Stephanie Rocha (69208562)
Word Count: 1,583
E8- Environmental Analysis and Design
Take Home Essay Final

Sustainable World A large issue that has been raised to my attention is if my world is sustainable. Day by day, we become closer to reaching a point of breaking, a limit to our resources and needs that we seem to overexploit and take advantage of for our own greedy needs. We are aware of the impact we are making on our life support, and thankfully efforts are being made to reverse or even bring a halt the harm that we have caused. However, it is just not quick enough. I continue to wonder if my children will be as lucky as I am to know there is still hope and different styles of living that can improve our overall surroundings, or will they have to live with the nightmare of having an unsustainable world that will no longer satisfy their needs. My priorities for global and local changes so my children can be assured a more sustainable life include reducing air pollution and focusing more on the production of “greener”, reusable energy. According to University Today, air pollution is created by the release of toxic chemicals and biological matter that is released into the atmosphere. This air pollution causes harm to living organisms and natural environments. It comes from a number of sources, one being the exhaust from manufacturing that creates sulfur dioxides, nitrogen dioxides, carbon monoxide and dioxide, and dangerous organic compounds. Also, the burning of fossil fuels that is extracted from the earth to fuel our cars and the earth’s own methods of air pollution through volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and other natural resources that do not have as big of an effect as the pollutants humans have created still also unfortunately add to the negative effects. These effects are seen at both a local and global level, with the majority of the earth’s surface being traveled by cars, busses, trains, and airplanes as well as mostly every corner of the world containing some sort of manufacturing company that supplies goods to its consumers and brings in money to the area. With this seemingly never ending growth of cars and manufacturing companies, I wonder when it will all stop or if the end to dealing with the situation will have to be in reality the end of us as a whole. Not only is the pollution visible in smog and in destroyed environments that are unappealing, it has direct negative effects to us as humans as well as the world’s ecosystem. The quality of air is worsening, and according to the National Resources Council, it is causing a spike in health issues including, “irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia...symptoms [including] headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions, and can aggravate the medical conditions of individuals with asthma and emphysema. [In addition], chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys [can occur].” (“National Resource Council”). As I previously stated, we are not the only ones being affected here, and sadly the earth is taking the biggest hit. With acid rain, eutrophication, haze, ozone depletion, crop and forest damage, global climate change, and the effects on wildlife, it is hard not to notice that our irresponsibility is the biggest cause of this damage that is clearly evident and is directly affecting us more and more (“Environmental Effects of Air Pollution”). My question is how can we try to prevent a future so displaced? How can we protect a world that is being striped of its purity and ability of supplying our children with supplemental goods that are necessary for living? Fortunately, awareness is rising, and embracing efforts to reverse the damage now will be much more beneficial than in the future when it may be too late. According to the EPA, steps to reducing air pollution and its negative effects can be practiced in the home