Facts and Figures on Air Pollution
- Air pollution refers to chemicals and
particulate matter in the atmosphere that is harmful to health
- Sources of outdoor air pollution include
cigarette smoke, emissions from vehicles and factories, burning of garbage
- Indoor air
pollution can be caused by smoke from wood or coal used for
cooking
- When volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) come in contact with
the ultraviolet rays the air, the ground level is ozone
is formed. This compound is harmful to
lungs and causes respiratory disease or aggravates pre-existing lung
conditions
- It is estimated
that 92% of the global population do
not breathe clean air
- Longterm effects
of air pollution are permanent and can affect the
heart, lungs, kidneys, nerves and brain
- Young children
and the elderly are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of air
pollution
- Uncontrolled air
pollution due to greenhouse gases
such as carbon dioxide results in global warming
- The Kyoto Protocol, established in
Japan, in 1997, is an agreement by 183 countries that they will actively
work towards reducing carbon emissions
- The WHO has issued new air quality guidelines in
2006 aiming to reduce air pollution-related deaths by 15% per year
Measures to
Reduce Air Pollution
- Use public transport
or decide to carpool, better still walk or cycle
- Opt for electrically powered transport and use electric cabs if available
- Turn off your
vehicle engine at stops and traffic signals
- Reduce intake of
dairy and meat and help to contain methane emissions
- Practice safe
garbage disposal; compost organic waste and segregate plastic and other
non-recyclable waste
- Avoid burning of
garbage
- Builders must
make eco-friendly green homes to reduce the carbon footprint
- Opt for
high-efficiency home equipment such as cooling and heating systems
- Turn off electric
gadgets and electricity when not in use
- Opt for eco-friendly and non-toxic paints and furnishings
History of
World Environment Day
World Environment Day is a
United
Nations-backed campaign to raise and
spread worldwide awareness about threats to the environment and measures to protect
our environment. Since it
began in 1974,
the campaign observed annually on the 5
th June has grown to become
the major platform working for the cause of saving the environment and is
celebrated in over 100 countries.
Each year a
theme of
environmental concern is chosen as the main focus to address during the
campaign and for the rest of the year to preserve the environment.
The event in
2018 was
hosted by India with the theme of 'Beating Plastic Pollution.'
World
Environment Day 2019 is
hosted by China, and the theme is
'Beating Air Pollution.' Each one of us has a responsibility to do our part either alone or as a group, directly or indirectly
and show our support and solidarity to protect and preserve our planet.
References : - World Environment Day 2019 - (https://www.greeningtheblue.org/event/world-environment-day)
- A healthy environment is the foundation of human life - (https://www.unenvironment.org/environment-you)
- Air pollution - (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/air-pollution/)
Source: Medindia
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