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Light Pollution Article
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Causes Of Air Pollution No Big Mystery
from:You open your door in the morning, step outside, look up, close your eyes, and take a deep breath of fresh air. Or do you? Air pollution plagues our everyday life. We may think our air is fine because we cannot see a difference. Okay, maybe we know that while in the city there is not the freshest air available, but certainly in our own homes we are fine. Well, that does not seem to be the case either, as the causes of air pollution are more than what you might expect.
Pollution Possibilities And Causes of Air Pollution
There are many factors that contribute to the causes of air pollution and some may argue that only large corporations are to blame, but the fact is that we are all responsible for the problem and we should all be responsible for the solution. A few air pollutant culprits include:
• Smoke Stacks – power plants, waste incinerators, and manufacturing
• Mobility – All motor vehicles, aircraft, marine vessels. Commercial use and domestic use are equally responsible
• Fumes – Simple products like paint, hairspray, aerosol sprays, and other solvents contribute too
• Burning – Fireplaces, stoves, furnaces, and other burning devices
• Chemicals – Particles, like carbon monoxide released due to controlled burns or accidental fires
• Waste – Landfills or illegal dumping release methane gases
• Military – Nuclear weapons, germ warfare, rocketry, and other toxic gases are emitted into the air through war or general maneuvers
• Digestion – Levels of methane gas are released through the digestion of certain animals, like cattle
• Mother Earth – Volcanoes produce sulfur, chlorine, and ash. Radon is created by the radioactive decay within the crust of Earth
• Dust – General dust or large amounts are circulated in large land areas that have little or no vegetation
Escape To The Indoors
Outside does not seem safe with all those particles flying around, but if you go inside and close all the doors and windows then you are in your own controlled environment that is free of air pollution, right? This is a misnomer because there are types of air pollutants that are specific to indoor surroundings. Several examples may include:
• Kitchen – A kitchen appliance that we rely on almost everyday could be responsible for many health issues. The kitchen stove can release deadly toxins that are inhaled without knowledge. Older stoves that require fuels to burn, are not energy efficient and create several gases.
• Carpet – The fibers of carpet have been treated with chemicals that prevent staining, discoloration, and fraying; but those same chemicals are not safe to breath in.
• Heating & Cooling – An inefficient system causes fuel waste and may inject dangerous dust particles into the house.
• Cleaning – Toxic products that contain dangerous chemicals may seem like they get the house clean but at what cost? Inhaling those fumes is not good for the body. A vacuum cleaner without a proper filtration system is also to blame for unhealthy dust particles.
Air pollution presents itself in many forms; the causes of air pollution are diverse. Each of these has levels of toxicity that may be worse then others, however they are all dangerous. It is safe to consider that each pollutant cause will carry a variety of pollutant effects. It is time to think creatively and stop this pollution plague that is robbing us of fresh air.
Light Pollution Specific links
Light Pollution News
The Dangers of Light Pollution on Insect Ecosystems - Care2.com (blog)
 Mother Nature Network | The Dangers of Light Pollution on Insect Ecosystems Care2.com (blog) by Miranda Perry Urban astronomers and insomniacs aren't the only ones affected by light pollution. New research shines a sickly-orange spotlight on the impact our streetlights may have on insect populations and biodiversity. Light Pollution Transforms Insect Communities Light Pollution Transforming Insect Communities Urban street lights are changing animal ecology |
Northumberland bids to create one of the world's biggest dark sky preserves - The Independent
 The Guardian | Northumberland bids to create one of the world's biggest dark sky preserves The Independent Worsening light pollution means fewer Britons than ever have been able to enjoy the spectacular sight of countless stars. The public will be consulted in Northumberland National Park on plans to protect 400 square miles of countryside from poor ... Dark sky boost for astronomy tourism Bid To Create England's First Dark Sky Park Night sky video: Parks turn to dark side and strike back in star wars |
Collecting Light Part 4: Dark Skies, Bright Future - Arizona Public Media
 Arizona Public Media | Collecting Light Part 4: Dark Skies, Bright Future Arizona Public Media But light pollution is still a problem. Lori Allen, Deputy Director of Kitt Peak National Observatory, says any light from a source other than a distant object in the night sky can mar observations at today's sensitive telescopes. |
Streetlights lure beasts of the tiny kind - msnbc.com
 msnbc.com | Streetlights lure beasts of the tiny kind msnbc.com The study is the first to find that light pollution is changing ecosystems as a whole, not just individual organism behavior. "Despite artificial lighting being commonplace for many decades now, we really haven't got to grips with how it may be ... |
Africa's first dark-sky park is pure heaven for stargazers - msnbc.com
 msnbc.com | Africa's first dark-sky park is pure heaven for stargazers msnbc.com "Prior to the NaDEET astronomy activity, even the most basic knowledge about the night sky and the threats posed by light pollution were completely unknown to most Namibian children," said Viktoria Keding, NaDEET's director. NamibRand nature reserve becomes Africa's first international Dark Sky reserve |