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JohnHansel
AmyLudwig
English101
10May2016
HighEmissionsforanEvenHigherPrice
Pollution:asubstancethatcausesharmtotheenvironment.Thoughlargefactoriesare
commonlyseenasthemainemitterofmanyharmfulchemicalsthatcontaminatetheair,the
healthofpeople,andtheenvironment,thatissimplynotthecase.Therearefourtypesofair
pollution:mobile,stationary,area,andnatural.Largefactoriesandotherpollutingbuildingsfall
underthecategoryofstationaryairpollutionwhilecars,buses,trains,airplanes,andanyother
pollutingtransportationdevicesaremobileairpollution.AccordingtotheEnvironmental
ProtectionAgency(EPA),mobilesourcesaccountformorethanhalfofalltheairpollutionin
theUnitedStates,andtheprimarymobilesourceofairpollutionistheautomobile(Sourcesof
AirPollution).Thoughexpensiveadvertisingcampaignssetforthbylargeautomotive
companieshaveattemptedtoconvinceAmericansthattheiremissionoutputoftheirvehiclesis
extremelylow,manypeoplecouldcareless.Froma2012ConsumerReportssurvey,themain
benefitofhavingahighlyefficient,lowemissionsvehiclewascitedtobethemoneysavedat
thegasstation.However,becauseoftheextremelylowgaspricesthatarecurrentlyineffect,
manyAmericansignoretheincreasinglyproblematicsignsshowinghowcarpollutionhas
affectedtheenvironment.Theyseetheautomobileasaplatformforwhichpeopleform
friendships,entertainthemselves,andfindenjoymentinparticipatingintheactionthatisdriving.
Becauseoftheirselfsufficientreasoning,theearthhassufferedgreatly.Eventhoughthereare

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shortadvertisementsadvocatingtheprotectionoftheenvironmentthrougheasysteps,the
processofsavingtheenvironmentbeginswithacommunaldecisiontoproceedforwardin
regulatingordiscouragingtheuseofhighemissionvehicles.Highemissionvehicleusage
shouldbereducedthroughgovernmentalregulationorautomobilediscouragementtolowerthe
harmfuleffectscarpollutionhasontheclimate,theozonelayerandthecleanairacrossthe
country,andtherefore,allowtheEarthtoprosperforalongerperiodoftimeandprovide
Americanswithacleaner,lessproblematiccountry.
CarpollutionhasbeenasignificantattributetotheriseofEarthsclimate.Througha
largevarietyofscientificdata,NASAhasdeterminedthatautomobilesarethelargestnet
contributortoclimatechangepollution(Shahan).Foreverygallonofgasusedupfor
automobiles,awhopping24poundsofcarbondioxideareemittedonaverage.Ofthe24pounds
ofCO
emissionsreleased,about5poundscomesfromtheextraction,production,anddelivery
2
ofthefuel,whilethegreatbulkofheattrappingemissionsmorethan19poundsper
galloncomesrightoutofacarstailpipe(Car).Forthosewhohavenotseenthedramatic
changeintheworldsclimate,anillustrationbyNASAshowsthedifferenceinsizeofEarths
arcticicecapfrom1984until2012thecontrastisappalling.Overthe28yearperiod,thearctic
seaicehasdecreasedfrom2.59millionsquaremilesto1.32millionsquaremiles,meltingalmost
halfoftheseaicepresentin1984(Murphy).Thisarcticseaicedeclineisnotmerelyaresultof
timeandnaturalcauses.Agraphfromskepticalscience.comshowshowthearcticseaiceamount
hasstayedratherconstantaround56millionsquaremilesformorethanamillienialuntilthe
beginningofthe20thcenturywheretheicebegantomeltatarapidrate,whichcontinuesfaster
throughtoday.Ifglobalwarmingcontinuesatthishighrate,thearcticmaybeleftwithout

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virtuallyanyseaiceinamatterofdecades.Globalwarmingiscausedbygreenhousegases
whichtraptheheatfromtheSuninEarthsatmosphere.Themaingreenhousegascausingthis
climatechangeisthecarbonemissionsfromstandardvehicles.Thoughglobalwarmingis
thoughttoonlyinfluencetheclimateand,therefore,theenvironmentaroundus,itactually
influencesthepeopleofAmericaaswellthroughtheenvironment.Theriseintheriskofdeath,
injury,illhealth,ordisruptedlivelihoodsinlowlyingcoastalzonesandsmallislanddeveloping
statesandothersmallislands,duetostormsurges,coastalflooding,andsealevelriseismuch
higherduetotheeffectsofglobalwarmingonthemeltingice.Also,thereareincreasedrisksin
deathsrelatedtoheatforoutdoorworkersaswellastheriskoffoodinsecurityandthe
breakdownoffoodsystemslinkedtowarming,drought,flooding,andprecipitationvariability
andextremes,particularlyforpoorerpopulationsinurbanandruralsettings(Abdelhamid).The
problemsofglobalwarminghavealargeeffectontheenvironmentandthehumanpopulationof
theEarth,andhavebeenahorribleresultofthecarbonemissionsfromautomobiles.
Theemissionsfromcarpollutionhavecausedtheozonelayertodeplete,losingthe
protectionfromthesunsharmfulUVrays.Theozonelayerisapartofthestratospherein
Earthsatmosphere.Itextendsoutbetween6and31milesabovethesurfaceoftheEarth,
servingtoprotecthumansfromtheharmfuleffectsoftheultravioletBrayswhichcauseskin
cancerandcanleadtogeneticdamage(Chong).Thechlorofluorocarbonmolecules(CFCs),
whicharefoundintheemissionsreleasedbycarsastheydrive,aremadeupofchlorine,fluorine
andcarbonandarestableenoughtoreachthestratosphereoftheEarth.Theirstableatomic
makeupallowsthemtoreachgreataltitudeswherephotonsaremoreenergetic.WhentheCFC's
comeintocontactwiththesehighenergyphotons,theirindividualcomponentsarefreedfrom

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thewhole(Chong).Theythenslowlytearintotheozonelayer,creatingthebadozoneonthe
surfaceoftheEarthandopeningholesintheozonelayerthatwillresultinmorepossibleharmto
theEarth.Notonlyistheriskofskincancermuchhigher,butthepossibilityofsunburnsand
prematureskinagingismorelikelytooccurastheozoneisdepleted.Alsoforhumans,harmful
UVradiationcanharmmanypartsoftheeyeandcausecataractsorblindness.Likewise,many
domesticatedanimalsmaysufferfromthesameaddedpossibilityofskincancerandeye
problems.TheozonedepletionaffectsnotonlytheEarthsatmosphere,butalsoeveryliving
beingorplantonit.Itaffectscropsthatweeatinthatseveraloftheworld'smajorcropspecies
areparticularlyvulnerabletoincreasedUV,resultinginreducedgrowth,photosynthesisand
flowering.Thesespeciesincludewheat,rice,barley,oats,corn,soybeans,peas,tomatoes,
cucumbers,cauliflower,broccoliandcarrots(TheImpacts).Thedepletionoftheozonelayer
wouldcausetheEarthtobelessprotectedagainsttheharmfulUVraysthatthesunreleasesand
wouldcausemorehealthproblemstopeopleandanimalsandalsoharmEarthsenvironment.
PollutionfromautomobilesnegativelyaffectsthequalityofaironEarthssurface,
hurtingtheorganismsandenvironmentswithinplanetEarth.Thepollutionreceivedonthe
surfaceofEarthasaresultofCFCsdepletingtheozonelayeriscalledozone.Itisamolecule
composedofthreeoxygenatomswhereasnormalbreathingoxygenistwoatomswhichhasa
verydistinctivesmellandasomewhatbluecolorasagas.Thoughozoneprovidesprotection
againstUVraysinthestratosphere,whenonthesurfaceitisnotaspleasant.Despiteasmall
naturalozonepresence,excessiveamountsofthisloweratmosphericozoneareundesirable
becauseozonereactsstronglywithothermolecules,includingmoleculesthatmakeupthetissues
ofplantsandanimals(Ennis).Breathinginthisozoneisnotonlyunpleasanttosmell,butitis

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hurtfultoapersonsrespiratorysystembycausingcoughing,throatirritation,andwheezing.In
fact,youngadultswholivedinhighozoneareaswereshownhavinglesslungfunctionthan
thosewhowereinsaferareas.Thepollutionoftheearthisseriousnotonlydoesitaffectthe
environment,butitalsohurtsmanyofthelivingcreaturesincludingbothhumansandanimals
bycontaminatingtheairneededtobreathe.
Thepathwaytoendingtheeffectsofcarpollutionbeginsbydrivingmorefuelefficient
cars.SpecificallyinAmerica,theproductionofhighlyfuelefficientvehicleshasbeguninthe
lastdecadeandisexpandinggreatly.Thesefuelefficientvehiclesburnlessfuelthananormal
vehicle,andthereforearereleasinglessemissionstocreateahealthierenvironment.The
incentivetopurchasethesefuelefficientcarsismoneysavedongasolineandmoneyrebatedby
thegovernmentwhenaconsumerpurchasesspecificfuelefficientcars.ManyAmericanshave
recentlypurchasedafuelefficientvehiclewhichaidsthefightagainstpollution,butthechange
isnotnearlyassignificantasitneedstobe.Also,automobilemanufacturingcompanieshave
designedpossiblealternativestothecurrentgasolineused.Withmodelsrunningonhydrogen
cellsorevenwater,therehavebeenmanyproposalstogreatlyslowthecausesofpollutionand
preventamoredisastrousfuture.However,sincethosecarshavenotyetbeenofferedforsale,
therestillremainsalongperiodoftimebeforeanysignificantpollutionreductioncanbeseen.
Also,afuelefficientalternativetogasolinepoweredcarsistherisingelectriccar.Though
electriccarsusuallystillemitpollutantswhenthecarcharges,theamountofemissionsreleased
isfarlessthanthatofagasolinepoweredvehicle.Also,withsolarpowerandotherharmless
platformsoffuel,electriccarshavetheabilitytochargewithoutharmingtheenvironment
altogether.Despitethesmallprogressalreadymadebyautomotivemanufacturerswhoproduce

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thesefuelefficientvehiclesandconsumerswhopurchasethesefuelefficientvehicles,the
pathwaytoacleanerEarthinregardstocarbonpollutantsbymotorvehiclesisaverylongand
arduousprocess.
Theprocessofloweringvehicleemissionswouldbegreatlyaidedbythegovernmental
regulationsonthefuelefficiencyofmanyvehicles.Establishingaregulationforcesthelarge
automotivecompaniestoproducemorefuelefficientcars.AregulationcreatedbytheObama
administrationhasrequiredthatautomobilecompaniesmustmeetanaveragefueleconomyof
54.5milespergallon,whichisroughlydoublethecurrentfueleconomyofmanycompanies
vehiclessettobeimplementedin2025(Vlasic).Despitetheaddedcoststoproducethesehighly
fuelefficientvehicles,carcompanieswouldbeabletosellthesecarsformoremoneyandstill
getbuyersbecausemanypeoplewouldspendmoremoneyonacarthatismuchmorefuel
efficientaslongasthesavingsatthegasstationisgreaterthanthepricehikeatthedealership.
Theaveragesavinginfuelcostspervehicleifthisregulationisfollowedwouldbearound
$8,000pervehicle(TheHalf).Notonlywouldtheconsumervalueofthesecarsrise,butthe
harmfuloilusagewoulddecreaseaswell.TheUnionofConcernedScientistsbelievethatwith
thisregulation,in2025,4millionbarrelsofoilwillbesavedperdaycomparedtotheoil
consumptiontoday.TheregulationtocreateamorefuelefficientAmericawillsignificantly
lowerthecarbonpollutionaslongasautomobilecompaniesproducevehiclesthatmeetthe
regulationandconsumerspurchasethem.
Althoughautomobileusehasbeenverypopularforalmostacentury,Americansshould
chooseothermethodsoftransportationthatdonotemitharmfulpollutantsintotheatmosphere.
Withtheincreaseoftechnology,thereareincreasinglymorealternativesthataremuchless

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harmfultotheenvironmentthanautomobiles.However,newtechnologydoesnothavetobe
used.Ifapersonscommuteiswithinafewmiles,peoplemaysuggestridingabicyclebecauseit
notonlyhasabsolutelyzeroemissions,butitalsoencouragesexercisingandahealthierphysical
stature.Gaspoweredautomobilesmaybethecurrentmostpopularmeansoftransportation,
however,thepollutionreleasedhashurtthehumanpopulationandtheearthsenvironmentata
fastrate,andtakingstepstochoosealternativevehicleswillsaveEarthfromevenmore
problemstocome.
Theeasiestsubstituteforgaspoweredvehiclesistodriveanelectricor
naturallypoweredvehicleinsteadwhosesourceofpowerisreplenishableandnot
environmentallyharmful.Thegovernmenthasalreadyshownitsapprovalofotheralternativesto
gaspoweredvehiclesbyprovidingsignificantrebatesof$7,500forcertaincarsthataresolely
electricpowered.Also,thereareanincreasingamountofelectricchargingstationsbeingbuilt
aroundthetowntoalwayshaveaplacetorechargeincentivizingthepurchaseofthesevehicles.
Also,fromafinancialstandpoint,ifapersonusedrechargingstationsthatarenotundertheir
ownelectricitybillforinstanceapubliconeoraneighborschargingstation,theneverysingle
rechargeiscostless.UsingelectricvehicleswouldeliminatetheharmfulpollutantsofCarbon
andthegreenhousegasesbeingdirectlyemittedfromthetailpipethatcausetheclimate,air
quality,andozonedepletionproblems.Thereisoneproblem,however.Dependingonhowthe
electricityisbeingcreated,electricvehiclesmightnotevenhelptheenvironmentbyreducingthe
amountofpollutionemittedintotheairandatmosphere.Infact,basedoffofstatisticscreatedby
theU.S.EnergyInformationin2016,86%oftheU.S.electricityfortheyear2015camefrom
coal,naturalgas,andnuclearenergysources(Whatis).Thisnumberneedstochange.

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Especiallyinthesuburbanhouses,solarpanelshavegrownpopulartoreducetheelectricbilland
useuptheharmlessenergyfromthesuninsteadofnonrenewablefossilfuelsthatpolluteEarth.
Usingsolarpanelswouldalsobeveryhelpfultothefinancialandenvironmentalaspectsof
owninganelectricvehicle.Firstofall,theamountofmoneythatitcoststochargeupa
fullyelectricvehicleisabout$4perchargeonaverageaftersomemath(Comparing).
However,whentheswitchismadetosolarpower,thepriceperchargeisnearlynothing,saving
peoplealmostathousanddollarsoverthetimespanofayear.Forexample,ifapersonwereto
fullychargetheirvehicleeverytwodays,consideringthatanaveragefullyelectricvehiclehasa
100milecharge,thentheywouldsaveabout$750inayearfromowningsolarpanels.Ifelectric
vehiclesaretoocomplicated,thesolarpanelsaretoomuchofahassle,andtheovernightcharges
aretootimeconsuming,thenagreatalternativethatisbeingimplementedverysoonwillbe
purchasingafuelcellvehicle.CreatedbyHondaafewyearsagoasaprototypeandbeingsold
startingintheendofthisyear,theClarityuseshydrogenaswellastheoxygensuckedinwhile
drivingtoproduceafuelcellthatisrenewableandcompletelyharmlesstotheenvironment.
Governmentalincentivesandsocialinfluenceswouldcausethevehicletoskyrocketinsalesand
significantlydiminishthelargestpollutingfactoroftheEarthsenvironmentandatmosphere.If
societybecamemoreawareoftheseverityofthecurrentpollutionproblemsofthistimeperiod,
therewouldbealargerpushforthesezeroemissionsvehiclesandhenceacleanerworld.
Tosavetheearthfromharmfulpollutants,whichareverydamagingtonotonlythe
environmentbuttopeopleandanimalsaswell,peopleshouldeitherpurchasemorefuelefficient
carsorchoosetransportationalternativesastheybecomeavailable.Thecreationofmany
alternativesisunderway,andwhenstrongalternativeshavebeenproduced,thedutyofchoosing

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thebetteralternativeliesonnoneotherthanustheAmericanpeople.Wemusttellthepresident
tokeepsettingnewregulationsthatwillhindertheearthfrombeingpollutedbyharmfulcarbon
emissionsfromvehicles,whichisthemostpopularcauseofairpollution.Wealsoneedtoshow
interestinveryfuelefficientcarssothattheseautomotivemanufacturingcompaniesseethe
demandforthesevehiclesandwillkeepproducingbetterfuelefficientvehicles.Asawhole,if
wecollectivelyacttosupportthehealthofourselvesandtheworldinwhichwelive,thenwe
willbelivinginfreedomfromtheharmfulpollutionthatautomobilescontinuetoemit.

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