Air Pollution [By Lonny Poteho]

So polluted is the very air we breath, that literally nothing remains untainted. It impairs the health of, not only the humans, but effects all living things, be it vegetation or animal life. Even property such as buildings and structures suffer from the likes of acid rain, not to mention the havoc caused to the protective ozone lair high above earth. There is ample evidence, that air pollution is responsible for countless premature deaths among the human population, immeasurable suffering in terms of lung diseases, various forms of cancer as well as growth retardation, to mention but a few of the tragic consequences of being forced to live in a chemical laden atmosphere. Even relatively minor nuisances such as burning sensations in one's eyes, throat irritation, bouts of asthma, or for that matter, mounting numbers of birth defects, can scarcely be belittled in defense of progress. The evidence is for all of us to see. Stunted trees barley able to survive make up our forests and parks, while grime covered and rapidly eroding stonework turn buildings into slum properties. The many causes of air pollution are no mystery, nor are the answers to this most pressing of problems. The means to tackle them, while costly and not always politically convenient, do exist. Indeed, a fair number of governments as well as a good many responsible industries, are doing their utmost to minimize, even to eliminate the emission of dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere. One must bear in mind, that air pollution recognizes no borders and that our planet is the only one we have.