Have you ever woken up with a sore throat or a headache and realized that the air outside is foggy and polluted? According to the latest report by the WHO (World Health Organization), 99% of the population in 2019 lived in places where the WHO air quality guidelines did not meet. The truth is that millions of people around the world are unknowingly breathing in harmful air pollutants every single day.
What is Air Pollution?
Air Pollution is the contamination of air by harmful substances. These substances called pollutants can be physical, chemical, or biological. Some of the sources of these pollutants are our vehicles, factories, power plants, etc. Some common air pollutants are
Particulate matter: Tiny particles suspended in the air that can be inhaled in the lungs.
Nitrogen dioxide: A gas emitted from vehicles and industrial activities.
Sulfur dioxide: A gas that is mainly produced by burning fossil fuels like coal.
How Does Air Pollution Affect Our Health?
Breathing polluted air daily can lead to a range of serious health issues. Here’s how air pollution impacts our bodies:
Respiratory problems: Air pollution can irritate our lungs, leading to coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It can also worsen your existing respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis.
Lung Cancer: Long-term exposure to air pollution can damage your lung tissue and increase the risk of lung cancer.
Brain Damage: Many studies revealed that breathing PM 2.5, even at a low level can alter the size of a child’s developing brain, which ultimately leads to cognitive and emotional problems later in adolescence.
Heart Disease: Exposure to air pollution has been linked with an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases.
What can we do?
While we can’t control the air quality on a global level, there are some precautionary measures we can take to protect ourselves and our families:
Check the air quality index: Almost every city now has its own air quality monitoring system that provides real-time information about air quality.
Limit outdoor activities: When air pollution levels are high, it’s best to stay indoors, especially for sensitive groups like children, the elderly, and people with respiratory problems.
Support clean energy initiatives: A major cause of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels in thermal power plants for electricity generation. By encouraging clean energy initiatives like solar and wind power, we can significantly reduce air pollution.
By taking these steps we can help reduce the impact of air pollution on our health and create a cleaner and healthier future for coming generations.
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