Earth Day:  Air Pollution

Three million years ago, the earth was a teaming caldron of volcanic activity, flooding, earthquakes, and struggles for survival.  Not unlike today.  Another similarity is that the air was quite unhealthy.  Although the ancient atmosphere was toxic with substances of the earth's own creation and the result of its unique distance from the sun, today's atmospheric swill is highly a result of human intervention.

As carbon dioxide and mercury increase from burning coal used to satisfy our greedy energy needs, the temperature in Iowa is expected to rise an average of 2 degrees in summer and 4 degrees in fall and winter over the next 100 years, according to the EPA.

· According to the Code Red Report published in 2002 by the National Parks Conservation Association, coal-fired plants emit more than 90% of the air pollution produced by the U.S. electric industry, while generating only slightly less than 50% of the nation's electricity.

· They give off 64% of the country's sulfur dioxide, 23% of nitrogen oxides, 33% of mercury, and 35% of carbon dioxide pollution.  These figures reflect 6 to 12 times the pollution of upgraded and newer facilities.           

· Sustained exposure to hydrogen sulfide in the air can cause disorientation, nausea, permanent brain damage, and death.

The current administration in Washington has repeatedly promoted nuclear power using the usual brainwashing techniques that have been used for over 30 years – that it is clean and safe and has no environmental impact.  Not so.  Carbon dioxide is emitted at every step of the nuclear fuel chain – from milling, enrichment, and fuel fabrication, to construction of the reactor, transportation and storage of radioactive waste, in addition to the decommissioning of old reactors.  All told, this adds up to 4 to 5 times more pollution than all renewable technologies.

Many facts such as these were deleted from reports that link human-generated pollution to an increase in global warming.  There is a dangerously blind eye turned on the mounting evidence.  The unfortunate head-in-the-sand attitude by the current administration will continue to cause health problems, especially for children and the elderly.

If there were a profit to be made from correcting this, to be sure, it would happen.  And, ironically, that is the case.  Profits can happen.  It is just not recognized by those currently in charge.

Installation and use of wind energy will not only put tens of thousands of people to work in this country, it will also lessen pollution and our dependency on oil, domestic and foreign.  We must all determine how we can make this happen.  Write or call your local, state, and federal representatives to see what they are doing to further this cause.  Also, get involved locally to see what you can do to help make this happen in your area. 

Conservation is of great importance.  We can all do it.  There is no pain involved – just a little inconvenience.  Just because you own 87 different electronic gadgets doesn't mean that most of them have to be on every day.  If we take the time to look at ourselves, as we all have a direct impact on everyone else, we may become less selfish, more aware, and healthier.

Molly Regan