Most people remember celebrating Earth Day in elementary school — from the erupting baking soda and vinegar volcanoes to sprouting pea plants on a windowsill, it seemed more like a day for crafts and fun experiments than about recycling. Beyond that, however, Earth Day holds a much deeper significance that many people don’t fully understand.
According to Study.com, in 1970, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the idea of a “national teach-in on the environment.” Nelson, along with co-chair Congressman Pete McCloskey, and national coordinator Denis Hayes of Harvard University, recruited 85 individuals to help promote the concept around the country. On the first celebration of Earth Day on April 22, 1970, approximately 20 million citizens gathered and engaged in various activities to promote a healthy environment. Since then, Earth Day has helped found The United States Environmental Protection Agency, and subsequently several acts, such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. Today, the holiday is the largest non-secular celebration in the world.
But, why should you care? Chances are, you know that littering is bad and utilizing a reusable water bottle is better than a plastic one. We, generally, know what we can do to be a bit more eco friendly, but we don’t always know why it’s important. Unfortunately, it can be a matter of life and death.
According to The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), outdoor air pollution can lead to a variety of health problems, including heart and asthma attacks, bronchitis and even premature death. That doesn’t even account for acid rain, visibility impairment and the diminishing of the protective ozone layer. This pollution can be traced back to things like power plants, gas stations or natural processes like wildfires or volcanic eruptions. In addition, the EPA states that indoor air quality problems can cause eye irritation, dizziness, fatigue, respiratory diseases and cancer. This can be created by environmental tobacco smoke, dust and mold or by volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are emitted gases from certain liquids or solids, like paint strippers, aerosol sprays or air fresheners. It is estimated that our indoor environment may be two to five times more toxic than our outdoor environment. This doesn’t even begin to touch on the problems pollutants can cause for animals, heritage sites or biodiversity.
This is the importance of Earth Day. Sure, some pollutants are naturally occurring, but what we can do to decrease our anthropogenic impacts is what counts.It seems like common sense that we do what we can to slow the degeneration of our environment, especially when our habits can create a slew of problems for our own health. If you can make a decision now to help make the world a healthier place for everyone, why wouldn’t you do it? Use Earth Day as a chance to educate yourself on the environmental impacts of your daily habits and take the steps necessary toward reducing your footprint.
