Why Aerosols Should Be Studied

     Many people are familiar with aerosols. They are present in hair spray, air freshener, and some shaving creams. But what are they and what do they really do? Aerosols are a mix of tiny particulates of liquids or solids and suspended in air. Natural sources of aerosols are volcanoes, dust storms, forest and grassland fires, living vegetation, and sea spray. Of these natural sources, only living vegetation and sea spray are somewhat harmless.

     Aerosols change the amount of incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial long wave radiation retained in the earth’s system. One example of how aerosols can affect climate is the many volcanic eruptions that have occurred throughout history. Many volcano eruptions can block out the sun and cause climate effects like global cooling and a shift in climate areas, leading to droughts, famine, and sometimes an increase in rain. Scientists believe that aerosols released by burning fossil fuels also contribute to these affects, though not in as great a scale as some of the worst volcanic eruptions in history.

     Aerosols should really be studied more. In addition to climate effects, it also affects health in humans and animals. The effects of inhaling particulate matter that have been studied in humans and animals include asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular issues, respiratory diseases, birth defects, and premature death. Aerosol pollution is estimated to cause 22,000-52,000 deaths per year in the United States, according to a 2000 survey. If aerosols are harming us in such a negative way, they really must be studied enough to understand them and their effects on the climate.