Air pollution has been an ever-growing concern in the world. With the rise of fossil fuels and industry, air quality has been declining around the world. While this is not novel information, recently, rapid developing cities have been highlighted as producing hazardous levels of air quality. Air pollution causes adverse health effects such as lung and heart disease, respiratory problems, asthma attacks, and more. One of these critical level cities is Delhi, India. Just a few months ago a health emergency was declared due to the worsening air pollution levels. Pictures of roads and sidewalks shadowed by a permanent gray fog appeared in newspapers and even social media caught wind of the issue, with Snapchat having a story with citizens sending videos with masks on and kids being sent home from school. This paper delves into the background and current knowledge around the air pollution problem as caused by motor vehicles while analyzing potential solutions to the problem. Delhi is one the largest cities in the world with approximately 19 million people. With such a large population in a congested area there is bound to problems with health. While Delhi has always suffered from poor air quality, recently the situation has worsened. The US Embassy measures PM2.5 constantly under EPA standards, and as of today the air quality index is at 212, corresponding to “very unhealthy”. According to the US Embassy website, “AQI values between 201 and 300 trigger a health
Pollution continues to pose an enormous threat to residents of urban cities worldwide. In the August 2008 Monthly Update, it is stated that approximately 800,000 deaths each year can be attributed to outdoor air pollution, making pollution the single most harmful environmental hazard to human health in urban areas (Kallman). The fact that pollution kills hundreds of thousands of people each year alone portrays just how dangerous living in these conditions can be. Kallman writes about a study which proves an increase in upper respiratory diseases, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, and low birth weights when exposed to air pollutants (August 2008: Monthly Update). These can be very serious diseases and complications which, when contracted, can lead to death or very serious illnesses. There
In the past decade, the severe air pollution problem in fast developing countries, particularly in China, has caused highly social and scientific attention. In 2014, 92 % of the world population are exposed over to the WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) PM2.5 concentration level of 10 μg/m3 (World Health Organization, 2016). Ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution ranked as the third leading risk factor in India and Nepal, and ranked as the fifth in China (GBD 2015 Risk Factors Collaborators, 2016). In 2012, about 3 million deaths globally were attributed solely to ambient air pollution, and around 87% of it occurred in low- and middle-income countries (World Health Organization, 2016).
From November 1-9, 2016, there was horrible smog that went through Delhi, India. The reason that the smog was so deadly is because in the smog there was a dangerous particle that was roaming in the air. The particle is called PM 2.5. Having PM 2.5 in the air was more than 16 times the limit that the government of India thought was safe (Barry 11). Delhi’s Chief minister called for emergency measures, including a five-day stop on construction, a 10 day closure of a power plant, and a three day closure of about 1,800 schools. Everyone was advised to wash their eyes with running water and to go to a hospital if you are experiencing problems like “breathlessness, giddiness, chest pain, and chest constriction (Barry 11). The way people survived was by wearing masks and by putting purifiers in rooms and staying there. It was very hard for people to get out of the house or to exercise. People couldn’t go out to eat or go to the movies. They can only go places where the air is purified (Barry 11). When it got cold the Delhi’s poor will burn trash and plastic for warmth which adds to the smog(Barry 11). Fireworks will also be set for the Hindu Festival Diwali which would add to the smog as well. There is also normal pollution like cars and construction. People would have to survive the first few days with the smog. “The damage from sustained exposure is the same as smoking more than two packs of cigarettes a day” (Barry 10). People are most likely to identify pollution as their health problems. It was hard for people to work when the government closed everything. There was not a lot of energy in delhi, being the powerplant was down. During the time the smog was in delhi, and when the government was trying to fix it. People could of done their part of helping the environment or even help other people. The article doesn't fully explain how the smog exited Delhi, but I know the air started to
Although thought to be “not a big problem” and “under control” by most people, pollution is making its way in being a serious and an unforgiving threat to society. Pollution a topic everyone hears and knows exists. What they don’t know is how serious of a problem it is already becoming. Many health issues are being reported now that are linked to air pollution and even the most severe weather places have encountered are linked to air pollution also. By society, not fully being aware of the true threat that pollution is making, it will only become a growing threat that they will be encountering.
Everyone in the New York metropolitan area breathes air that fails to meet the health standards, and citizens suffer serious health impact from breathing that dirty air. The relationship between air pollution and health affects everyone. Air pollution is constantly affecting people and putting them at sick, even though the degree of pollution is not at its highest. The public health significance of smoke, dust, gas, pollen, and microorganisms in the air are with a range of adverse health effects. These diseases spread and cause new disease to originate. Exposure to common urban air link to a wide range of adverse health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, asthma exacerbation, reduced lung function and premature death.
Rapid urbanization has caused a serious environmental problem especially air water pollution. Long history of industrialization has left cities dealing with a number of environmental issues. Air, land, and water pollution threatens to erode quality of life for many urban residents. Megacity, New York City has an increased number of cars due to the population and economic growth. Thus, car and traffic contribute to the air pollution, which poses major health effects due to the presence to heavy metals in car exhaust. Water pollutions is also another risk factor because water resources are becoming increasingly needed and millions of people are affected by unsanitary water. A city like New York, with an astonishing 8.5 million people, contribute to the water and air pollution immensely. Cuts to services has resulted in a gradual breakdown of urban infrastructure and services. This contributes to water and air pollution, ineffective waste management and environmental
Moreover, Traffic on the road is growing every day, due to which traveling time even for nearby place takes hours. besides this, the increasing number of cars on the road is one of the key reasons for the increase in air pollution.
New York City has a significant air pollution problem that causes death for hundreds of people year round. Researchers at NYU’s medical school have reported that just
Air pollution is one the effect of the environment problem that human is faced now a day. An air pollutant is the mixture of solid or fine particle and gases that are suspended in the air usually caused by human activities, and their inhaling is harmful to human body [1]. Recently in December 2015, the air quality in the city of Beijing in China was unhealthy that forced schools to close, outdoor constructions to halt and to reduce car traffics [2]. In New York City is not also immune to this scourge. According to New York Environmental Protection, air pollution in New York City is significantly environmental threat despite many improvements [3]. This research project investigates the indoor air quality at Hostos Community College. The objective
In areas where air pollution is often dangerously high, many suffer from respiratory illness. The “poor air quality increases respiratory ailments like asthma and bronchitis, heightens the risk of life threatening conditions like cancer and burdens our health care system with substantial medical costs” (Scientists). There has even been a “20% increase in ER and hospital admissions of patients with heart and lung diseases when particulate pollution peaks” (Roppolo). Since there are many contributors to increased illness from particulate matter, the government should impose a change. When such effects begin to burden the lives of many individuals, there has to be some course of action to resolve the issue. The government should require that all car companies begin manufacturing vehicles that are more fuel efficient, which would certainly limit the emissions by vehicles. If there are nearly “30,000 premature deaths each year” (Scientists) from vehicular pollutants, then there should be more “fuel-efficient technologies” (Lott). Though there are steps being taken, more progress needs to be
Imagine every time you breathed that you are inhaling toxic particles that can damage your body, Pollution in South Asia is one of the main causes of death. Each year 2.4 million people die due to this issue. Every single day 25 million people inhale unsafe particles. If you breath in the kind of particles that are in the air it can lead to lower respiratory infections, heart diseases, lung diseases, and cancer. According to Yale Date Driven, “In 2013, more than 20,000 premature deaths were blamed on the country’s foul air” (Yale). According to Triple Pundit, “The burning of fossil fuels, biomass, as well as diesel transportation, factories, power plants, and dust are the cause of air pollution” (Vijayaraghavan). India lacks water treatment, which causes the water to get polluted by sewage. That same water is used for the farmers irrigation. The poor water quality causes
Transportation is the largest source of air pollution in the United States. Air pollution kills globally more than any diseases. In 2013, transportation contributed more than half of the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, and almost a quarter of the hydrocarbons emitted into our air. We can reduce transportation, air pollution is different ways. By keeping our vehicle in well-tuned and tires inflated properly to reduce exhaust emissions. Also, avoid idling because it contains more pollute and combines errand into one trip. Air pollution can directly cause respiratory disease or exacerbate existing conditions in susceptible populations, such as children or the elderly and animal.
Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2017), air pollution is a contamination of both the indoor/outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that alters our natural environment; some of the most concerning pollutants of public health include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. As a result, there are numerous findings that show that air pollution is a very critical environmental health that has caused many health problems among
The enhancement of air quality may lead towards relief for the asthmatic patients as the poor air quality is considered as the main factor that can cause asthmatic attacks. The EPA should work towards relocating the industries causing pollution in the residential area so as to provide a good environment for the living beings where they can breathe fresh air without any pollutants. The ambient air quality standards are also being checked by the EPA and any breaches may result in subsequent action towards them. This may help towards providing a good living environment for the human beings where they can get fresh air to breathe, “Measuring Pollution Prevention”.
Air pollution levels have a large existence in big cities in Indonesia like Jakarta, Bandung, and so on. This problem happens because the number of motor vehicle use that is not limited [1]. Exhaust smog are the cause of air pollution which has the dangerous effects for people’s health. Exhaust smog is a result of burning fuel oil every motor vehicle. There are two types of burning fuel oil: the first is complete burning [2] and incomplete burning [3]. These types of burning have the differentiation in producing the remainder. Complete burning produces carbon dioxide as a result of remaining while incomplete burning produces carbon monoxide as a result of the rest. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are gases that are harmful to people’s health and could decrease ozone layer [4] [5]. Exhaust smog is hazardous to people’s health. Exhaust smog is a result of burning fuel oil [6]. Consequently, exhaust smog has possibility to contain carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gas. These harmful gases affect human respiration. Carbon monoxide makes the respiratory system becomes worse. Carbon monoxide will interfere with the process of hemoglobin in breathing [7]. As a result, people will not only feel lack of oxygen but also often feel dizzy and weak. In the other hand, carbon dioxide causes dizziness and fatigue to the sufferer [8]. In the prevention and reduction of the impact of exhaust smog, the Indonesian government decided all motor vehicle users have to check