Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Economics Negative Externality Pollution Negative Externality Pollution Pollution has become a heated issue in recent years. The destruction of the environment along with serious health problems are the eventual effects. The extensive use and availability of automobiles, tremendous amounts of production in the booming economy and the constant increase in demand for energy, can be held responsible. Pollution and its effects can definitely be categorized as negative externalities. Although millions are inevitably responsible, nobody in their right mind enjoys being subjected to these conditions. Long-term affects of air pollution include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Continual exposure to air pollution affects the lungs of growing children and may aggravate or complicate medical conditions in the elderly. Currently there is much being done to limit the amount of pollution being released in the environment. There are federal regulations as well as state regulations on the amount of discharge that can be released. In such events as the Montreal Protocol, about 180 countries have come together in an attempt to eliminate the release of all chlorofluorocarbons, (CFC’s), in the near future. CFC’s are responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer. Finally, the EPA has the ability to levy taxes of 50,000 on companies for each ton of glop created. There are many pros and some cons to the current policies being conducted. The overall increase in protection against such harmful pollutants is extremely obvious. By limiting the amount of pollution will diminish the risk of health problems caused by these toxins. Now many industries have gotten involved with a technique called carbon trading in which those with high pollution releases buy the rights to pollute from others with low amounts of releases. This is a controversial approach to reduce pollution because it allows unnecessary amounts of pollution to be released. If companies chose to sell their rights, what they sell would not have been used in the first place; now they will be used by companies who can afford to purchase them. It is extremely expensive to purchase these rights, however some major companies can do so. In my opinion, all pollution standards should be tightened but over a period of time. I agree totally that pollution is out of hand at the current time, however it is a problem that has built up for many years and can’t be solved all at once. I feel that it is somewhat unfair to those companies who depend on their current status. By implementing procedures and regulations that are to occur over a period of time, it allows many companies to adjust gradually. I also feel that this policy of carbon trading should be eliminated. Although it does generate income for industries that currently comply, it allows many others to evade responsibility. I also feel that such things as public transportation and carpooling should be stressed. It provides an alternative that will drastically cut down on the current emissions problems. Finally, it is easy to blame the large corporations for the current pollution problems, however, we must remember that some of it starts with us. We are the ones who take the use of cars for granted and use excessive amounts of energy. We too can make a difference! Bibliography: n/a Word Count: 545
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