Air Quality In America: Must Read Alarming Facts
A lot of people in the United States consider Utah and other states in the country as a place where one can enjoy quality air and the sight of beautiful landscapes. These points now look false as the standard of air in the places is obviously decreasing, thereby posing constant threat to the people around there. In Utah for instance, some physicians there are preparing reports to sensitize the governor and the inhabitants of the state that the air in their state is becoming unhealthy. One may be able to assume the same can be said of the dusty state of Oklahoma. Due to the dry weather in Oklahoma, it is imperative to keep it clean through HVAC and constant air conditioner repair OKC citizens can actually buy without spending an arm and a leg.
There are some physicians in Utah whose major concern is to investigate the nature of the air in the area and give detailed reports about its quality. These physicians are called Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment (UPHE). On January 24, the group had a meeting at Utah Capital building in Salt Lake City to talk about the poor quality of air in the state and the problems associated with the development.
One of the concerns the group raised was that the poor air had caused many people to die prematurely. It was also noted that pregnant women face the risk of having complications before delivery. UPHE also confirmed that the poor air quality aggravates sickness and elderly people can also become more prone to certain diseases. Other problems which pregnant women may face include miscarriages, premature birth, high blood pressure and excess protein in urine.
Physicians in Utah have warned that the status of the air in the state calls for urgent attention. Over 700 persons in the group forwarded a letter to the state government requesting that something should be done fast to save the lives of the people. As part of their efforts to make things better, the physicians suggested that the governor should ask residents of the state to avoid driving at top speed, remove fees paid by mass transit users, encourage industries to reduce pollution by 50% and prevent people from burning wood.
The Environmental Protection Agency has implemented a program to intimate the public about legal implications of burning wood. The situation is worse during the winter because the dense air does not allow the pollutants to go beyond the earth's surface. There are some places in the western states where people are not allowed to burn wood or perform other activities that can increase air pollution. For instance, Denver and Colorado have banned wood burning on some days. La Grande in Oregon and similar places may be required to reduce the usage of wood stoves among the people. Puget Sound in Washington can also prevent burning in homes, especially during the winter when it is difficult for pollutants to escape from the surrounding air.
According to the American Lung Association, air pollution has drastic effects on humans. Smoke from factories, fireplaces, cars, buses and other sources can cause serious health problems even if the victim is exposed to them for only seven days. Exposing oneself to very little amount of pollutants in the air can even cause stroke. The American Lung Association stated that poor air quality in America is responsible for 37,500 premature deaths every year.
In 2009, Science Daily reported that more than 60% of Americans live in areas where they can be exposed to low quality air, which is detrimental to their health. Although cities like Los Angeles have been celebrated to be one of those with improved air quality, there are still several places where it is very unsafe to stay for long. Recent discoveries now prove that air pollution levels which were once thought to be safe for humans are actually dangerous. This can be the reason why average life expectancy in the last ten years has reduced by an average of five months. Many people are just realizing the need for good air in their environment and this is causing pressure on the government and industries to make resolutions to quickly improve the condition of the air and the people's chances of living longer. People are more interested in looking healthy and they want to make this possible even if it means implementing strategies that will improve the quality of the air they breathe.
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