotechnology and the available capabilities in nature, the Environmental damage rate can be minimized.
    [Show full text]
  • EVPP 111 Lecture Dr
    1 Air Quality Issues: Part 1 - Air Pollution, Indoor Air Pollution EVPP 111 Lecture Dr. Largen 2 Air Quality Issues • Air Pollution • Indoor Air Pollution • Acid Deposition • Greenhouse Gases & Global Warming 3 Air Quality Issues • Air Pollution • Indoor Air Pollution • Acid Deposition • Greenhouse Gases & Global Warming 4 Air Quality Issues: Air Pollution • Air quality – degraded by • natural events – volcanic gases & particulates – dust – gases from decomposition of organic material • activities of humans – automobile emissions – industrial process emissions 5 Air Quality Issues: Air Pollution • Air quality – air pollution • degradation caused by human activities • related to – number of people – kinds of activities • material into the air is not disposed of – it is diluted, moved around 6 Figure: Air Quality 7 Air Quality Issues: Air Pollution • air pollution results in – reduced aesthetic value of scenery 1 – human health problems – damage to ecosystems – international conflicts – damage to structures – increased costs 8 Air Quality Issues: Air Pollution • air pollution – incidents • Donora, PA in 1948 – pollutants from zinc plant and steel mills became trapped in valley » temperature inversion » formed dense fog – within five days » 17 people died » 5,910 people became ill 9 Air Quality Issues: Air Pollution • air pollution – extremely poor air quality • common in megacities of developing countries – such as » Mexico City, Beijing, Seoul, Cairo – due to » open fires » large numbers of poorly maintained vehicles » poorly regulated
    [Show full text]
  • Measuring Knowledge About Light Pollution in Lima, Peru
    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 9, ISSUE 01, JANUARY 2020 ISĀ©SN 2277-8616 Light Pollution, Have You Heard About It? Measuring Knowledge About Light Pollution In Lima, Peru Rosario Violeta Grijalva-Salazar, Víctor Hugo Fernández-Bedoya, Ambrocio Teodoro Esteves-Pairazamán, Walter Gregorio Ibarra-Fretell Abstract: Cities with a high content of light pollution are illuminated 24 hours a day, this generates light pollution. Light pollution does not only the vision of people, but also affect the animals of the place, who find themselves in the need to migrate to other areas, darker where they can perform their daily activities, with greater insecurity for them. This study aimed to measure the level of knowledge of the light pollution, data collected from 384 people living in Lima, Peru was examined. Findings suggested that in general, only 4% of people interviewed have high knowledge of what light pollution is, while 20% had medium knowledge and 76% of people interviewed had low knowledge of the subject. Index Terms: Logo program, speech-therapy, phonological awareness, language, speaking, Peru. —————————— —————————— 1. INTRODUCTION Removed, -Accumulated Solid Waste, -Excessive Wiring, - We live in the 21st century where technology has advanced Construction in Bad States and Dismantling, -Outpatient Trade enormously, giving way to the technological era. Generally, it is and Exhibition of Material on Public Roads, -Paint, Graffiti and perceived in urbanized, suburban and industrial areas light Advertising, -Eriaza Zone and -Other. Montalvan [2], presented pollution, and the actions to counteract it are aimed at doing a thesis whose objective was to analyze if there was everything possible to find actions that leave the dark skies, as advertising where the visual contaminations access in the they were thousands or even millions of years ago.
    [Show full text]
  • Is Distant Pollution Contaminating Local Air? 17 Are Difficult to Control Because There Are Too Many Chromatography (HPLC) Instrument
    IS DISTANT POLLUTION CONTAMINATINGStudent Author Abstract LOCAL AIR? Understanding the origin of aerosols in the atmosphere is David Geng is a senior in the important because of visual pollution, climate impacts, and Department of Chemistry at Purdue deleterious health effects due to the inhalation of fine particles. University. His research interest This research analyzed aerosols characterized by their peaked during his sophomore year, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate content as a function of size over when David was presented with an a 3-month period. Due to wind patterns over coal-burning opportunity to do environmental power plants, a higher concentration of local sulfate pollution chemistry research with Dr. Greg was expected. Aerosols were harvested on the Purdue Michalski. He then started a solo University campus using a high-volume air sampler with glass project that involved understanding fiber filters and a five-stage impactor that separates the aerosols local aerosol pollution. The into five sizes. The filters were extracted in water to dissolve analytical instrumentation used anions and the solution was analyzed using high-pressure fueled a passion for analytical chemistry that continues liquid ion chromatography. Only trace amounts of chloride today. In addition to research and classes, Geng is the vice with no distinct patterns in size were detected. In total, nitrate president of the American Chemical Society, Purdue Student content ranged from 0.12 to 2.10 µg/m3 and sulfate content Affiliates. Geng’s plans for the future include finding a ranged from 0.44 to 6.45 µg/m3 over a 3-month period. As for chemistry position in industry utilizing the skills that were fine particles, a higher concentration of sulfate was observed.
    [Show full text]