In many respects, environmental problems are global problems. People all over the world are threatened by the health effects of air pollution and water pollution. Energy use, overpopulation, and mercury production in one part of the world can affect those who live elsewhere. There are, however, aspects of environmental problems which vary from one region to the next. Latin America presents a unique set of environmental issues.
AIR POLLUTION
In Latin America, levels of urbanization and motor vehicle use are higher than in most other developing regions throughout the world. Almost ¾ of residents of Latin America live in urban areas. For example, Mexico's population numbers almost 100 million, of which three quarters live in cities. Residents of urban areas experience greater exposure to air pollution. In much of Latin America, motor vehicles emit more pollutants than they do in the U.S. whose Clean Air Act has significantly improved air quality. For example, although a large number of industries are located in and around São Paulo, the 7.8 million vehicles in daily use are considered to be the source of most of the air pollution. Tetraethyl lead, when added to gasoline, prevents premature explosion but unfortunately, it is also a neurotoxin, and its release can affect brain development in children. Since 1976, all new cars and trucks in U.S. run on unleaded on unleaded gasoline and annual lead emissions have dropped dramatically. Unfortunately, unleaded gasoline is a little more expensive than leaded gasoline and some developing nations still use leaded gasoline. Leaded gas is still used in Mexico City, where 85% childhood diseases are blamed on air pollution and 32 tons of lead emissions are released per day. Although the U.S. banned tetraethyl lead since 1975, this country still ships it to other countries.
Throughout the world, asthma is estimated to cause one in every 250 deaths (Singh, 2005). In the following photo, the most commonly used gas "Comun" is leaded.
ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER
The average American uses 300 liters of water per day for personal use. Most of the world's population survives with far less. Access to clean water can vary significantly; for example, one area of Chile hasn't received rain in recorded history while one region of India received 72 feet in a year. In many areas throughout the world, water is being extracted from the ground at rates which are causing the levels of underground aquifers to drop dramatically. The main aquifer under Mexico City sinking 11 ft/year and water is now being pumped 1,000 meters high to reach Mexico City.
The northern third of Mexico generates nearly 1/3 of the gross domestic production receives only about 4% of the annual rainfall. Southeastern Mexico, which composes about a fifth of the land area, receives half of Mexico's rainfall. Although Mexico possesses about 2% of the world's population, it receives about 1% of the world's water and many areas suffer water shortages during drought. Mexico City imports water to meet a third of its demand. Recent water reform strategies in Mexico have decentralized the control of water resources. Increased management by private industry has had mixed results and has not increased the efficiency or sustainability of water use in Mexico. Water is not only important for drinking and irrigation but also for recreation. Pollution limits the amount of fresh water which is fit for human activity.
Below is a picture of a popular river in Paraguay.
AIR POLLUTION
In Latin America, levels of urbanization and motor vehicle use are higher than in most other developing regions throughout the world. Almost ¾ of residents of Latin America live in urban areas. For example, Mexico's population numbers almost 100 million, of which three quarters live in cities. Residents of urban areas experience greater exposure to air pollution. In much of Latin America, motor vehicles emit more pollutants than they do in the U.S. whose Clean Air Act has significantly improved air quality. For example, although a large number of industries are located in and around São Paulo, the 7.8 million vehicles in daily use are considered to be the source of most of the air pollution. Tetraethyl lead, when added to gasoline, prevents premature explosion but unfortunately, it is also a neurotoxin, and its release can affect brain development in children. Since 1976, all new cars and trucks in U.S. run on unleaded on unleaded gasoline and annual lead emissions have dropped dramatically. Unfortunately, unleaded gasoline is a little more expensive than leaded gasoline and some developing nations still use leaded gasoline. Leaded gas is still used in Mexico City, where 85% childhood diseases are blamed on air pollution and 32 tons of lead emissions are released per day. Although the U.S. banned tetraethyl lead since 1975, this country still ships it to other countries.
Throughout the world, asthma is estimated to cause one in every 250 deaths (Singh, 2005). In the following photo, the most commonly used gas "Comun" is leaded.
ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER
The average American uses 300 liters of water per day for personal use. Most of the world's population survives with far less. Access to clean water can vary significantly; for example, one area of Chile hasn't received rain in recorded history while one region of India received 72 feet in a year. In many areas throughout the world, water is being extracted from the ground at rates which are causing the levels of underground aquifers to drop dramatically. The main aquifer under Mexico City sinking 11 ft/year and water is now being pumped 1,000 meters high to reach Mexico City.
The northern third of Mexico generates nearly 1/3 of the gross domestic production receives only about 4% of the annual rainfall. Southeastern Mexico, which composes about a fifth of the land area, receives half of Mexico's rainfall. Although Mexico possesses about 2% of the world's population, it receives about 1% of the world's water and many areas suffer water shortages during drought. Mexico City imports water to meet a third of its demand. Recent water reform strategies in Mexico have decentralized the control of water resources. Increased management by private industry has had mixed results and has not increased the efficiency or sustainability of water use in Mexico. Water is not only important for drinking and irrigation but also for recreation. Pollution limits the amount of fresh water which is fit for human activity.
Below is a picture of a popular river in Paraguay.
DISEASE
A number of diseases can be transmitted through water such as cholera, typhoid fever, giardia, hepatitis, and polio. Five hundred types of pathogenic microbes can be present in feces. According to the UN, dirty water and water-born diseases cause 25,000 deaths daily in the developing nations and about two million children will die annually from diarrhea. Paraguayans whose water access was comparable to mine were rightly concerned about how cholera might spread should it ever reach Paraguay.
Here is a link to more information
http://www.thelancet.com/commissions/planning-cancer-control-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean
A number of diseases can be transmitted through water such as cholera, typhoid fever, giardia, hepatitis, and polio. Five hundred types of pathogenic microbes can be present in feces. According to the UN, dirty water and water-born diseases cause 25,000 deaths daily in the developing nations and about two million children will die annually from diarrhea. Paraguayans whose water access was comparable to mine were rightly concerned about how cholera might spread should it ever reach Paraguay.
Here is a link to more information
http://www.thelancet.com/commissions/planning-cancer-control-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean