Atmospheric Issues

The environment is effected by many damaging atmospheric issues, such as ozone depletion, climate change, and acid rain. It is also impacted by indoor air pollutants such as radon, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and asbestos. Both issues cause damage that people need to understand. Once the causes are identified the public can take actions to limit the instances of these issues occurring.

Acid decomposition is one atmospheric issue that is a threat today. More commonly known as acid rain, acid decomposition refers to any form of precipitation such as rain, sleet, or snow containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids (Berg, Hager, and Hassenzahl, 2011). It is harmful to humans, vegetation, and bodies of water and the life that grows there. It can also cause damage to buildings, stone statues, and even corrode steel. Run off of the acidic water can cause soil damage and destroy forests. According to Berg, Hager, and Hassenzahl this condition occurs when “sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form acids that return to the surface” (2011, Ch. 9.4). It can occur naturally from volcanoes, for example, or be manufactured by humans through the burning of fossil fuels. It is also a consequence of generating electricity and operating factories and motor vehicles. Countries in the Northern Hemisphere have traditionally been impacted the most. However, acid decomposition is now developing in countries that are becoming industrialized. Atmospheric issues like this are not the only threats to the environment.

Indoor air pollutants such as radon can also be harmful to the environment. According to the text, radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas (2011). These features make radon hard to detect, which increases the danger it poses. Radon occurs naturally as an effect of the radioactive decomposition of elements, such as uranium, in the Earth’s crust. It...