Air pollution is a huge problem, killing over 8 million people worldwide. Breathing contaminated air has the same health consequences as smoking cigarettes, including reduced lifespans and chronic diseases. That being said, it’s a problem that doesn’t affect everyone equally. Some people, especially those from low-income households, may not even have access to clean air.
Households in lower economic communities tend to experience the worst effects of pollution, especially those who live in neighborhoods near manufacturing areas. With limited resources to live in cleaner parts of their cities, many people have no choice but to accept their situation. However, it doesn’t have to be that way, and countries worldwide are starting to tackle the problem. Access to clean air is an intrinsic right for everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status.
Health Effects of Chronic Air Pollution
Before you find out how countries can reduce their air pollution, you should know how it affects vulnerable communities daily.
Shorter lifespans
Studies show that the higher the air pollution, the lower the longevity. A person living in the most polluted parts of the world has a reduced lifespan by five years or more.
Even in developed nations like the United States, you can directly see the connection between air pollution and premature deaths, especially among ethnic minorities and lower-income residents. As a result of decades of redlining and segregation, many Black and Indigenous communities now live in more environmentally hazardous areas, resulting in shorter lifespans. Consider that for a moment. Even if you have a healthy lifestyle, living in a highly polluted part of a city can take years off an individual’s life.
Prone to chronic illnesses
When living somewhere with more air pollution, there’s a higher chance that communities and the people within will struggle with long-term illness. By breathing dirty air each day, a resident can suffer ailments from diminished lung capacity, respiratory infections, heart problems, and even cancer. When already sick or suffering from respiratory problems, the air can exacerbate health effects tenfold. Smog from factories, vehicle emissions, and traditional energy sources like coal and wood are some of the biggest culprits.
Children at risk
Did you know that 9 out of 10 children live in places with toxic air? At risk communities are adversely affected by air pollution every day, but children are the ones who suffer the most. A child is still developing, making them sensitive to the surrounding environment. Compared to low pollution communities, mothers have a higher chance of miscarrying when pollution goes above minimum exposure levels. Exposure to air pollution can trigger asthma and cancer in children, as well as damage their neurodevelopment.
Countries With High Air Pollution
Pakistan
This South Asian country is still the fourth most polluted country in the world. Ninety-five percent of Pakistanis live in areas with hazardous air. Some Pakistanis in the poorest and most polluted places are at risk of living up to seven years less. Factory and vehicle emissions remain high, and many subsistence farmers are still engaging in seasonal crop burning.
Air pollution has created such a public health crisis the government has become more proactive in managing the problem. The Pakistani government recently ordered a switch to the Euro five emissions standard – banning low-quality fuels to address the country’s most significant sources of air pollution. While it may take a while to implement the new changes, the country has acknowledged the need to change its practices and create a healthier environment.
China
With 9.9 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions, China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Over half of the deaths associated with air pollution happened in India and China, affecting over 1.24 million Chinese citizens in 2017 alone. This has ultimately led the country to aim for complete carbon neutrality by 2060.
China declared a war on pollution in 2014, which saw the country increase environmental regulations, implement air quality control stations, and invest in green technology. With these green initiatives, over the past five years, Beijing has seen their overall emissions drop by over 80%. So much so that the city’s residents finally see blue skies again after decades of thick smog. China has a long road ahead, but the country is taking proactive steps to become cleaner and more sustainable.
India
Having roughly 90% of the world’s most polluted cities, India is in a critical spot to detoxify its air. The average air quality is so dangerous that it is 11x higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended guidelines. Even so, the South Asian giant does not yet have the regulation and technology it needs to make any significant changes.
To adequately track its air pollution levels, the country needs a minimum of 1,600 quality control monitoring stations or sensors. Yet, it only has half, which are clustered around urban areas. This leaves rural communities defenseless when regulating air quality, where harmful pesticides seem to exacerbate the problem. While the government has tried to address the problem of giving liquid petroleum gas cylinders to residents as a sustainable alternative, more prominent issues like coal usage and factory emissions regulations are still lacking.
Everyone Deserves Clean Air
Clean air is a human right. Without it, so many communities have no choice but to expose themselves to a toxic environment that takes years off their lives. In Europe alone, dealing with the harmful effects of air pollution can cost US$1.6 trillion, annually.
Fortunately, we still have time to handle this crisis. While governments around the world have stepped in with regulating factory emissions and investing in greener vehicles, you also have the power to beat air pollution. From carpooling to investing in a fuel efficient car, small, consistent actions add up over time. Zero air pollution may take a long time to achieve. However, a mix of eco-friendly policies and taking collective steps to reduce carbon emissions can begin making healthy air a possibility for everyone.
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Want to learn more?
Air Pollution Kills as Many People as Cigarettes – WebMD
Air pollution hurts the poorest most – UN Environment Programme
New data shows strong air pollution policies lengthen life expectancy – PreventionWeb
Disparities in the Impact of Air Pollution – American Lung Association
What Is Redlining? – The New York Times
Health consequences of air pollution on populations – World Health Organization
Air pollution inequality widens between rich and poor nations – The Guardian
More than 90% of the world’s children breathe toxic air every day – World Health Organization
Robust relationship between air quality and infant mortality in Africa – Nature
Pakistan – Air Quality Life Index
Most polluted countries in the world: 2022 ranking – Selectra
China’s air pollution harms its citizens and the world – US Embassy in Georgia
Five expert views on China’s pledge to become carbon neutral by 2060 – ODI
India air pollution: A silent killer is choking Delhi. For millions, there’s no choice but to breathe it in – CNN Edition
India Air Quality Index (AQI) and Air Pollution information – IQ Air
How to clear the air in the most polluted cities on Earth – Vox
