Current Event #3

Air pollution exposure may increase risk of autism, schizophrenia

Air pollution in the atmosphere is raising suspicion to whether it actually increases the chances of multiple diseases. These diseases may have an effect on the heart and lungs of the surrounding people. Not only diseases such as these, but also one of our most important organs, the brain, may be at risk of afflictions from the poisonous gases as well. With the rising development of pollution in the Chicago area, scientists of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences came together to stress that the over exposure of these fumes, and the consistent intake, may induce an enlargement with the ventricles brain tissues. Toxins in the air holds boat-loads of metals and gases. These particles, that when small enough, can cause a person massive health complications. This is explained by an environmental professor of medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, when stating that, "[They] go all the way down into the bottom of the lung. Once they get to the bottom of the lung, they can be absorbed into the blood stream" (Slechta). Researchers tested this out on the brains of mice. When they "took the brains, and it had been a couple months since exposure, [they] couldn't find a brain region that didn't have inflammation going on" (Slechta). 

With the constant outbreak of air pollution, not only unveils our health to the risks of diseases, but as well as our environment. I can connect this with the sudden abnormal weather we have been having for the past month. We have recently received a collection of snowfall in our location, but a controversial debate arouse about the snow not melting. When close to a flame, the snow would only turn into a blackish color and excrete a foul stench. This topic has been spread throughout social media. Many believe it is the doings of the government that manipulated the real snow with foreign chemicals. My belief is that it is the doings of the pollution in the air. Snow is actually able to pick up pollution when in the air quite well, and with the pollution chemicals inside the snow.

Personally I think this contaminated waste in our breathing environment is bound to have an affect on our health. All this absorption of junk within our lungs and other significant body parts are going to get filled with all the chemicals that will eventually cause blockage. I'm not sure if it really does causes autism as well as schizophrenia, but by the looks of this article it does seem probable. I feel that we need to not let these toxins get into our air. If we all took the time and lessen the outflow of pollution, then our air, environment, and health conditions will decrease. Without this effort, more people are in danger of lowering their life quality. 

Short Answer 

How does the structure of the text refine and support the author’s claim? Use evidence from the selection to support your answer.

The structure of the text is refined and supported by the author's claims by bringing up the subject of how pollution is causing many different diseases in the first half. Then she proceeds to talk about the scientific research that was done in order to prove this. She also included quotes from the actual researchers that say that the pollution "tracks of what’s called ‘white matter.’ And they cross over the brain; they connect the two hemispheres. And in [there] mice, those are either missing, or never developed, or died. We don’t know which, but a lot of that is missing, and that too is very characteristic of autism and schizophrenia" (Slechta). 

Cecílio, Guilherme. "Untitled." Photograph. Flickr. Yahoo, 19 July 2008. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/85408714@N00/2699325735>.

Grush, Loren. "Air pollution exposure may increase risk of autism, schizophrenia." Fox News. Fox News Network, 18 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/02/18/air-pollution-exposure-may-increase-risk-neurodevelopmental-disorders/>.