Air Pollution
Public Awareness on Air Pollution
Indian cities have some of the most polluted air in the world, according to most global air quality databases. A majority of cities, including both mega cities as well as smaller cities are emerging as pollution hotspots with ordinary citizens facing severe health impacts. It is clear that public participation plays a key role in the successful implementation of air quality interventions. For this, it is necessary to get a sense of the priorities and current levels of awareness so that public engagement efforts can be better defined and implemented..
Facts about air pollution:
- Nine out of ten people worldwide do not breath safe air.
- Air pollution kills 7 million people every year globally, 4 million of whom die from indoor air pollution.
- A microscopic pollutant (PM 2.5) is so tiny that it can pass through mucus membrane and other protective barriers to damage lungs, heart, and brain.
- The key pollutants include particulate matter, a mix of solid and liquid droplets arising from fuel combustion, nitrogen dioxide from road traffic; ozone at ground level, caused by the reaction of sunlight with pollutants from industrial facilities and vehicle emissions; and sulphur dioxide, and invisible gas from burning fossil fuels like coal.
- Children and old persons are highly affected by air pollution.
- Air pollution is also responsible for climate change.
Prevention mesures to protect air pollution:
- Limit walking on busy streets during rush hour, and if you have a young child with you, try and lift them up above the level of vehicle exhausts.
- Don’t burn waste as the smoke that results damages the health.
- Promote use of renewable energy.
- Enhance plantation such as urban forest and green roofs for reducing pollution in urban areas.
- Turn of lights and electronics not in use.
