1. Introduction: Air pollution is a major environmental issue harming people around the world. Millions of individuals die every year from air pollution. Unfortunately, this issue is increasing in the continent of Asia. Pollution has been challenging to control due to its harsh climate, rapid industrialization and overwhelming population in these Asian countries. Air pollution been a threat to the world for centuries and continues to plague the environment while severely effecting world health.
Although many counties are able to control it, this issue has yet to be solved in the countries of China and Japan. Japan was first introduced to this environmental danger in the late 1860’s due to mass production and mechanized factories. Due to the rapid growth of the industrial industry air pollution also quickly became a societal issue. The most apparent issue was the air pollution caused by particulates, which harmed those residing close to the factories. The current environmental policies in japan exist because of the high number of natural environmental disasters in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Japan’s current environmental issues include: waste management, global warming, nuclear power, urban planning and electronic waste management. (Source idk where you got this info from). Within the last few decades the country of China has also experienced rapid economic development, urbanization and industrialization. Because of this, China has experienced increasing occurrences of haze or smog characterized by high fine particulate matter (PM). Levels and reduced visibility has been reported at a national high in highly populated cities such as Beijing as high as PM 2.5, which is a particulate matter with diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. Urban PM originates from sources such a traffic emissions, road/soil dust, biomass burning, agricultural activities etc. (Zhang & Cao, 2015).
According to a report from Asian development Back only 1% of 500 largest cities in China could meet the air quality guideline suggest by the World Health Organization. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency articulates that such fine particles can sue asthma, bronchitis, and acute and chronic repertory symptoms such as shortness of breath, painful breathing and even premature death. Air pollution affects many facets of society in the countries of China and Japan that are necessary to address and improve including but not limited to public health, politics and their economy. The history of air pollution in these countries have lingered, and continue to cause a major environmental threat to these countries.
2. About Air Pollution: There are many reasons why air pollution exists in the countries of Japan and China. As previously mentioned both countries have continued to become industrialized and urbanized with a nearly uncontrollable population growth. Nevertheless, air pollution continues to be an issue in today’s society. Air pollution can be caused by a number of different factors. Manufacturing industries release large amounts of monoxide, hydrocarbons, organic compounds and a number of chemicals into the air, which depletes the air quality. Mining operations have also affected the quality air as well. It is a process in which minerals below the earth’s surface are extracted using large equipment. During this process dust and chemicals are released causing air pollution. This is one of the major causes for diminishing health conditions of factory and nearby residents.
Health is a major condition effected by air pollution especially the repertory system and the heart. Being exposed to these harsh chemicals also puts citizens in high risk of cancer among other major threats to the body. Millions have died from the direct and indirect effects of air pollution in their nation. Children exposed to these conditions offer suffer from asthma and pneumonia.
With temperatures rising around the world, air pollution has also effected the issue of global warming. It has depleted the ozone layer, which exists in earth’s stratosphere and is responsible for protecting humans from ultra violet (UV) rays. It is depleting due to the presence of clororflurocarbons, hydro chloroflurocarbons in the atmosphere. As the ozone layer becomes thinner, it will emit harmful rays back to earth and harmfully effect skin and eyes. Sea levels and melting ice from colder regions, displacement and loss of habitat are forthcoming disasters (Kan, 2012).
3. China vs. Japan Although many Asian countries are suffering from the negative impacts of air pollution, for the purposes of this paper I will be discussing the nature of air pollution in the countries of China and Japan. Air pollution has had a major impact on these countries in similar manner and distinctively. There are entities that work to fight against this pollution but also those that contribute to the issue. With these conditions at the forefront of nation governments have reacted, have made efforts to reduce air pollution across their nation.
3.1 China Outdoor pollution is one of China’s most serious environmental problems. In China, coal is still a major source of energy; approximately 75% of all energy sources. Therefore, air pollution in China is predominately col smoke. With increase populations in large cities air pollution has transformed from conventional coal combustion to the mixed coal combustion/motor vehicle emission type. Currently the amount of inhale particles are a concern. PM levels in northern cities of China are higher than those in the south. In 2004, Chinese cities annual average PM levels were almost twice as much as the worldwide average.
Over the past few decades the country’s economic expansion has been driven by the use of fossil fuels leading to the emission of ambient air pollutants and greenhouse gases. (Kan, 2012). Although China’s air quality has improved, they are still facing the worse air pollution problem in the world. The Telegraph reported a case of an 8-year-old girl who had contracted lung cancer, becoming the youngest victim of lung cancer in China. Doctors pointed out that the likely cause was exposure of air pollution, specifically fine particulates from vehicles. The case has gathered large national public attention and also international attention. (Your source). Because of the major impact that air pollution has on public health, subsequently it effect the economy associated with health care. The World Bank estimated that the total health cost associated with outdoor air pollution is major Chinese cities in 2003 was between 157 and 520 bill Chinese yuan, accounting for 1.2-3.3% of China’s gross domestic product (Kan e.t al, 2009).
If China works to reduce combustion of fossil fuels it will improve health benefits associated with improvement of air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. (Kan, 2012). Focusing on climate change finding alternatives to fossil fuel and coal mining, the government will be able to progress in sustainable development. Authorities were forced to step in December of 2015, to ban millions of people from driving. City officials ordered private cars off the streets and immediately stopped some construction projects. Industrial sites were temporarily shut down as nearby school’s air quality hit a read alert level for the second consecutive day. How else is to government with this issue? According to Forbes, the Chinese government is moving quickly to sign natural gas pipeline deals with Russia’s Gazprom in hopes to reduce coal use in the energy grid. However, going this will cause conflict between Beijing and local governments, where coal mining employs thousands of working class individuals.
Air quality in China has not only proved to impact health but the issue is largely political as well. China has an increasing middle class population and they are becoming more aware of the impact of poor air quality. In 2014 the government cited air pollution has ne of its most pressing issues in a documentary titled “Under the Dome”. This documentary warned millions of citizens about the hazardous health conditions related to in haling polluted air. The government aimed to offer more incentives like tax breaks and subsides to clean teach companies. Conversely they are increasing taxes on industries that pollute the air like coal and chemicals (Rapoza, 2015).
3.2 Japan The impact of air pollution in Japan is quite similar to those seen and experience in China. Air pollution has hugely impact Central Tokyo, the most densely populated area of Japan. Air pollution readings required government attention. The pollution in China can often affect Japan. Kanuke Sasaki, an air pollution analyst at the Japan Weather Association stated: “The air from the continent arrives directly to Japan ore often in the start of spring,” Sasaki said, referring to wings from the Chinese mainland. “That adds to the pollution produced in Japan.”
Fortunately the annual average level of pollution in Tokyo has decreased approximately 55% within the last decade due to the government regulations. In December of 2000 The Tokyo Metropolitan Government amended its Pollution Control Ordinance for the first time in decades. They passed the Municipal Environment Protection Ordinance of Tokyo, officially known as the Environment Ordinance to Ensure Tokyo Citizen’s health and Safety. This ordinance first came into fruition after war when Japan experience rapid economic recovery and growth. This in turn fostered heavy industry and chemical industries and thus air pollution became and issue that needed to be addressed (JFS, 2005). Japan’s laws and regulations when it comes to emission of toxic gases (in high amount) such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen are amongst the strict in the world. Speculations have been made that the reason Japan is still suffering from unsafe air quality is because of China’s use of coal burning. Research is being conducted to try and prove this theory.
4. Conclusion So what can be done about this issue? Pollution has proved to be detrimental to these countries and is an important issue that needs to be addressed immediately. There are many nonprofit organization supporting better air quality such as Greenpeace and Inspiration Green, which advocate and educate others on the importance of clean air in countries suffering from their harsh effects. While these efforts do not go unnoticed, individual counties need to have better solutions to ensure the safety of their people. Air pollution has effected politics, economy, and health of these nations. One of the biggest issues to tackle is China’s use coal as an energy source. Finding alternative ways of energy is necessary in order to greatly reduce hazardous emissions from factories. In order to do this China much modernize manufacturing through innovation.
China burns over three times the amount of coal than the United States suggesting potential for reduction. More policies and regulations need to be put on this industry to restrict coal use in China. On a smaller scale there are a number of practices citizens could use in order to reduce the amount of air pollution they are contributing to. Although it does not seem to make a difference there are a large number of people in China and Japan. If individual made conscious efforts and were held accountable for their actions air pollution could significantly decrease. Car emissions play a big part in air pollution around the world, especially in largely populated areas in major cities. Doing things like carpooling, using public transportation or using alternative methods of traveling such s biking or walking goes a long way.
Just because China and Japan are effected by air pollution does not mean that those around the world are unaffected. Asia is the greatest emitter of greenhouse gases, which effect the global environment. Their high level of pollution influences worldwide weather patterns and plays a huge role in global warming. For example, rising of pollution in the atmosphere causes more storms especially during wintertime.
Air pollution effects much more than our environment. Not only is it harming our planet but societies as well. It is necessary that through education, advocation and innovation we work to solve this problem to help all countries run effectively and save out planet.