It can be really overwhelming to look at how many different forms of pollution exist. Since the pollution, and more importantly atoms, is already here, its hard to talk about prevention. Instead, we need to look at what we can now do with these newly formed substances and the atoms that form them. Like stated on the first page, atoms are forever. Because of this, we cannot merely get ride of pollution. Instead, in order to remove the pollution from a certain area, we need to move the location of the molecules or change its form. Below, I have listed one example for each type of pollution as well as a solution to help clean up the problem.
Air Pollution
Air Pollution
- Air pollution, I believe, has the simplest solution- plant more trees! When we look at global climate change, it is easy to see that because of combustion and the addition of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, average temperatures are beginning to rise. If more trees are planted, the leaves will be able to take in these floating carbon dioxide molecules and put them to better use, making food (sugar) for the tree. When more trees are planted and more carbon dioxide is needed in various plants instead of the air, there will not be as much carbon dioxide in the air ready to adsorb heat.
Land Pollution
- Land pollution is a little more tricky than air pollution because we cannot just get ride of the garbage in landfills or on the side of the road. Yes, we can burn it, but this will only add the carbon dioxide molecules to the air and worsen air pollution. Instead, we need to recycle the garbage. Instead of throwing out a box or a plastic container, reuse or recycle it. That way, all of the molecules are still in their original form as a solid substance and we will not have to worry about adding to air or water pollution. An example of this would be choosing to recycle pop cans instead of throwing them in the garbage. This way, the plastic and aluminum can be reused for different products instead of just sitting in a landfill.
Water Pollution
- Although acid rain was talked about in the "Air Pollution" section, it obviously effects water since it is in a liquid state. When looking at acid rain, we can see that it is formed from nitrous oxide and sulfur oxide that enters the air after combustion. Once these acids fall to the ground during precipitation, there are certain rocks such as limestone that can help react with the acids in order to neutralize them. For example, if there is a limestone bed in a flowing stream that is regularly effected with acid raid, the limestone can help to reduce the acidity and change the chemical characteristics of the acid rain before it reaches a larger body of water. Because of the addition of limestone, we will not have to worry about our bodies of water being filled with acid, which hurts the surrounding plants and animals.