Unfortunately, air pollution has such a dramatic affect on air quality that it is highly likely that metropolitan areas are likely to start seeing these air quality reports become more indicative of threatening levels unless we set out to change the high degree of gases that are released into the atmosphere on a daily basis.

When the air quality and pollution reports indicate that the conditions are poor, it is unwise for anyone (especially children and the elderly) with a respiratory condition to engage in outdoor activity. Every summer, more children with asthma are confined indoors for longer durations as the air quality and pollution reports indicate a dangerously high level of air toxicity.

Of course, there are those impacted by the declining air quality and the increasing air pollution that don’t have the choice to hang out inside an air conditioned building. Wildlife experts are starting to indicate that the poor air quality days are now having a dramatic effect on the nation’s wildlife.

In heavily populated areas there is an increase in heat related deaths of the natural wildlife, which can be contributed to the animals’ inability to effectively get to water due to restricted breathing. This can mean that prey doesn’t have the ability to escape a predator and that panting animals lack the ability to cool their body temperature.

The declining air quality and the increase in air pollution is a serious problem that has a world wide impact. The long reaching effects of air pollution can be found over every continent to varying degrees, which means that at the continued rate of pollutant expulsion we will simply see countries that declare summer humidity to be potently unhealthy. We could eventually see the eradication of summertime activities.

Simple changes can help increase air quality and decrease air pollution. If every country decreased its rate of air pollution by just ten percent in the next twelve months we would literally buy the planet ten years of better air quality.

A worldwide reduction of 30% would give the planet’s trees a chance to create enough clean oxygen to prevent the decline of health seen in those with respiratory issues. Governments around the globe are becoming stricter and implementing air pollution laws, but the situation is still severe.

Getting the whole world on board with air pollution reduction by percentages presents unique and challenging problems. There are many countries which do not host companies that can afford to change the industry’s methods of production.

Closing the production plant in an already impoverished country creates even further human difficulties. Thus, many of the developing countries are looking toward the developed countries to make changes in their production emissions to counter the damage done in countries that can’t afford to make the changes.

Public education and motivation is another big part of reducing poor air quality and pollution. Encouraging individuals to car pool, bike when possible, walk, or use public transportation for their daily needs could be enough to reduce vehicle emissions by 5%.

If everyone who left the home to work took an alternative form of transportation one day per week, the emission reduction would add up. Cities like Virginia Beach and Norfolk, VA that are building light rails to interconnect their cities are expected to reduce vehicle emissions significantly over the next five years as drivers will have a cheaper and faster alternative to move throughout the cities and into their neighboring city.

Every small change that we make to reduce air pollution increases our potential to improve the air quality, making it easier for those with and without respiratory illnesses to breathe and remain healthy.

It is important to note that air pollution and air quality studies are performed throughout the world, and there are variables that can impact the prediction percentages of improvement. However, the one single constant that most of know without the benefit of a study is that reducing our impact on the Earth’s atmosphere is the key to improving air quality and creating a safer and more enjoyable world for us and our next generation.