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No Pollution is the Clear Solution

Pollution is one of the largest worldwide killers, impacting more than 100 million people

around the world (“11 Facts…”). While 100 million might look like a large number, when it is

compared to the cost of pollution, and its impact on the environment, the number drastically

increases. At a staggering 225 billion dollars, air pollution from first world industries causes

massive amounts of death and destruction that show the extent of job loss and economic

circumstances around the world (Préneuf). Air pollution from factories is very common, but it is

not the only dangerous type of pollution emitted by industries. These other pollutants, including

chemicals and harmful objects, are also very detrimental to the environment. Pollution has

always been an enormous problem for both the economy and the environment, but many

efficient pollution prevention plans have been recently introduced to not only cutback on waste,

but also to lower the costs of manufacturing products. This gives many industries an incentive to

better control their waste outputs, but they still do not fully prevent all of the devastating

economical and physical effects that are caused by first world industries (​Chiu​).

As improper regulation of pollutants in the energy and fashion industry contaminate the

world, the impacts are tremendously shown through the devastating loss of businesses in tourist

activities and attractions, values of houses, and dreadful health costs (“The Effects”). Looking

through both an environmental and economical lens, it is easy to see the impacts of pollution

from first world industries on the environment. Industries obviously aren’t the only source of
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pollution, but they are preventable sources so society needs to be educated on how their

pollutants affect the environment.

The energy industry is one of the most costly businesses among many others that disperse

dangerous emissions into the air. Due to the rapidly growing population, energy use and

production is at its peak ​(“Higher Geography”​). Energy is a common necessity for life, so it is

not a surprise that someones first thought when turning on a light is not directed towards how

this energy was created or how it is hurting the environment. According to Chelsea Harvey, a

journalist who specializes in environmental health and policy, emissions from energy industries

account for $131 billion dollars of destruction (Harvey). This destruction is represented by

chemical pollutants that are spread as a result of many energy production methods. These

methods include “electric power generation, oil and gas extraction, coal mining and the activities

of oil refineries” (Harvey). These particular methods of energy production are used in all

different parts of the world, but they all have the same very costly effects. According to the

World Health Organization, a program that ​coordinates international health within the United

Nations,​ in 2010, the total annual cost of health impacts from air pollution amounted to an

astonishing 1.6 trillion dollars (“Economic Cost of”). Another huge economic deficit due to

improper pollution control has to do with the recreation and food industries. According to the

EPA, ​these industries lose around $1 billion each year due to losses in fishing and boating

activities (“The Effects”). ​Air pollution, as a result of this energy production, has an immense

economic effect on health and recreation, costing people and businesses trillions of dollars.
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While air pollution from energy industries is most commonly thought of when it comes to

detrimental pollution, the fashion industry is one among many other industries who greatly

contributes to the emissions. According to the Joint Economic Committee, a group from the

United States Congress, “fashion is a $1.2 trillion global industry, with more than $250 billion

spent annually” on clothing in the united​ ​states (“The Economic Impact”). This mass production

of clothing is driving a tremendous use of very dangerous dying chemicals. On top of this use of

color dying chemicals, dry cleaners and washing machines are putting stain removers and

softeners into the water system (Kant). Not only could these toxic and dangerous chemicals

impact the organisms in the water, such as plant life and animal life, but they can also make their

way into drinking water that people are consuming (Kant). According to Sarah Graham, a

journalist with a B.A. from City University in London, the economic costs of ocean pollution

account for 3.3 million dollars of destruction and health problems (Graham). It is important to

realize that it is not the companies that are paying for their pollution. It is the people who are

paying medical bills, and jobs who are losing employees that costs them money. Sometimes, it is

not even the industries that cause the pollution, they can be the ones that are affected.

The housing industry is a very large, money making industry that is largely affected by

pollution. While it doesn’t cause pollution, it is impacted in more ways than one. According to

Keith Ihlanfeldt, a Professor of Economics at Florida State University, a study done in Atlanta

Georgia showed factories near houses that weren’t even known to have hazardous pollution but

still contained large levels of pollutants (Ihlanfeldt). Author Gary McClelland, a member of the

Department of Psychology, also showed that potential buyers did not end up buying houses on

the market due to “risk assumption” of health related problems and safety for their families
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(McClelland, Gary). In this same study, a group of 4100 homes near an industry accounted for

40.2 million dollars of deflation of property values, just due to the hazardous environment

created by polluted water, air, and land.

All of these industries show negative impacts of pollution, but the government is working

on better regulations and control methods for high emitting industries. According to the EPA, an

agency of the federal government, there are many pollution control methods that are being used

and put into place. These include the Clean Air Technology Center, which provides technologies

such as advanced filters and combustion systems, and economic incentives, such as banking and

“emission caps” (“Managing Air Quality”). While these great prevention methods are in place,

these issues are still going on. The energy and fashion industry are still polluting at rapid rates,

and the housing and recreational industries are still losing customers, all causing great economic

losses. In order to improve this dangerous pollution situation, rather than enforcing emission

caps, the government needs to enforce incentives such as subsidies in order for these industries to

comply more easily to controlling their pollution outputs. Another important way to limit

pollution has to do with simply informing the public. By showing the public these horrific

images and statistics about the costs of pollution, they will be able to learn about the extent of its

effects on the environment. Pollution from first world industries is one of the most considerable

problems in the world, but it can be easily solved with the help of citizens and industries working

together to improve how we live.

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Works Cited:

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Electronics.”​ IEEE Journals & Magazine,​ vol. 4, no. 1,

ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5439042/. Accessed 14 February 2018.

Chiu, Shen-yann. “Hazardous Waste Management and Pollution Prevention.” ​Environmental

Assessment and Information Sciences Division​, 1 Jan. 1992,

www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6000531. Accessed 22 February 2018.

“Economic cost of the health impact of air pollution in Europe.” ​World Health Organization,

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Graham, Sarah. “O.C. Ocean Pollution Costs Millions in Health Care.” ​Scientific American​, 4

May 2005, ​www.scientificamerican.com/article/oc-ocean-pollution-costs/​. Accessed 24

February 2018.

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ieefa.org/the-staggering-economic-cost-of-air-pollution/. Accessed 22 February 2018.

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conomy-225-billion.

Sweeny, Glynis. “Fast Fashion Is the Second Dirtiest Industry in the World, Next to Big Oil.”

EcoWatch​, 17 Apr. 2017,

www.ecowatch.com/fast-fashion-is-the-second-dirtiest-industry-in-the-world-next-to-big-

-1882083445.html. Accessed 12 January 2018.

“The Economic Impact of the Fashion Industry.” ​Joint Economic Committee, 6​ Feb. 2015,
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20Impact%20of%20the%20Fashion%20Industry%20--%20JEC%20report%20FINAL.pd

f​. Accessed 28 February 2018.

“The Effects: Economy.” ​EPA,​ Environmental Protection Agency, 10 Mar. 2017,

www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/effects-economy

“11 Facts About Pollution.” ​DoSomething.org | Volunteer for Social Change,​

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