Learn About the Causes and Effects of Smog

Smog is a mixture of air pollutants—nitrogen oxides  and volatile organic compounds—that combine with sunlight to form  ozone. Ozone can be beneficial or harmful, good or bad, depending on its location. Ozone in the stratosphere, high above the Earth, acts as a barrier that protects human health and the environment from excessive amounts of solar ultraviolet radiation. This is the good kind of ozone. On the other hand, ground-level ozone, trapped near the ground by heat inversions or other weather conditions, is what causes the respiratory distress and burning eyes associated with smog. How Did Smog Get Its Name? The term smog was first used in London during the early 1900s to describe the combination of smoke and fog that often blanketed the city. According to several sources, the term was first coined by Dr. Henry Antoine des Voeux in his paper, â€Å"Fog and Smoke,† which he presented at a meeting of the Public Health Congress in July 1905. The type of smog described by Dr. des Voeux was a combination of smoke and sulfur dioxide, which resulted from the heavy use of  coal to heat homes  and businesses and to run factories in Victorian England. When we talk about smog today, we’re referring to a more complex mixture of various air pollutants—nitrogen oxides and other chemical compounds—that interact with sunlight to form ground-level  ozone  that hangs like a heavy haze over many cities in industrialized countries. What Causes Smog? Smog is produced by a set of complex photochemical reactions involving  volatile organic compounds  (VOCs),  nitrogen oxides  and sunlight, which form ground-level  ozone. Smog-forming pollutants come from many sources such as automobile exhaust, power plants, factories, and many consumer products, including paint, hairspray, charcoal starter fluid, chemical solvents, and even plastic popcorn packaging. In typical urban areas, at least half of the smog precursors come from cars, buses, trucks, and boats. Major smog occurrences often are linked to heavy motor vehicle traffic, high temperatures, sunshine, and calm winds. Weather and geography affect the location and severity of smog. Because temperature regulates the length of time it takes for smog to form, smog can occur more quickly and be more severe on a hot, sunny day. When  temperature inversions  occur (that is, when warm air stays near the ground instead of rising) and the wind is calm, smog may remain trapped  over a city for days. As traffic and other sources add more pollutants to the air, the  smog  gets worse. This situation occurs frequently in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ironically, smog is often more severe farther away from the sources of pollution, because the  chemical reactions  that cause smog take place in the atmosphere while pollutants are drifting on the wind. Where Does Smog Occur? Severe smog and ground-level  ozone  problems exist in many major cities around the world, from Mexico City to Beijing, and a recent, well-publicized event in Delhi, India. In the United States, smog affects much of California, from San Francisco to San Diego, the mid-Atlantic seaboard from Washington, DC, to southern Maine, and major cities in the South and Midwest. To varying degrees, the majority of U.S. cities with populations of 250,000 or more have experienced problems with smog and ground-level ozone. According to some studies, more than half of all U.S. residents live in areas where the smog is so bad that pollution levels routinely exceed safety standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). What Are the Effects of Smog? Smog is made up of a  combination of air pollutants  that can compromise human health, harm the environment, and even cause property damage. Smog can cause or aggravate health problems such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory problems as well as eye irritation and reduced resistance to colds and lung infections. The  ozone  in smog also inhibits plant growth and can cause widespread damage to crops and forests. Who Is Most at Risk From Smog? Anyone who engages in strenuous outdoor activity—from jogging to manual labor—may suffer smog-related health effects. Physical activity causes people to breathe faster and more deeply, exposing their lungs to more  ozone  and other pollutants. Four groups of people are particularly sensitive to ozone and other air pollutants in smog: Children—Active children run the highest risks from exposure to smog, as children spend a lot of time playing outside. As a group, children are also more prone to asthma—the most common chronic disease for children—and other respiratory ailments than adults.Adults who are active outdoors—Healthy adults of any age who exercise or work outdoors are considered at higher risk from smog.People with respiratory diseases—People with asthma or other chronic respiratory diseases are more sensitive and vulnerable to the effects of ozone. Typically, they will experience adverse effects sooner and at lower levels of exposure than those who are less sensitive.People with unusual susceptibility to ozone—Some otherwise healthy people are simply more sensitive to the pollutants in smog than other people and may experience more adverse health effects from exposure. Elderly people are often warned to stay indoors on heavy smog days. Elderly people are probably not at increased risk of adverse health effects from smog because of their age. Like any other adults, however, elderly people will be at higher risk from exposure to smog if they already suffer from respiratory diseases, are active outdoors, or are unusually susceptible to ozone. How Can You Recognize or Detect Smog Where You Live?   Generally speaking, you will know smog when you see it. Smog is a visible form of air pollution that often appears as a thick haze. Look toward the horizon during daylight hours, and you can see how much smog is in the air. High concentrations of nitrogen oxides will often give the air a brownish tint. In addition, most cities now measure the concentration of pollutants in the air and provide public reports—often published in newspapers and broadcast on local radio and television stations—when smog reaches potentially unsafe levels. The EPA has developed the  Air Quality Index  (AQI) (formerly known as the Pollutant Standards Index) for reporting concentrations of ground-level ozone and other common air pollutants. Air quality is measured by a nationwide monitoring system that records concentrations of ground-level  ozone  and several other air pollutants at more than a thousand locations across the United States. The EPA then interprets that data according to the standard AQI index, which ranges from zero to 500. The higher the AQI value for a specific pollutant, the greater the danger to public health and the environment.

Essay on Say YES To The Affordable Care Act - 1074 Words

Even with employer coverage and the expansion of Medicaid, many Americans would still not be covered if the ACA had not offered a new way to buy insurance individually. This new way is called a health insurance marketplace where private insurers compete for individuals business. This allows people to decide how much coverage they want as well as how much they want to pay for it. For example, choices range from cheaper, high deductible coverage, to more expensive coverage. Still, all plans cover a set of services, such as hospital visits, maternity care, prescription drugs, and mental healthcare. As with Medicaid, not all states participate in insurance marketplaces, however the government provides their own in each state anyways. One†¦show more content†¦Overall, with the advent of the ACA, many more people have insurance coverage however the money to pay for all of it comes from taxes. The health industry is taxed more as well as the upper classes whose taxes almost directly fund Medicare. Also hospitals and insurance companies participating in Medicare are paid much less. The ACA has allowed millions of uninsured Americans access to health insurance through the marketplace, which has helped insure coverage through new tax credits for lower income families and small businesses. The money for the new tax credits however has come primarily from high-earners like many in the upper classes. The most vocal anti-Affordable Care Act groups are those associated with big businesses as well as the top two and three percent of Americans as they are the ones who get hit the ha rdest by tax reforms. In states that participate in marketplaces, Americans have access to the insurance marketplaces via the state instead of the government, however they are subject to a fee if they do not obtain health coverage. Twenty one states have decided not to participate in state run exchanges, leaving the federal government to run them instead which seems like it would lessen the financial burden on the state but in reality, it forces the federal taxpayers to take care of anti-Affordable Care Act states instead of states providing theirShow MoreRelatedObamacare : The Affordable Health Care Act1610 Words   |  7 Pagesmade have been monumental in the health care world. These changes have been positive as well as negative. This new government policy has come about through the Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare. This new program has been so purely monumental, because government until then had not been directly involved with health care as much as they a re. Benefits include lower costs, and thousands of uninsured individuals and families with health care. 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The issue has many Americans believing it is a great thing for our country while others believe it is a terrible idea and then of course there are those who don’t know what to think. By Jan 1, 2014 Americans will be required to purchase a health care policy or will have to pay a penalty. Ready or notRead MoreThe Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act1272 Words   |  6 Pagesand Affordable Care Act In this paper I plan to discuss an increasingly difficult topic of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I will go over the basics of the act including who founded it, when, what it states as well as what its purpose is. I will also discuss the nine titles of the Affordable Care Act. I will then go over how four of the nine titles have affected how nurses provide care. I will finalize my paper by reflecting upon what I have learned from the Affordable Care Act. IntroductionRead MoreThe Affordable Health Care Act1403 Words   |  6 PagesThe Affordable Care Act has been a point of contention for many people. I am going to review the Affordable Care Act as far health care provider challenges and benefits. I will look at this from an individual point of view. I will look at this from an employer point of view. I will look at this from an employee point of view. Lastly, I will give my reflection regarding this topic. The most apparent benefit of the Affordable Health Care act is that it makes health insurance obtainable to the uninsuredRead MoreThe Affordable Care Act ( Aca )1349 Words   |  6 PagesIn 2010 the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was signed into act to help reform healthcare in the United States. Before and after the act was effective, many people were concerned with how it would affect our country as a whole and on an individual basis. Many people say that the ACA is helping our country and others are not so sure. 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Music and Humanity free essay sample

There are certain styles, genres, and songs that are perfect for any emotion In any situation. Through sharing my attitude toward music with other people, I have come to the conclusion that, although seemingly Impossible, It Is possible to prove that music Is an Innate part of humanity. I would Like to take a moment here, and explain what I mean by music. Music Is the appreciation for what we hear; whether it is a birds song, the rustle of leaves in the park, or seeing a rock band perform, people are listening to music. With this definition, we can agree that music is present around the world, and everyone relates to it.This is a sort of connection that all humans share. This human connection is key to understanding why people attach themselves to music so strongly-?after all, how can someone performing their own songs reach out too crowd of thousands? Humans are completely tied to music, and it shows. Music In Culture To what extent is music apart of humanity? Music Is so prevalent that entire cultures are recognized when a signature piece Is heard. The bangs of percussion Instruments can be heard deep In the heart of Africa, along with the Natives howls. The Chinese have characterized the plucked Instruments with a heavy treble tone hat comes with quick bends in pitch (Philatelic Management amp: Productions Inc. ). Austrian come to mind when their folk music is heard, and whenever someone hears a quality yodel, they know its Swiss (Plangent). These pleasant sounds have been ringing out of these countries for so long that the cultures are now globally recognized for them. Having established that music is universal, it is important to more closely analyze a specific culture. What better than America, one of the biggest centers of pop music?The United States is a gigantic melting pot of deferent cultures, resulting in a sis of many different genres of music. The Beach Boys had a fun, upbeat, lively atmosphere, Steve Ray Vaughan rocked the blues to portray the doleful side of life, and Elvis Presley gave us a revolution In music all together, with catchy tunes, and lovable lyrics. There Is a wide variety of music In the American culture, and this variety causes a lot of people to love music. Foreign music of India is odd to the typical Western audience. Indians use different tuning that doesnt sound quite right to the American audience.While American songs have a pattern that is repeated throughout, Indians lack chord progression in heir songs. Also, Americans use their chest to resonate sound, while Indians have more of a whining tone in the back of their throats. Americans view these musical practices as strange; but, of course, they sound perfectly normal to someone that has been raised in that culture. It does not matter, then, what the music may be, but that the very existence of music connects humanity on a deeper basis (Schmidt-Jones). Neurology of Music This connection runs deeper than you might think-? music is physically ingrained in us.From the time we are born, there are neurons that are specifically developed to register music. Our encounters and reactions to music connect with different regions in the brain, and this could possibly be why humans all feel, to some extent, the same way when they hear music. There is a region for hearing the music, a region for the expectations of what will come next in a song, a region for associating it with past memories and general knowledge, which arises emotions, and a region for turning the emotions into actions.These multiple regions of the brain all work in unison when listening to music, which makes the act of listening so intense. The region that associates what you hear with past memories lets us truly relate to the years of a song, because we have experienced somewhat of the same thing as the lyricist has. Our expectations of timing, pitch, and even the notes them selves take us for a ride, because most of the time our expectations are not met. But for once, this is not a disappointing experience; it is one of wonder, and Joy. This Joy is so overwhelming that a region in our brain causes us to dance.This is a part that tells your body what to do subconsciously, one that we cannot stop. This is what gives a non-musician the want to Join in by tapping his foot or patting his legs. When money hears music, the brain is what makes listening so powerful (Science Festival Foundation). Emotions of Music Music is innate to humanity for this very reason; the brain is what we use to appreciate music-?and, although it may not always seem like it, everyone has a brain. But what is it exactly that everyone relates to? Music draws out emotion, and people depend on music to express emotion in ways other things cant. It creates a human connection through these emotions. Emotions are why we listen to certain styles of music at certain times. Music is used and felt in different ways. In fact, there seems to be a particular style of music that accompanies each event in life. A violinist sets a sweet, soft, and dramatic mood for a romantic dinner, while a soldier prepares for war by listening to the violent lyrics in a heavy metal song. A group of Juvenile delinquents may listen to punk rock before doing something illegal, while an older man listens to Jim Hendrix while getting high.A yuppie listens to an acoustic guitar player at the local Struck, while a family is on a road trip, listening to an old country song. Music accompanies everything humans are apart of (Zimmerman). Likewise, humanity incorporates different music into different scenes of life because each style of music draws out specific emotions. We choose which genre naturally draws out the emotions that are already being stirred by the event itself. Feelings of melancholy. It gets the adrenaline rushing with fast paced drumbeats, and screams of raw power.It puts us in agony when the minor chords accompany lyrics that stir up dreadful memories. It puts us in muse with quick changes in time, and odd accents. It makes us loosen up with the groovy beats, suave melodies, and punchy rhythms. In a way different from anything else, it makes us feel. Whats interesting is that the same music can make people feel differently. Take the song l Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie, for example. When shown to my roommate Mike, who is a romantic, he noticed the light tone of the chords, and the somewhat fast beat.He also perceived the message of the song as one of love and commitment. However, when shown to my friend Matt, who has suffered a recent break-up, his interpretation was more somber. The chords may have been light, but the tone of his voice drew out strong emotions of sorrow from Matt. The message he perceived was one of loss, and coping with that pain. It seems, then, that the situation is responsible for the emotions, not the person. This discovery is actually quite significant, because it explains one of the biggest centers of music: a concert.Whether it is classical, hip-hop, or rock, a concert unifies the entire audience with the same emotion, again creating that human connection aforementioned. The ominous sounds of Bachs symphonies paint grand detailed pictures in peoples minds; in a concert hall, everyone sits in awe while envisioning these images. Everyone gazes in amazement while a professional violinist lays down a beautiful melody that was composed hundreds of years ago. In an Autumns concert, the whole crowd stares at the ground, contemplating the rush of harrowing emotion that is flowing through them.People feel unified at concerts; no one around them is condescending, but everyone is supporting of the emotions because they all feel the same way. It seems that a concert is a sort of isolated utopia, reserved only for music and those that have come for it. T. S. Eliot puts it best: muff are the music while the music lasts. Lyrics While people feel unified with each other by listening to the same music, they also feel unified with the artist. The one thing that an artist has to connect himself erectly with his audience is his lyrics.Although music without lyrics can draw out emotion, the words of a song put the listener through an entirely different experience. Artists write words that can draw in a multitude of crowds, no matter the listeners personal preference of genre. All that matters is that they agree with the message. If the lyrics are shallow, but the music speaks for itself, another crowd is drawn in. This music is more for those that dance, because it gives them a chance to focus on the beat, the rhythm, and the tunes, without fear of losing something else in the words.Therefore, different lyrics appeal to different audiences. People listen to music with a message they relate to (Murphy). (Philatelic Management ; Productions Inc. ) However, the lyrics go further than Just being a story. They are what speak for the artist, and his talent. The specific words he uses draw out certain emotions that all of us as the listeners can relate to. If the song is about partying, then it will most likely be played at parties. If it is about a break-up, then those going through difficulties in a relationship will really feed off it to help understand how they themselves feel. It That feeling of clarity is so strong that religions feel it is important to include music in the worshipping of their god or gods. It is intriguing that they feel they have the opportunity to communicate with such a powerful being(s) and instead of doing anything else, they choose to sing. There are other forms of communication, but at that point they feel music is the best choice. The words in the message they sing are that of hope, so that they may be reassured in their religion. The words also include feelings of sorrow and humility. These lyrics help them cry out to their god on a Asia that is different than any other way Or. . The lyrics by themselves, however, are not enough. They must be coupled with the music, because the music is what carries them to the listeners ear. Without the music, the words become nothing more than a book. And a book is a good way to express feeling, but a sad ending to a book can never compare to a minor note sung from depths of someones chest. It doesnt make you sway back and forth with your friends; it doesnt let you scream the words out loud in agreement. The music takes the words to a whole other level, making the music experience that much more unique.The power off good message in a song can persuade many people to do one thing or another. You can use music to create feelings of peace, as with John Lennox, or feelings of hate, as with racist heavy metal bands. The lyrics and music working in tandem create euphoria, despite the actual message. It feels relieving to have something explained through music that you couldnt have with anything else. The music and lyrics create the human connection with uniting messages. The human connection, and the lyrics themselves, are intensified with metaphors. It seems that the strong use of these comparisons is what seems to help carry the usage.It might be difficult to get someone to relate to a specific situation through just an explanation, but when that situation is compared to one that is shared by all people, then all people can tune in and participate in this song. The metaphors themselves carry across a message too; that is, the words used in the actual metaphor help intensify the underlying message. Also, when the metaphor is heard, it can be interpreted in several ways. This feature is very helpful when it comes to spreading the music itself. The more that people can relate to your music, the more there people will hear about it and Join in.Metaphors are a fantastic part of lyrics that help clarify the underlying message, and help amplify its intensity. Dancing Lyrics help people connect to the song and the artist. It seems that humanity deems it only natural to express their strongest emotions through music. It is deep within a person to have music be apart of their lives. Such a need for music calls for an equally strong reaction when a person listens to it. People have such strong emotions evicted through music that the music itself changes from Just being a mystery in your head to being a physical action.Listeners are so moved when hearing a beautiful opera that they are brought to tears; likewise, musicians on stage will be so passionate about their music that they fall to their knees while playing. Even the unclear growls of a death metal band cause onlookers to whip their head back and forth (headband). Some hip-hop songs cause feelings of arousal, and if in the appropriate setting, these feelings are acted upon. The human connection comes into play when music causes people to move together. Dancing is Africa, one can find the Natives dancing around a campfire, Jumping to the rhythm.French women put on a show with the can-can, while those in Ireland are river dancing. It seems that dancing completes the full expression of emotion. A newly wed couple spends some of their first few hours together dancing, expressing romance. On the other hand, headbands at a death metal concert will moss; that is, run around throwing elbows and fists at each other-?an action not so romantic, but an expression of emotion nonetheless. People go to clubs and grind to the beats of hip-hop. Music Just makes people want to move, and its practically unstoppable (Science Festival Foundation). One last way people channel the emotion that flows in them when listening to music is participating in the music. Singing along to your favorite song as loud as you can relieves the built up emotion inside you. Even patting the steering wheel to the rhythm of the song makes you feel apart of it. A group of college kids will sing and drink to a song they all know and love. Participating makes the music experience really come alive. Conclusion It is important to realize that music is more that Just sound. Music is an expression of emotion, for the artist and the listener.

Polystyrene Bead Molding Essays - Packaging Materials,

Polystyrene Bead Molding Introduction On September 7th and 14th of 2000 my lab partners and I conducted the polystyrene bead molding project. My lab partners are Josh Dick, Mike Ward, and Keith Matlock, and we conducted the procedure in room W126 of the Kansas Technology Center. We were to attempt to make polystyrene bead molds using two different methods. In theory we would be able to perform the bead molding. Theory Polystyrene bead molding can be performed in two ways. One way is to fill the mold 25 to 30 percent full and then applying heat, either boiling water or baking it. Another way is to boil the raw beads, dry the beads, fill the mold with them, and then heat it in an oven. We were to attempt both of these procedures in our lab project. My expectations were that the molds would turn out good. Materials & Equipment Locations water container to boil water lab electric stove lab oven lab aluminum molds lab pan container to dry expanded beads lab polystyrene beads refrigerator in lab sieve lab Procedure raw bead expansion procedure 1. First we turned on the electric stove and placed the water container that was about two thirds full on the stove so the water could boil. 2. Then we filled the molds about 25 to 30 percent full and closed the molds with the mold nuts. 3. When the water began to boil we placed the molds in the boiling water. 4. We left the molds in for about twenty minutes and then pulled them out and ran cold water over them in the sink for about a minute. 5. We removed the mold nuts and took out the molded materials. pre-expanded bead procedure 1. First we put the raw beads in the boiling water and let them expand. 2. Then we removed them from the water with a sieve. 3. We placed the expanded beads in a pan container so they could dry. They were left to dry for a week, until our next lab meeting. 4. After the beads had dried we filled a mold with them and placed the mold in the Blue M Oven, which was preheated to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. 5. The mold was left in the oven for twenty minutes and then removed. 6. After cooling the mold we removed the mold nuts and removed the molded materials. Results The raw bead expansion procedure was successful; the beads expanded and made terrific molds. While being heated in the mold the expansion of gasses caused the beads to expand. Our molds were in the shapes of spheres, one looked like a softball and the other looked like a regular sphere. Below are hand sketches our molds. The outcome of the pre-expanded bead mold was less fortunate. The beads did not take shape of the mold. To be more precise the beads did not change at all. Conclusion In conclusion the raw bead expansion procedure appears to be a better method for polystyrene molding. The raw bead expansion procedure proved true to my expectations and the molds turned out good. However we apparently performed the pre-expanded bead mold incorrectly and the results were a failure. After performing the lab I looked through the job sheet for this project and found a side note we overlooked on page 34. It specifically states to use freshly pre-expanded beads and the storage of expanded beads is 6 days maximum. Science Essays