Environment Air pollution

Air pollution is formed by the gathering of chemicals, particles and biological materials that
harm the environment by causing diseases, climate change and eventually harming all living
creatures. From natural science perspectives, one gets to understand the natural cause of air
pollution. Natural science is a branch of science concerned with the description, prediction, and
understanding of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and
experimentation.  As such it provides a more scientific description of what amounts to air
pollution. For instance, it provides that air pollution can be caused by natural actions such as
volcanic eruptions and fires in general. These volcanic eruptions emit dangerous gasses into the
atmosphere thereby affecting the ozone layer. Additionally, air pollution can be caused by
industrial and factory activities that emit harmful chemical and industrial gases into the
atmosphere.
As a result of these activities, people develop health problems such as irritation and headaches
among other disease s (Downing, 1971) . Additionally, air pollution results in the development of
acid rain which is caused by the presence of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the ozone layer.
The effect of the acid rain in those plants, water bodies, and humans are all harmed by the said
acid rain. Further, global warming has also become an issue as a result of air pollution. It is
evident that global warming is primarily caused by the presence of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere. As a result ice melt which causes the rise of the sea level which in turn puts the
world at high risk of flooding.
Both social science and natural science presents a person with two different ways of looking at
the issue of air pollution. If you look at the issue of air pollution through the social science lens,
you will not find the solutions for air pollution but rather the effects of air pollution on people

and society at large. A comparison of the two perspectives will the causes of air pollution and the
solutions that can be provided in order to stop the vice of all together.
There are various reasons why the problem of air pollution continues to be in existence. As per
the social science view, there are a number of reasons that have been provided in that regard. For
instance, the lack of an effective polluter action has been one of the reasons why we continue to
pollute the air. This problem is mostly with the factories who emit their waste products into the
environment. In order to reduce their cost of production, many companies resort into short cut
ways of disposing of their products. They release them into the atmosphere and the environment
at large (Vallero, 2007) . There are no mechanisms in place to ensure that this does not happen.
Additionally, there are little or no incentives available to enable the companies to encourage
them to stop this vice. As a result of these actions, more and more people suffer as a
consequence.
Secondly, the lack of effective public action in another way of looking at the causes of air
pollution from the social science lens. People do not see the need to join the campaign against air
pollution. This is so because they assume that they will still enjoy the benefits of the fruitful
campaign whether they participate or not. Everyone needs to join in and support and advocate for
the noble cause so as to ensure that everyone works towards attaining a pollution free
environment.
Thirdly, the lack of effective government control action is another reason why air pollution has
proved to be a difficult problem to solve. Even though the government has been first in line
against air pollution, it is evident that these control actions are not been utilized to the capacity.
There is still laxity in the implementation of the government control mechanisms thereby giving
guilty persons an opportunity to continue polluting the air. Further, the limited amount of resources provided to the control agencies are minimal and thereby end up paralyzing the efforts
of the control agencies. It is paramount that the government provided adequate resources to the
control agencies to help curb this vice (Stern, 2001) . Further, another factor which leads to a lack
of effective control is the difficulty in enforcing controls under current forms of regulation.
There ought to license that should be given to industries and factories that comply with the
regulations for air pollution. However, this has proven to be a challenge putting into
consideration the limited amount of resources available to implement these standards. For
example, it has been very difficult to implement the inspection process of these industries and
factories. Non-compliance goes unpunished as there is very little that can be done to impose
compliance on their part.

From the above, it is evident that there are similar and different ways in which the topic of air
pollution is expounded with regard to the two sciences. For instance, it is evident that natural
science majors more on the scientific causes of air pollution. However, this is not the same with
regard to social science. It is discernible that social science majors more on the way human
beings are behaving or the actions that are been taken to ensure that the situation is controlled.
Even though the problem is almost similar to each other, the way they are explained is totally
different. The solutions provided from the two subjects also vary depending on the issue at hand.
Whereas natural science provides a more scientific way of solving the air pollution menace,
social science, on the other hand, looks at the society and the steps it is taking to ensure that the
environment is preserved. It majors more on the individual as opposed to the biological aspect of
it.

My view on this topic has significantly changed. Prior to this, I used to assume that air pollution
was a scientific problem that ought to be solved scientifically. However, this has a change
instantly. I am more aware that my activities more or less contribute to the creation and/or
solution for this quagmire known as air pollution. I am now more informed on the issues at hand
and the step that one ought to take to ensure that they contribute to the campaign against air
pollution.
In conclusion, I have learned that the issue of air pollution can be looked at in two perspectives;
the social science perspective and the natural science perspective. I have also learned that both
perspectives are paramount in ensuring that the fight against air pollution is successful. Both
classes of science provide a unique solution to the problem that is at hand.

 

References

Downing, P. B. (1971). Solving the Air Pollution Problem: A Social Scientist's Perspective.
Natural Resources Journal, 693-713.
Stern, A. C. (2001). Fundumentals of Air Pollution 2e. 1984: Academic Press.
Vallero, D. (2007). Fundamentals of Air Pollution. Kansas: Academic Press.