Speech about environment - air pollution

I’ve prepared a short speech about our environment. You may already know something about air pollution, but I’d like to share more details.

We often hear the phrase: "I’ll go out for a breath of fresh air." But how many of us realize that this idea has become somewhat irrelevant in today’s world? The quality of air in our cities has deteriorated significantly.

The moment you step outside, you can actually see the air being polluted. Exhaust fumes from buses, cars, and scooters; smoke from factory chimneys; ash from thermal power plants; and dust kicked up by speeding vehicles all contribute to pollution. Natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions and even someone smoking a cigarette can also pollute the air.

Air pollution has been worsened by four major developments: increasing traffic, growing cities, rapid economic development, and industrialization. The Industrial Revolution in 19th-century Europe marked the beginning of modern air pollution, which has now become a global issue.

Smog
The term "smog" was first used in 1905 by Dr. H.A. Des Voeux to describe fog mixed with soot or smoke. Smog is a combination of various gases with water vapor and dust, primarily produced when fuels are burned. It forms when heat and sunlight react with these gases. Smog can affect not only big cities but also outlying suburbs and rural areas. It is often linked to heavy traffic, high temperatures, and calm winds. In winter, low wind speeds can trap smoke and fog near ground level, increasing pollution where people are breathing. Smog hampers visibility, harms the environment, and creates health risks.

In fact, in the early 20th century, heavy smog in parts of Europe led to decreased production of natural vitamin D, causing an increase in rickets cases. Smog creates a misty haze similar to fog, but its composition is different. The word "smog" comes from a combination of "smoke" and "fog," and it refers to air that causes difficult breathing conditions.

Acid Rain
Another consequence of air pollution is acid rain. This occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from burning fuels combine with water vapor in the atmosphere and fall as rain or snow. While these gases can also be emitted from natural sources like volcanoes, human activities are a major contributor. Acid rain damages water, forests, soil, and even human health. Many lakes and streams have become contaminated, leading to the disappearance of some fish species and widespread damage to forests. Acid rain can also corrode buildings and pose a health hazard. Because the pollutants are carried over long distances, controlling the sources of acid rain is challenging.

Fly Ash
With population and industrial growth, the demand for power has increased significantly. Nearly 73% of the world’s installed power generation is coal-based. The combustion of coal for power generation produces ash, commonly known as fly ash, which causes serious environmental problems. Fly ash contains silica, alumina, iron oxides, calcium, magnesium, and toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cobalt, and copper.

Conclusion
Around the world, steps are being taken to reduce air pollution. Scientists study its harmful effects on plants, animals, and humans. Governments pass laws to control emissions, and educators teach young students about its dangers. However, there are still many people who do not care about protecting the environment.

We need to encourage everyone to take action. The Earth is our home, and we must take care of it. We can start by encouraging our families to use cars less often, opting for bicycles or public transport whenever possible. We should reduce the use of aerosols and always turn off lights and fans when they’re not needed.

It’s not hard to do. If we all make small changes, our environment will become cleaner.

Thank you.