Photosynthetic Masks and Global Warming
Mizuki Hashimoto
Otsuma Ranzan Junior High School
The environmental issue that worries me most is greenhouse gasses, the main cause of global warming.
I say this because while ice on earth has started to melt and there are countries that are beginning to sink, some countries continue to emit huge volumes of greenhouse gasses. Japan too set a goal in the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emission of six types of greenhouse gasses by six percent over the five year period 2008-2012, but has actually increased emission by eight percent. My concern is that although we talk about fighting global warming, nothing much has improved.
Global warming is largely caused by greenhouse gasses. Of these, the substances regarded as being the main cause of global warming are carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Carbon dioxide is mostly produced by people’s breathing and combustion of fossil fuels.
On the other hand, nitrogen oxides are mostly produced when fossil fuels are used. The warming effect of nitric oxide-a type of nitrogen oxide that is also a greenhouse gas-is 310 times that of carbon dioxide. Moreover, nitric dioxide, another type of nitrogen oxide, also causes phenomena such as acid rain and photosynthetic smog.
I think greenery campaigns are the best means of reducing carbon dioxide. This is because plants photosynthesize and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, and although plants do emit carbon dioxide at night, they absorb a greater quantity during the day when the sun is out. So, having more plants can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide. Vegetation in urban areas declined rapidly due to increases in the number of buildings. However, having learned that this affects global warming, campaigns are being launched to increase greenery and remedy this situation. Rooftop gardens and the planting of grass in school play grounds also serve this purpose.
As a means of reducing carbon dioxide, I would like to propose development of products that use chloroplast in a similar way to photosynthesis in plants.
My first proposal is a photosynthetic mask. Chloroplast would be jellified and a pocket would be incorporated into the mask where it covers the mouth. The chloroplast gel would then be inserted into this pocket. The chloroplast would be made so that it is effective for one day. By wearing this mask when they go out, people could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide they emit while breathing. Moreover, a system could be created to collect used chloroplast gels and utilize them as compost in much the same way as leaves.
Furthermore, if it is possible to interweave chloroplast into fibers without losing its efficacy, it could be all the more effective. Using such fibers in masks and clothing would make conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen possible in many different places. On a farm, for example, lining cattle sheds and so forth with fabric made of these fibers could help to reduce the carbon dioxide emitted when animals breathe.
Filters are currently used in many ways. If the efficacy of chloroplast could be incorporated into these filters, they could reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted during combustion of fossil fuels. Installing such filters on all exhaust outlets could have a huge effect. We have to continue coming up with ways of converting carbon dioxide emissions into oxygen.
As a child I often caught tadpoles and crawfish, played “Tarzan” on a thick rope tied from a tree branch, and got covered in mud as I played in nature. In order to allow the next generation to experience and enjoy the same smell of soil and greenery, I would like to reduce waste and do what I can to improve the environment along with my engagement in greenery campaigns. I will do my best to stop global warming even a little bit sooner. Finally, I would like to think of ways to spread ideas and actions however small, not just in Japan, but throughout the world.