Global Ambient Air Pollution

Written by Haarika Gogineni and Edited by Rasheed Majzoub

Environmental pollution in today’s world has reached a vast expanse of new heights, with statistics suggesting the presence of over 17.6 billion pounds of plastic waste contaminating oceans across the world [1]. In addition, 3 billion people are using fossil-fuels in everyday tasks such as cooking, heating, and lighting, generating vast amounts of pollution around the world [1]. 

Ambient air pollution is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the contamination of outdoor air caused by various pollution mechanisms such as industrial waste, large production facilities, vehicle emissions, and power generation [2]. The outdoor air can be contaminated through minuscule particles created by the aforementioned processes. These particles within the contaminated air can start to cause breathing problems and coughing, before progressing to more serious ailments that are capable of destroying the respiratory system, potentially causing death. According to the Harvard School of Public Health Sciences, air pollution was considered the lowest global health risk factor in 1990, linked to 560,000 deaths. Thirty years later, the mortality rate caused by ambient air pollution has risen to a staggering 7 million, representing one of the largest environmental health risks in the contemporary world [3]. Around 90% of the population in some way exhibit the health effects of this contamination of our atmosphere. Furthermore, it causes deaths in 1 of every 9 people globally via cardiovascular or respiratory disease or failure [4]. 

To help alleviate pollution, various agencies and governments worldwide attempted to establish initiatives to reduce health impacts. The Global Platform on Air Quality and Health is an organizational initiative led by the WHO that collaborates with over 50 different international agencies to monitor, implement, and manage policies centered around air pollution around the globe. Another notable initiative is in China, a country that is infamous for its widespread air pollution. China has recently concluded an 8-year plan, spanning from 2012 to 2020, with the goal of reducing premature deaths caused by ambient pollution exposure [5]. China focused its efforts on one specific contributing factor, PM_2.5, and related diseases caused by this particular form of air pollution. High levels of exposure to particulates less than 2.5 micrometers in size, (PM_2.5) are strongly linked to health risks that can cause premature death. Vulnerable populations include children, the elderly, immunocompromised patients, and pregnant individuals. The country attempted to reduce the concentration of PM_2.5 in ambient air by 30% through implementing various policies that would reduce emission, such as restricting modes of transportation, by encouraging the use of public transport or walking, over personal fuel-utilizing vehicles, etc [6].

Beyond the institutional level, every human being can help reduce the issue of air pollution.  We need to be more mindful of how we use energy and fossil fuels since the production of both causes major air pollution. A direct method of prioritizing the health of the environment is by looking for alternatives in our energy usage, as well as resourceful management of waste. Looking for alternatives includes asking yourself whether your leisure is worth the environmental cost; for example, one could make the choice of walking or using public transport rather than driving a car. Furthermore, turning off or unplugging high energy products when not in use could save a lot of wasted resources.

Another area to improve is waste management, which involves the need for a reduction in the amount of waste produced by each individual, as well as resourceful management of that waste. Everyone is capable of taking small steps to learn more about the various types of waste, such as compost and recycling, and methods to resource waste into another useful item. One way to cause clear improvement in our environment is by learning about where possible sources of waste and contamination might be stemming from in your community, and attempting to find ways to address the cause or reduce the effects. 

The issue of air pollution is a human-made problem that requires widespread human involvement to resolve. Small efforts day-to-day can make an enormous difference, not only on our local communities but the world around us.

References:

1. “Ocean pollution: 11 facts you need to know.” Conservation International, (n.d.), https://www.conservation.org/stories/ocean-pollution-11-facts-you-need-to-know. Accessed 5 April 2020.
2. “World Health Organization – Air Pollution and Health: Summary.” World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/airpollution/ambient/about/en/. Accessed 5 April 2020.
3. Lopez, A.D., Murray, C.J.L. (1996). The burden of disease in Singapore, 1990-2017 report: An overview of the global burden of disease study 2017 results.University of Washington, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Singapore, & Ministry of Health. 26-29
4. Pope, C. A. (2004). Air pollution and health—Good news and bad. New England Journal of Medicine. 351:1132–1134.
5. Cai, S., Wang, Y., Zhao, B., Wang, S., Chang, X., Hao, J. (2017). The impact of the “air pollution prevention and control action plan” on pm2.5 concentrations in Jing-Jin-Ji region during 2012–2020. Science of The Total Environment. 580:197–209.
6. Maji, K. J., Dikshit, A. K., Arora, M., Deshpande, A. (2018). Estimating premature mortality attributable to PM2.5 exposure and benefit of air pollution control policies in China for 2020. Science of The Total Environment. 612:683–693.