COMM 1312: Writing & Research
Dr. Ali Ghazo
Section: 101
Research Body
Solving Part of Pollution Problem by using Wind Energy
Name: Ahmed Al-Zahrani
ID: 200901729
Major: electrical engineering
Solving Part of Pollution Problem by using Wind Energy
Causes of Air and Water Pollution
The huge progress and development in the life style within the last century cost the humanity a
huge loss and complications, one of these complication is air and water pollution. The cause of air and
water pollution are too many and exists everywhere, (Kudesia & Kudesia, 2008, p. 81) mentioned that
one of the main source of air and water pollution is the use of low quality cool in thermal power stations,
other industries and these power stations change the nature of the climate, the trees, water and the grazing
lands. It omits a huge amount of ash and smoke containing very toxic gasses such as acid oxides of
sulphur and toxic fluorides. (McGranahan & Murray, 2003, P. 64) mentioned that a main reason of
particulate emission that is the main cause of air and water pollution in most developing countries is the
vehicles that are poorly maintained and the widespread use of diesel fuel. (Hester & Harrison, 1998, P.
37) stated that traffic exhaust is the main source of producing butadiene – colorless gas – into air;
Butadiene is rapidly transformed in the atmosphere by reaction with hydroxyl radicals, ozone and
nitrogen trioxide radicals. These reactions generate formaldehyde, acrolein and organic nitrates. (Abel,
1996, P. 5) said that many metallic pollutants are the cause of rivers water pollution; he said that in the
Ystwyth River; zinc and lead was the most abundant toxic agent and pollutants.
Many people agreed on the causes of air and water pollution, 73 percent of the survey population
agreed that producing electricity – power stations – is leading to air pollution; 17 percent agreed to some
extent and 10 percent disagree. 39 percent agreed that producing electricity are leading to water pollution;
17 percent agreed to some extent and 44 percent disagreeing. 87 percent agreed that smoke produced
from cars is a main cause of air pollution; 10 percent agreed to some extent and 3 percent disagreeing. 81
percent agreed that industrial factories are a main cause of air pollution, 16 percent agreed to some extent
and 3 percent disagreeing. 64 percent agreed that industrial factories are a main cause of water pollution,
26 percent agreed to some extent and 10 percent disagreeing. 30 percent agreed that we as individuals
contributing in air pollution, 16 percent agreed to some extent and 54 percent disagree that individuals
does not contribute in air pollution.
The survey population show that 39 percent agreed that turning off the extra lights off at their
residence can help in reducing the air pollution, 34 agreed to some extent and 27 disagreeing. 80 percent
agreed that keeping their vehicles in good shape is contributing in reducing air pollution, 14 percent
agreed to some extent and 6 percent disagree on that. 50 percent agreed that individuals can help earth
from pollution, 29 percent agreed to some extent and 21 disagreeing. 63 percent agreed that using general
transporting if exists is helping in reducing the air pollution, 20 percent agreed to some extent and 17
percent disagreeing.
Solving Part of Pollution Problem by using Wind Energy
Effects of Air and Water Pollution
The effect of pollution; especially air and water pollution has a huge effect in humans and other
living creatures, an example mentioned by Ritu Kudesia and P. Kudesia (2008, p. 16, 99) of the bad
effect of pollutants on health, they said that the dust and toxic gases in the air causes lung diseases and
cancer. They added that these pollutants have other effects on men and plants; it affects the throat, eyes,
skin and nose very badly; it is also reduces plants production and delayed its growth. (McGranahan &
Murray, 2003, P. 64) stated that there are many health effects of the traditional air pollutants such as
sulphur dioxide SO2 and carbon monoxide CO; they said that SO2 causes respiratory problems to people
with asthma; CO has a very bad effect on cardiovascular patients with angina. There is a very important
cause of pollution (Hester & Harrison, 1998, P. 11) mentioned that when people especially sick people
exposed to air with high levels of pollutants; this will contribute to death by bringing forward its time.
(Ballal & Al-Nahdi, 1988, P. 154) mentioned in their article that the potential air pollutants are too many
to be counted. However; the main ones arc chlorine, ammonia, and carbon monoxide. Pollutants from the
industry in the region may have serious effects on the population living in that area.
The eastern province is considered to be the most polluted area in the kingdom because it is the
main industrial region of petroleum products, many illnesses are associated with air and water pollution in
the area, 63 percent agreed that the eastern province is polluted more than other areas in the kingdom, 33
percent agreed to some extent and 4 percent disagree on that. The majority – 90 percent – of the survey
population agreed that that pollution causing health problems, 6 percent agreed to some extent and 4
percent disagree on that. The major health problem caused by the air pollution is connected to respiratory
system – asthma – which is very popular in the eastern province.
The Effect of Pollutants on Ozone Layer
The ozone layer is very important for protecting human beings and other living things from
harmful radiations, the hole in the ozone layer caused many diseases for people such as skin cancer,
(Kudesia & Kudesia, 2008, p. 16) mentioned that the experiments done by National ozone expedition
organized and sponsored by NSF, the Chemical Manufacture Association of the USA and NASA between
1986 to 2001 confirmed presence of increase of ozone hole. In 1982 the ozone hole was of the size of
18.5 km which has now increased up to the size of Australia, they added that any large scale reduction of
ozone content can have disastrous influence on all biological organisms including plants. (McGranahan &
Murray, 2003, P.35) mentioned that the formation of ozone layer in air is happened by the influence of
sunlight on mixtures of nitrogen oxides and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), they said that ozone is
Solving Part of Pollution Problem by using Wind Energy
removed from the atmosphere by reactions with nitric oxide and its concentrations vary with factors
associated with the processes of formation, dispersion and removal.
No question raised in the questionnaire about the ozone layer because it needs a level of
knowledge about the subject; some verbal questions were introducing to some people from the survey
population; many of them agreed that the ozone layer is very important to all types of living things on
earth; they added that the hole in the ozone layer is a main reason of the global warming and the main
cause of diseases such as skin cancer.
The Clean Power Sources Such as Solar, Water and Wind Energy
Many countries aimed to use clean power sources such as solar, water and wind energy to
minimize and in a way to eliminate the pollution sources, (Vergara & Deeb & Natsuko, 2010, P. 15, 16)
said that wind power is developing in a very fast way, the growth happened in this decade has overtook
manufacturing capabilities, even the economic activity has increased in many countries because they now
can have the power to be productive. They added that the wind power became competitive to other
powers such as hydro power. They added that seasons such as summer and winter affects the production
rates of electricity compared by hydro power; they said that in summer the wind farms are more
productive because there is lack of water in which it reduces the production of hydro energy. (Chiras,
2009, P. 21) mentioned a very important fact about the use of wind energy; wind is a universal resource
of power and it is not distributed equally through the world, if the windiest locations are used to produce
energy this could provide 13 times more electricity than is currently produced worldwide; this will play a
vital role in creating a sustainable future.
Many questions rose in the survey questionnaire about the use of clean energy, 73 percent of the
survey population agreed that solar energy can be used to reduce air and water pollution, 17 percent agree
in some extent and 10 percent disagree. 49 percent agreed that there are green energy sources that can be
used instead of fossil fuel, 31 percent agree to some extent and 20 percent disagree. 71 percent agreed that
wind can be used as source of electricity, 16 percent agreed to some extent and 13 disagree.
Wind Turbine
Wind turbine is the main and first step of generating power using the wind power; (Anaya &
Olimpo & Ekanayake, 2009, P. 2, 5, 7) mentioned that the turbines should be installed in high areas to
have the highest wind speed. They added that the power introduced from the wind turbine depends on the
power curve because it gives a stable state power output of electricity. They said that there are two
designs of turbine, horizontal axis and vertical axis turbines; the best turbine for commercial use is the
Solving Part of Pollution Problem by using Wind Energy
horizontal axis turbine. (Wikipedia, 2012) in the article wind power it mentioned that nearly all large
wind turbines have similar designs, the horizontal turbine have upper wind rooter having a number of
three blades. (Anl, 2010) in his article mentioned the wind turbine sizes and its power ratings; he said that
the turbines are exists in different sizes, there production rates from 50 kilowatts to wind turbines that can
produce enough electricity for 1400 homes.
By discussing the survey questions related wind turbine, 64 percent agreed that our region can be
benefitted from wind energy, 30 percent agreed to some extent and 6 percent disagree. 64 percent agreed
that the government policies affect using the green sources of energy such as solar and wind energy, 29
percent agreed to some extent and 7 percent disagree. 64 percent agreed that our position near the sea can
help in producing electricity, 30 percent agreed to some extent and 6 percent disagree. 46 percent agreed
that wind energy is a main source of producing electricity in some countries, 30 percent agreed to some
extent and 24 percent disagree.