Essay About Georgia’S Environmental Protection Division And Nitrogen Dioxide

Atlanta Takes Part in Multiple Efforts to Improve Air Quality and Commuting
Essay title: Atlanta Takes Part in Multiple Efforts to Improve Air Quality and Commuting
The population of Metro Atlanta has more than doubled since 1982, bringing the
estimated total of residents to more than three million. Atlanta, being the hub city of the
South Eastern United States, is facing many air pollution and traffic congestion problems
due to the number of people driving automobiles everyday. The population increase
has feed the tripling of the system wide daily vehicle miles traveled. It has been estimated
that Atlantans drive approximately thirty-four miles a day, bringing the total yearly
vehicle miles traveled in Atlanta up to a staggering 45.7 billion. Residents are averaging
more than seventy- seven minutes in their vehicles, per motorist per day ; that is 1.7
billion hours per year being spent on the Atlanta roadways. These conditions have led to
the waste of 169 million gallons of gasoline per year in this city alone. All of this has
brought Atlanta to the rank of number two for the most air pollution from vehicles.
There have been many health and safety risks discovered that accompany such a high
volume of motor vehicle activity. The air quality in Atlanta is in desperate need of a
clean up. Fortunately there are several environmental groups such as the Clean Air
Force, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division, and the Clean Air Campaign along
with the Georgia Department of Transportation and Georgia Regional Transportation
Authorities working to diminish traffic congestion and improve the quality of air in
Atlanta. Theses agencies have come up with many possible solutions in their efforts to
reduce Atlanta’s traffic related problems. There are also multiple every day practices we
as residents can do on our own to help with their efforts.
A significant amount of air pollution is attributed to petroleum dependent
automobiles.
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The emissions being produced by these vehicles contains a number of harmful toxins.
The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that over half of all Cancer related
deaths could be caused by these emissions. These toxins are entering the
bloodstreams of all that come in contact via nasal passages, the mouth, skin and even the
digestive tract. In turn our blood is carrying these poisons to all of the bodily organs
causing potentially severe damage .Some of these toxins include Carbon Monoxide,
Nitrogen Dioxide, Formaldehyde, Sulphuric Dioxide, and Benzene. All of these
Pathogens have well known negative effects on the human body.
Nitrogen Dioxide is known to lower resistance to respiratory infections. Many people
exposed to it develop acute Bronchitis, Pneumonia, and chronic lung impairment.
Sulphur Dioxide has similar effects such as Emphysema and the amplification of pre-
existing respiratory illnesses, as well as inflammation of bodily tissues. Carbon
Monoxide, which is produced from the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous materials
such as gasoline, are akin to that of suffocation. It binds to the hemoglobin to distort the
release of remaining oxygen to bodily tissues. This can exacerbate cardiovascular
disease. Another toxin found