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Alison Carter

B2

5 February 2018

Air pollution is one of the greatest problems that the Earth faces right now, affecting both

people and the environment in many negative ways. Caused by mainly gas cars, forest fires, and

the burning of fossil fuels, it affects our physical and mental health even when we can’t see it. An

article written by the Environmental Protection Agency addressed some of the major health

problems caused by these chemicals: “Exposure to air pollution has been associated with...

increased respiratory symptoms, hospitalization for heart or lung diseases, and even premature

death” (EPA). These harming chemicals enter the bloodline and lungs, doing major damage

while they are inside the body. Pollution is a big problem all over the world, but it is significantly

worse in major cities in Asia, such as Beijing and New Delhi due to a large amount of economic

growth. Air pollution also has huge effects on the climate, weakening the ozone layer and

allowing more UV rays to get into the Earth, causing global warming.

Of course, there are different opinions about the worldwide air pollution problem based

on who you talk to, gas car manufacturers and factory owners have different thoughts about air

quality than environmentalists do. The factor that these people are thinking about is money. In

order to switch the world over to electric cars, companies will need to stop making gas cars and

start with electric cars, which are more expensive to manufacture. Changing from making gas

cars to electric cars would also cause many workers to lose their jobs or have to change how they

work. Cutting back on using fossil fuels would also cost the jobs of many people employed in the

fossil fuel industry. Fossil fuels are making pollution increasingly bad in Asia: “outdoor air

pollution... leads to 3.3 million premature deaths per year worldwide, predominantly in Asia”
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(Lelieveld). An alternative source of energy to help with the economic growth in Asia instead of

fossil fuels would be a major help. People around the world are all for reducing pollution, but

when it comes to the economic side of things, the steps businesses would have to take could turn

them away.

There are many alternative ways to generate energy instead of burning fossil fuels that

society can start using. Wind power, solar power, and water power are great sources of energy

which are incredibly better for the environment and would help to lower pollution levels. Solar

power has become significantly cheaper over the years and is a substitute for fossil fuels: “Since

2010, the average cost of solar PV panels has dropped more than 60%” (Department of Energy).

Solar power and water power have also become very affordable in the recent years. In order to

lessen the problem of gas cars releasing too much exhaust into the air, more people need to start

using electric cars. An analysis made by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence shows that “On a per-

kilowatt-hour basis, costs have fallen from $542 in 2012 to around $139 today” (Reilly). The

price of electric cars is quickly dropping and they have become very affordable while being so

much better for the environment.

The world has become adapted to gas cars and it would be difficult to change that

adaption to electric cars. In order to charge the cars, charging stations need to be installed all

over the world. There is also the problem of what to do with the electric car batteries when they

die. Ajay Kochhar, the CEO of the Canadian battery recycling startup Li-Cycle, stated, “This

electric vehicle boom could leave 11m tonnes of spent lithium-ion batteries in need of recycling

between now and 2030” (Gardiner). Electric cars solve the problem of less chemical waste put in

the air, but they add the problem of battery waste. As for alternative forms of energy, there’s the

barrier of getting companies to switch to new forms power from the fossil fuels that they’re used
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to. The fossil fuel industry is very wealthy and is well recognized for causing companies to trust

it, even if it is harming our Earth. The wind and solar industries have to become big on the

market and get people to trust them.

Charging stations could be the next big step to take in order to switch to electric cars. We

could include both them and gas pumps at gas stations for both kinds of cars until everyone

switches over. As our resources start to run out gas prices will naturally get higher, encouraging

people to get electric cars for their cheaper charging price. Also, most of the car battery parts are

recyclable, people just don’t want to reuse them because they’ve been recycled. When electric

cars are popular, mechanics will be able to turn the recycled goods into new batteries, or other

devices. If people start building more windmills and solar panels, businesses will see how

effective they are and start to trust them. Companies need to be shown the facts in order to

realize how much harm they are actually causing the world and how easily they can change that.

References

Department of Energy
https://energy.gov/eere/solarpoweringamerica/solar-energy-united-states
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Environmental protection agency

https://www.epa.gov/air-quality-management-process/managing-air-quality-human-health-
environmental-and-economic

Gardiner, J
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/aug/10/electric-cars-big-battery-waste-
problem-lithium-recycling

Lelieveld, J
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature15371

Reilly, M https://www.technologyreview.com/s/607924/electric-cars-could-be-cheaper-than-
internal-combustion-by-2030/