Pollution Research Paper Example

Without a healthy and stable environment, it would be hard to maintain many functions in society.  One issue in particular, pollution, causes harm to numerous individuals who are subject to its side effects.  There are various forms of pollution, all of which complicate the progression of society and exacerbate its already existing problems.  Many people would not wish to see litter strewn about the ground or smog encompassing a city, and nor would they desire to inhabit an environment that is full of it.  These people wouldn’t desire to shift the burden of pollution to their children, both physically and financially.  If pollution control is prioritized, it will prove to pay off for future generations.  Society should not ignore this issue, as there are notable benefits to reap in fighting against pollution.

There are gains for many involved if businesses and communities continue to improve current recycling methods in an effort to fight pollution.  Companies can use recycling as a competitive advantage in producing goods and services.  Examples of these benefits are described in the article “Recycling for Profit: the New Green Business Frontier.”  This article describes the existence of a desire for recycled products, stating that “precisely because of this market uncertainty, companies can turn building demand for recycled products into a competitive advantage,” (Biddle, 2014).  Consumers that see details regarding a product’s recyclability may be more inclined to purchase that product since they are given the impression that their choice will help the environment.  Cases like this show benefits on both frontiers since businesses experience increased sales and pollution becomes more recognized.  The article also disputes myths that recycling is heavily flawed, stating how the quality control and costs of products are improving in the recycling process (Biddle, 2014).  Despite this, recycling still needs improvement.  An article from the Columbia Climate School states that today’s problems of recycling persist, noting how in 2016, about 30 percent of mixed recyclables became contaminated and thus unrecyclable (Cho, 2020).  After this, it details services designed to reduce the risk of pollution, including one called Ridwell that disposes of items that are difficult to recycle and another called Pure Cycled Technologies that uses a process to remove color from plastics so they can be reused more easily (Cho, 2020).  With the process of recycling becoming more advanced, it is consequently becoming easier to maintain methods of reducing pollution.  It also appears commercially plausible to invest in practices that do not pollute heavily, since businesses can experience greater income from adopting improved recycling methods.

A detrimental aspect of pollution that serves as a more direct threat to people is the health issues it can lead to.  An article published under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the effect that pollution can have on people, stating “Pollutants released by vehicles greatly increase air pollution levels and have been linked to adverse health effects, including premature mortality, cardiac symptoms, worsening of asthma symptoms, and diminished lung function,” (CDC, 2018).  The article also describes how pollution is linked to using certain products and services.  It explains this idea by informing how the disposal and shipping of electronics causes unwanted side effects by detailing the waste that shipping electronics can cause, including the excessive usage of water and electricity and the waste that builds up in landfills when the electronics are disposed of (CDC, 2018).  These details provide more evidence of harmful emissions that can be limited by recycling.  There is also evidence of mental health being negatively correlated with pollution.  An article by the American Psychological Association details the results of collected data that point towards there being detrimental health consequences associated with air pollution.  It analyzes a study conducted by Rush Medical College which found that among a population of 19,000 women aged 70-81, those that were exposed to increased levels of pollution had a worse cognitive decline, which is due to both coarse and fine particles in the air (Wier, 2012).  A similar study was conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and found an association between black carbon exposure and the worsening of men’s cognitive performance.  This study was supplemented with data from an experiment utilizing mice which found that mice exposed to particulate matter in the air had altered nerve cells in the hippocampus and in their neurons (Wier, 2012).  With this kept in mind, it can be seen that there are many health concerns that arise when high amounts of pollution are allowed to fester and coexist with humans.  In order to make society healthier, it will require effective action against pollution to limit the amount of waste that is generated.

Due to the presence of hefty costs and harmful health influences resulting from pollution, it would appear that pollution has several issues that affect many today.  Without quick action, the burden that comes with pollution will fall under the responsibility of future generations, which can cause excessive damage to people before it is thwarted.  The side effects of this burden can be reduced if society begins to take measures before pollution progresses too far.  Referring back to the previous article, a prospective study revealed results of a study involving a sample of 200 Boston children, finding that those most prone to the exposure of black carbon in Boston scored worse on both verbal and nonverbal IQ tests (Weir, 2012).  More deficiencies found in younger generations were compiled in an article from the American Thoracic Society.  This article includes results from the Children’s Health Study that found that areas with reduced air pollution experienced improved lung development and decreased risks of asthma in children (Schraufnagel et al., 2019). With these deficiencies still being present, it can be seen that younger generations are being hurt, much like the older generations, which leaves medical issues awaiting for them to cope with later on.  The damage being done also has the potential to make solving the issue more of a detriment in the future.  An article from the World Economic Forum addresses concerns regarding a chain reaction of trouble from fossil fuel burning, stating, “Research published this month concluded that consuming all remaining hydrocarbons would result in the melting of the entire Antarctic ice sheet, potentially raising sea levels by 58 meters, (Rockström, 2015).  Drought and crop failure resulting from climate change, for example, could trigger violent conflict,” (Rockström, 2015).  There will be a hefty number of issues that have to be solved later on if not dealt with immediately.  Not addressing the issue soon enough will only exacerbate the possible risks that may need to be taken in the future, and could leave future generations with more trouble than previous generations experienced.

However, in order to take steps towards solving the issue of pollution, there do exist barriers that prevent society from taking immediate action.  First, there are problems in how collaborative efforts against pollution are to be funded.  The way that funds are raised may require an increase in the cost of living due to raised taxes for better waste collection.  Some citizens may not see the need to support this issue, and will thus be unwilling to pay more fees than before.  These citizens would benefit overall, though, as the reduction of pollution could lead to less cases of illness from toxins and emissions.  The costs of these health issues can be overbearing, and fighting pollution is capable of making sickness become less of a concern.

Another issue is that many citizens are not likely to be well-educated on the proper practices that are involved in living more ecologically friendly. The potential waste that can be created through mismanagement in disposing materials will cost the economy through the fees of clearing the waste properly and the lost utility of recycled products.  This issue can be responded to by informing the public on what they can do to make recycling easier, which can be shown in advertising for products and on packaging.  A small investment in such an effort will make consumers more capable of making the right decisions for themselves and the environment.

Lastly, there exists the difficulty in making substantial changes without creating equally substantial cooperation in public and private sectors.  Advocators of pollution control will be discouraged if low participation rates and high startup costs remain as barriers to progression.  This in particular makes pollution control seem unappealing to fund, so society will need to find a way to engage more citizens to fight against pollution.  The steps towards fighting this issue should be considered carefully before proceeding in order to see success in solving pollution.

It is because of the many prevalent problems found with pollution that it is becoming more necessary than ever to find ways to act against it.  Businesses should be in favor of the possible profits from pursuing this, and society as a whole will become healthier and more prepared for what is to come if action is taken.  The current methods that have been implemented are merely a stepping stone for what is to come in the future, and it will require more development in order to build greater support and more funds towards possible solutions.  It is time for society to relieve the struggles faced by pollution and set a better precedent for the future.