| In a world that is becoming increasingly | | | | scientifically established result of air pollution. While |
| industrialized, and in a world where more people | | | | mild pollution is not awful for a healthy person in |
| can afford to drive cars, air pollution is becoming a | | | | the prime of his or her life, polluting particles in the |
| larger problem. While there are those who would | | | | air can cause problems in children and in the |
| debate whether or not our air pollution is causing | | | | elderly or the infirm. Additionally pollutants in the |
| global warming, versus the earth's natural warming | | | | air can aggravate asthma symptoms and increase |
| process since the last Ice Age, that is not the | | | | allergy symptoms. This can be annoying and |
| issue. Definitive proof may or may not be found | | | | dangerous to the health of some people. |
| anytime soon. What is certain, however, is that | | | | But these respiratory problems are not all. Heavy |
| there are confirmed problems caused by air | | | | air pollution can be damaging even to the most |
| pollution. These problems include respiratory | | | | healthy of people. Mexico City, the largest city in |
| problems and they also include problems regarding | | | | the world, has major air pollution problems. It is |
| what we eat. | | | | said that just breathing the air each day is like |
| As the world moves more into the modern age, | | | | smoking more than a pack of cigarettes. If the |
| more pollutants are spewed into the air. Rising | | | | pollution is heavy enough, serious health problems, |
| middle classes in large, formerly poor countries like | | | | including cancer, can result from the toxins |
| China and India want the same privileges that we | | | | constantly breathed in through the air. |
| have of driving cars. Additionally, countries that | | | | Another air pollution problem has to do with |
| entered the latter half of the 20th Century largely | | | | mercury. Mercury is a by product of many |
| free of industry are now establishing it in order to | | | | factories, and is present in the particles spewed |
| jump into the 21st Century and bring their | | | | from the tops of smokestacks. As the mercury |
| economies up to date. Many of these countries | | | | gets into the earths atmospheric system, it |
| are understandably resentful of regulations that | | | | mingles with rain, which then falls into water and is |
| others try to foist on them because the already | | | | absorbed by fish. As larger fish (like tuna) prey on |
| industrialized countries had their opportunity for | | | | the smaller, they receive even higher amounts. |
| unregulated and explosive industrial growth. And | | | | Even though fish is generally healthy, there are |
| the increasing demands for cars, coupled with | | | | some varieties that should be avoided. And it is |
| lowered restrictions on pollution output, in the U.S. | | | | recommended that no one eat more than two |
| continues to drive the air pollution machine. No | | | | servings of fish per week. Pregnant women and |
| matter where it comes from, however, air | | | | children should eat no more than one serving of |
| pollution causes health problems almost | | | | some fish and should avoid eating any of certain |
| everywhere. | | | | types of fish, as the mercury can cause defects |
| Respiratory problems are a very natural and | | | | and has been linked to developmental problems. |