Atlanta is the capital city of the state of Georgia. It has a population
of over 420 000 people making it one of the most populated cities in
the U.S. In fact, the greater Atlanta metropolitan area with a
population of just under 5 300 000 people is the 9th largest
metropolitan area in the U.S.
It is a city of diverse cultures, wonderful scenery and a thriving
economy. The economic output of Atlanta averages to about US$250bn
annually. It is ranked as the 6th largest city in the U.S. and the 15th
largest city worldwide when measured in terms of economic output.
Unfortunately, its people, its economy and its environment are all under
threat. This threat stems from the current state of air pollution in
Atlanta that has effectively cast a shadow of doubt on its future and
that of its people. The future now seems uncertain and increasingly
gloomy.
Atlanta's air is filled with various substances that cause serious harm
to its people, its environment and its economy. These substances which
are technically termed as pollutants are mainly composed of nitrogen
oxides, carbon monoxides, carbon dioxides and particulate matter all
emitted from Atlanta's vehicles. According to the U.S. Public Interest
Research Group Atlanta is the second most air polluted city in the U.S.
due to the mileage covered by vehicles found within the city.
As of August 21, 2010 Atlanta had 34 days of smog. This compares poorly
to the national average. It only ranked second to Los Angeles which had a
few more days of smog within the same year. Air pollution in Atlanta is
also caused by it's electric plants which are mainly fueled by fossils.
The dangers posed by air pollution in Atlanta are many. Air pollution
negatively affects the health of the people of Atlanta, their
environment and their economic wellbeing. . The most disturbing of these
dangers are listed below;
1) Health Complications
Air pollution has been scientifically proven to bring about or enhance
the following medical conditions; asthma, bronchitis, strokes and heart
disease. The high level of air pollution makes the people of Atlanta
extremely vulnerable to these adverse medical conditions.
Children, senior citizens and people with serious pre-existing
conditions within Atlanta are at an even greater risk of developing
these conditions.
More specifically, children are likely to develop asthma and bronchitis.
The particular danger posed by air pollution to children is mainly due
to the fact that children do not have fully developed organs and organ
systems that can cope with the increasingly polluted air they are forced
to inhale.
Research has showed that there was a substantial decrease in the amount
of air pollution that was emitted in the city during the Summer Olympics
in 1996 when transit was the common means of transport in Atlanta.
Corresponding, there was a 45% drop in the number of emergency visits by
children due to asthma attacks during the same time period.
Senior citizens on the other hand are most likely to develop lung or
heart diseases. It is important to note that air pollution has been
known to reduce the capacity of human lungs by as much as 20%. The
effects of this reduction are even more devastating when they occur in
the lungs of senior citizens. This just goes to show how bad devastating
air pollution can be to senior citizens.
Other medical conditions that can arise include birth defects and a weakened immune system.
2) Impact on the Environment
Air pollution in Atlanta is contributing to increased levels of ground
level ozone popularly termed as smog. This smog has reduced visibility
of Atlanta's skyline time and time again. The Atlanta skyline has also
been often been replaced with soot, dust and other opaque particles.
This is not only an unpleasant experience but such conditions are
harmful to the bird and other wildlife population within the Atlanta
metropolitan area.
The electric plants which use coal as the fossil fuel to generate energy
for use in Atlanta have huge coal ash ponds which they use to store
waste emitted during the generation process. This coal ash dumps pose a
serious environmental threat. They contain toxic material that leak into
the ground, find their way to natural water systems. This leaked waste
contaminates the water systems. The ripple effect of this contamination
is the endangerment of the surrounding ecosystem.
3) Effects on the economy
The effects of air pollution on the economy of Atlanta are less
pronounced as compared to the health and environmental effects but they
are felt nonetheless. These effects include; increased medical bills for
families, reduced capacity to work by the Atlanta labor force due to
increases in the number of medical conditions and the unnecessary costs
of restoring Atlanta's environment after it has been polluted.
Air pollution should simply have been avoided in Atlanta, families would
have spent less on healthcare, they would then have had more income and
therefore consumer spending would have increased. This would have in
turn resulted in increased output by Atlanta's industries and service
sectors. Sadly though, this is not the case.
The Way Forward
Given the dangers that lie ahead it is imperative for the people of
Atlanta to devise ways and means of reducing the level of pollution that
they are exposed to. Concrete measures need to be taken by the state of
Georgia to ensure proper regulation of coal ash dumps in and around
Atlanta in addition to taking steps towards embracing embrace
alternative energy.
Atlanta which has been termed as the fastest sprawling city in recorded
history by the Atlanta Journal Constitution also needs to reduce the
number of vehicles on its roads. This will ease traffic congestion and
reduce green house gas emissions. It will also help to reduce the amount
of smog the city is exposed to.
The population of Atlanta is set to grow to about 40% by the year 2030.
This is an extremely worrisome figure given the current trends in air
pollution. The short and medium term goals of economic expansion and
development need to give way to more sustainable long term visions of an
economy in harmony with its environment. Anything less is simply,
unacceptable.
