Causes

Because of an increase in air pollution, one is more likely to catch a disease that can’t be cured with medicine, but by cleaning the air.  In CT, over 10,000 deaths were from heart and lung diseases, which are contracted from air pollution. Some of the diseases that contributed to this statistic include heart disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory disease.  One might assume that in a rural or suburban area such as Connecticut, there wouldn’t be many cases of air pollution diseases due to a lack of cities.  But in reality, in 2017, Connecticut was 3rd ranked in most cases of heart disease (cdc.gov).  They are now ranked 17th, but the number is still really high (beckershospitalreview.com).  What is sad is the fact that Connecticut is 17th, but they had almost the same number as they did in 2017.  That means that 14 states’ air pollution had increased drastically in three years

Because air pollution can also get into your brain, it will affect your mental health.  A study at Yale found that “more pollution in the air could be linked to higher rates of mental health service utilization” (medicine.yale.edu).  Particle matter has been found in the patients, which can cause hallucinations, which can lead to major long term mental health problems such as PTSD.  In the award winning film, “Batman Begins” starring Christian Bale and Michael Caine, Dr. Jonathan Crane (aka. Scarecrow), tests a psychotropic hallucinogenic on patients in order for them to hallucinate and make the patients, or as Crane would call them “crazies,” see things in a scarier way than they actually appear. His diabolical plan was to contaminate Gotham’s water supply with his gas, thus causing everyone fear.  In this case, our psychotropic hallucinogenic is air pollution, and it is already in the air and water.  It might not cause fear like Dr. Crane’s gas, but it still is as dangerous.

Moreover, as generations pass over, air pollution will get worse, and years will go by where the highest death rate is from air pollution.  But, the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) in New York, is trying to educate children on the harmful effects of air pollution.  “Young people need to understand that they can make a difference in our planet's health, too.” (dec.ny.gov)  In addition to air pollution being taught in schools, the DEC also has environmental education programs specifically created to teach kids about the effects of air pollution.  Hiking trails are open year round with regional programs.  There are even “DEC Environmental Education Camps for kids ages 11 to 17” (dec.ny.gov).  

Furthermore, most adults in CT are not aware of the current problem due to the lack of major cities.  All the information on Air Pollution can be found on portal.ct.gov, yet no one cares to check it and be updated on the current air pollution situation that Connecticut is not handling or taking seriously. According to petaluma360.com, a county created an AQI for school because of the recent outbreaks of hazardous air days.  Although this county is in California, it could still impact how other schools operate with their air quality.  And if we do not look to air pollution solutions, this is Connecticut’s future as well.