2 Acid Rain and Smog.

Coal fired power plants are a huge contributor to the production of acid rain, when the toxins that are newly released from sources (power plants, motor vehicles, etc), already present molecules in the atmosphere, water vapor and warming temperatures combine together they produce the products of acid rain which are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. While acid rain does not contribute to the formation of Earth’s ground level ozone layer, the pollutants within acid rain highly contribute to the formation of the ground level ozone layer. The ground level ozone is located within the troposphere, this is considered the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere. The troposphere provides a majority of the air humans breathe in and regulates weather patterns. Iowa’s coal fired power plants contribute heavily to the formation of the elements within acid rain which also heavily contribute to the formation of the ground level ozone and depletion of the troposphere. Iowa choosing to switch from coal fired power plants to cleaner energy sources would positively impact Iowa’s air quality and the quality of air humans are breathing in.  Unfortunately we are actively depleting the troposphere layer and increasing the toxicants within the ground level ozone by maintaining coal fired power plants and other contributing factors. The inhalation of the particles hidden in the troposphere can further contribute to upper respiratory problems, decrease lung function and are highly dangerous to Iowans. While acid rain highly contributes to low air quality it also affects acidification levels in soil and water, acidification levels are very detrimental to Iowa’s agriculture industry. Decreasing the productivity in livestock and mutating DNA within plants the depletion of essential sources will alter the land of Iowa forever. Acid rain can be especially dangerous because it cannot be seen or smelled, this has led to most of Iowa not seeing acid as a local problem and false assumptions that acid rain is another state’s problems to deal with arise, Iowans need to stay educated that these assumptions are completely untrue. Acid rain may not currently be on Iowans radars, but local citizens are aiding in the decreasing air quality, destroying forests and polluting lakes in other regions. (EG)

Motor vehicles and transportation are another large contributor to poor air quality and smog formation in Iowa. Smog is the mixture of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ozone and other harmful pollutants. That mysterious haze we see settling over Iowa’s fields and prairies in the summertime, should not be so mysterious, it should be more strictly regulated as smog is highly dangerous to humans and in some cases can be lethal. Iowa’s high transpiration rates release a mass amount of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, these chemical pollutants are actively entering Iowans lungs and decreasing Iowa’s air quality. Something that should be noted within Iowa’s pollutant measurements “The nitrogen oxides measurements in Iowa began in 1976 and were discontinued after 1981 because the concentrations were far below the standard”. (CITE). Nitrogen oxide is still highly present within our air, but has decreased tremendously within recent decades. There seems to be a pattern with Iowa’s demographic as many of the local citizens believe they are not affected by the high concentration of chemicals that are hidden within Iowa’s air particles. Which highly aids in the low standardization of Iowa’s regulations, false beliefs and misconceived perceptions on air pollution. Smog, usually stereotyped as an urban problem has actually been observed in larger cities in Iowa such as Des Moines and Davenport, this pollutant has high potential to drift into rural areas. Which will affect the productivity of livestock and Iowa’s agriculture activities. In recent decades Iowa and the Earth as a whole has experienced consistently warmer temperatures year round and stagnant air patterns increasing the likelihood of smog formation. (EG)

As a local Iowan I am fully aware of how prideful we are in our agriculture activities and farming production. The agriculture industry is another major contributor to Iowa’s heavily polluted air and is affecting both rural and urban counties in this state. Within the past couple years greenhouse gases have quickly and steadily increased within our environment due to population growth, higher transportation rates and other contributing factors. Iowa agriculture contributes heavily to greenhouse gas emissions, specifically methane which is a highly toxic gas. Methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas and the most potent within the environment. Although methane has a considerably short lifespan, this greenhouse gas is so potent that it has the ability to contribute to the formation of other greenhouse gases including ozone and carbon dioxide. All of which are also hiding within Iowa’s air particles. “According to state estimates, agriculture contributes to 31 percent of Iowa’s greenhouse gas emissions, and is the state’s dominant emitter of methane”. (CITE?) Iowa has an extremely dense population of factory farms that house cattle and hogs, in result the production of methane. Which comes from a digestive process within both of these mammals, steadily increases. “Iowa today houses one-third of all U.S factory farmed hogs, over six times what the state did 40 years ago”. (CITE?) Iowa has actively embraced false solutions to manage methane and manure emissions and does not have consideration for decreasing these stats. (EG)