into
the air through their leaves.
They take in carbon dioxide, which is a molecule of two atoms of oxygen
and one atom of carbon. Plants use
the carbon in the process of photosynthesis, but release the oxygen back out
into the air.
The main source of air is all plants and trees.
Plants emit oxygen into
the air through their leaves.
They take in carbon dioxide, which is a molecule of two atoms of oxygen
and one atom of carbon. Plants use
the carbon in the process of photosynthesis, but release the oxygen back out
into the air.
There are many threats the basic human need of air. Examples of the threats are radiation, smog, and carbon monoxide. These threats all make it harder for human beings to get sufficient air to live on. Carbon Monoxide is especially a threat to humans getting enough air because it is a tasteless, colorless, toxic, scentless, flammable gas that cuts the oxygen supply off from the body, so there is no way to detect it in the air, making it even more dangerous. (Iowa University, pg 1) Carbon monoxide is formed when fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas, are burned in an atmosphere lacking oxygen. When fossil fuels are burned under normal circumstances, each atom of carbon from the fuel links up with two atoms of oxygen, forming harmless carbon dioxide. But, when fossil fuels are burned in a atmosphere without a lot of oxygen, each atom of carbon is only able to hook up with one atom of oxygen, now forming carbon monoxide. When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it attaches to the hemoglobin in the bloodstream. Since carbon monoxide attaches to hemoglobin 200 times easier than oxygen does, carbon monoxide essentially takes the place of oxygen in the bloodstream, so there is no way for oxygen to reach all the organs in the body. (Weibelhaus, Hansen, Hill, pg l)
Ways to prevent this deadly poisoning are available, but the majority of the
public does not take advantage of them because they are not always that
convenient. This Some examples of solutions to carbon monoxide are educating
people about the threat and how to help prevent poisoning, using carbon monoxide
detectors in homes and workplaces, finding alternate sources of
power. Educating people about the threat is a good solution because many
people don't know about carbon monoxide, and ignorantly put themselves in
dangerous positions for their health. This could be solved if more people
were aware of carbon monoxide and the threats it poses to their health.
Carbon monoxide detectors are available to buy at many home appliance
stores. These are like smoke detectors, except for
that they detect carbon
monoxide instead of smoke,
so they alert people of dangerous situations.
Alternate sources of power can completely stop the problem of carbon monoxide
because
then fossil fuels, which when burned, create carbon monoxide will not have to be
used.