Air pollution affects the environment, the climate and, most importantly, our health. Break
Who is affected by air pollution?
Harmful emissions are mainly generated from combustionfuel and forest fires. These processes affect 90% of people around the world; this is the percentage of people who breathe dirty air. In total, according to WHO data for 2021, every year about 7 million people die prematurely due to air pollution, this can be compared with the number of deaths from smoking.
Most deaths from dirty air occur in regions where income levels are at middle and low levels, primarily in Asia and Africa.
Air pollution levels in these areasis growing due to active urbanization and also because the main fuel is usually fossil fuels, such as gasoline. This happens because almost half of the world's population (more than 40%) cannot use modern types of fuel, for example, gas, biodiesel and hydrogen: they are minimally harmful to the environment.
Swiss manufacturer of cleaning systemsIQAir conducted a study and presented a rating of cities in the world with the worst air quality, in the first place was Bosnia and Herzegovina - the city of Sarajevo, then Lahore in Pakistan and the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk. Air quality indices (AQI) in these cities were in the region of 150–160 - this concentration is considered detrimental to health.
According to statistics, approximately 120 thousand people die in Russia every year due to air pollution.
How does polluted air affect a person?
The smallest air pollutants, regardless of our body's defense systems, can enter deep into the respiratory and circulatory systems, where they destroy the lungs, heart and brain.
WHO notes that this is a global problem, accounting for 24% of all deaths of adults due to heart disease. A quarter from stroke, and 29% from lung cancer.
Researchers from the University of Chicago foundthat the life expectancy of people living in India is reduced by six years every year due to air pollution. Depending on the region, this figure can rise to nine years.
But, according to a UN report that was released in September 2021, 43% of countries do not have a definition of "air pollution", these states do not have air quality standards.
How are different countries tackling air pollution?
To combat global pollution there wasPradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana launched. After two years of work in India, she helped bring free gas supplies to the homes of 37 million people living below the poverty line. This fuel, the WHO notes, has a significantly smaller impact on the environment and will help reduce emissions.
New environmental solutions are being developed in Mexico Citystandards for vehicles and introduce special buses with soot-free emissions. The authorities are also planning to ban passenger cars with diesel engines: the sanction should come into force in 2025.
WHO at the end of September 2021 published new“Air Quality Guidelines” in which representatives of the organization reduced the permissible level of concentration of fine and coarse particles in the air: this is the finest dust that is formed in industrial enterprises, highways and when burning coal.
In 2020, President Xi Jinping saidduring a speech at the UN General Assembly that the country will reach a peak in carbon emissions by 2030, and will come to carbon neutrality by 2060.
Among the main causes of air pollution arewastage of energy, industrial production, agriculture, urban transport, as well as coal and thermal power plants. All these conditions can be controlled, the amount of work can be reduced if possible and its efficiency can be increased at the same cost.
But there are also factors that are more difficult to control, for example, sandy air pollution and dust, natural disasters, as well as meteorological and seasonal conditions.
How do I know how dirty the air is in the place where I live?
The UN has created a portal where you can find outthe level of cleanliness of the atmosphere in the place where you live. For example, according to data as of October 26, 2021, the air quality in Moscow has gone beyond the safe level. Most often, residents of the capital die from coronary heart disease caused by polluted air.
The air quality index can still be tracked on the IQAir website. Russia also has a public air quality monitoring system.
What can I do to reduce air pollution?
There are several rules that will help make the air around you cleaner. First, reduce gasoline costs. If possible, walk as much as possible, ride public transport or ride a scooter.
You also need to reduce your consumption levelelectricity, since its production also produces emissions. Buy goods that are made in your area or region: this reduces the carbon footprint of transporting goods from abroad and within the country.
In addition, you can reduce the impact of contaminatedair on the body if you do not walk along the roadway during rush hour and try not to be driving a car in the middle of a traffic jam at this time, stay away from highways and highways, and also do not burn waste.
If you are concerned about the air quality youIf you ventilate the room, you can install supply ventilation with a filter that “brings” air from the street into the room and cleans it. Experts also recommend purchasing a humidifier if the air is too dry. You can also use a purifier to filter out suspended particles and gases.
The quality of the inhaled air affects not onlyour life, but also the health of children and grandchildren: their lungs are just beginning to develop, and the body is not yet able to process chemicals and harmful elements.
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