Air pollution could be defined as any substance that can harm the environment and living beings. Air pollution can be classified as visible and invisible. We can divide air pollution into two types, primary air pollutants and secondary pollutants (Miller). The damage caused by air pollution varies from place to place, depending on climate, social factors and geography. For example, the air pollution problem in Beijing differs from that of Los Angeles due to regional factors specific to both places. In Saudi Arabia, the air pollution problem is unique in that it is caused by the massive automotive industry, and efforts to address the problem must also consider cultural and location differences to solve this problem. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay According to the US National Park Service, which takes care of special places such as national parks, historic places, and open spaces, they have defined the different types of pollution in their website which states that primary pollutants are sources of pollution; while secondary pollutants are chemical changes in the atmosphere, which develop from primary pollutant sources (National Park Service). The source shows that pollution leads to and develops other problems. An example of indoor pollutants is cooking and heating with biomass, while outdoors it is the inefficient combustion of fuels for transport and energy production (OMS). Motor vehicles have caused many problems for humans and the environment. In my country, Saudi Arabia, there is only one primary means of transportation, the car. The automobile is the most important means of transportation in Saudi Arabia because public transportation is discouraged. Many people prefer privacy in individual vehicles, and due to the heat, public transportation is uncomfortable. For many years, it has been commonly believed in Saudi Arabia that public transport is only safe for men. Also, legally, women cannot be in public without a guardian with them. As a result, the automobile also contributes significantly to air pollution because cars are the main source of transportation. Much of the Arabian Desert is located in Saudi Arabia, which has a hot climate. People tend to have larger vehicles like Land Cruisers and Jeeps to withstand harsh climates and weather changes. Larger vehicles consume more gas and pollute three to five times more than automobiles (“EPA”). Also, in the Kingdom people have larger families that all have to fit in one or two vehicles because women don't drive. Additionally, gas is extremely cheap, so vehicles that are generally considered “gas guzzlers” are acceptable in Saudi Arabia. In this case study we will examine the problems, causes and possible solutions related to air pollution caused by motor vehicles in Saudi Arabia. In many Saudi cities, motor vehicles are the cause of extreme smog. Smog affects overall air quality. In Saudi Arabia, problems related to motor vehicles are only amplifying due to their excessive use. In cities like Riyadh, smog is only amplified due to the harsh conditions. According to Julia Vergin's article “10 Worst Cities for Smog,” she puts Riyadh on this list by stating: “Dust storms, like here in Riyadh, can contribute to smog because they increase the amount of particles in the air . In a place like Saudi Arabia, the intenseultraviolet rays also transform emissions from transport and industry into ozone” (Vergin). Therefore, with these harsh conditions, the use of automobile transportation has only amplified this problem. In Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire, Abbey tells the story of a man who has invested money in the land to try to get rich in his future. Although the story is very interesting, the important aspect is that this story gets to the point that Abbey is trying to make. By overusing land and the money that can be made from it, instead of producing beneficial things from the land, it only brings destruction to those who overexploit it. This is similar in that in Saudi Arabia the excessive use of vehicles due to low gas prices will only cripple the environment. In American cities, which don't even appear on the list, the smog problem is not exacerbated by the climate. Instead, American cities only face smog caused by motor vehicles. Not driving is the solution; however this solution is not practical and would not be followed. In Saudi Arabia, many people work in different cities that are up to two hours away from where they live. According to the Christian Science Monitor, “Here, where gasoline is about three times cheaper than the water most Saudis drink, huge Lincoln Continentals and Cadillacs are selling well. Saudi Arabia represents one of the few remaining profitable markets for U.S.-built luxury cars” (CSM). It's easy to drive to work because gas is extremely cheap and the roads between cities are traffic-free. Imagine that a clear majority of people do this on a daily basis and that the already horrible pollution would only get worse. While in other parts of the world the price of petrol fluctuates greatly based on economic trends, in Saudi Arabia it remains low because Saudi Arabia is the main producer of petrol; while in the United States gasoline is much higher because companies have to first buy gasoline and then resell it. Furthermore, in Saudi Arabia there are only a few cities spread across the country that are tourist sites. This means that if you want to travel to experience more fun things outside of your hometown, you need to drive seriously. The logical way to reduce emissions is to depend on many other sources besides cars. In other parts of the world, the value of using public transport, cycling and walking when possible would be recognised. However, carpooling or using public transport is discouraged in Saudi Arabia. Families usually do not leave their women alone on buses and therefore take them in their own car. Given the structure of families and social mores, the car has become the preeminent means of transportation. Weather conditions make it difficult to use any form of transportation other than a refrigerated vehicle. Given the region's hot and arid climate, the air pollution problem is exacerbated by the fact that the environment in this region is already fragile due to weather conditions. If cars circulated less, emissions would be lower and the air would be cleaner (Miller). Furthermore, if Saudi Arabia could stop Saudis from using the vehicles irresponsibly, things could improve. In Saudi Arabia many people car surf on sand dunes. This implies that many Saudis drive for fun and not out of necessity. Unfortunately, there are few consequences for this trend. As you might imagine, the Kingdom has one of the highest fatal road accident rates in the world. There is a serious need for political changes for things to improve in the Kingdom. Some useful changes would include making the streets safer for the,.