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Air Pollution Damages Our Heart
Effects of air pollution on our health and well-being are almost a universal consensus. But if you are still skeptical, here’s evidence: recent findings published in the journal Hypertension, suggested a conclusive connection between heart problems and fine particulate air pollution. This also serves as a dramatic reminder of why achieving clean, healthy air is so critical. The Significance of the Study Previous studies have never been able to make a clear determination between whether fine particulates measuring under 2.5 microns were more hazardous to people’s health. The University of Michigan study has now proved that fine particulate pollution is, indeed, more problematic than ozone. Neither thing is good, but fine…
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Clean Air Raises Kids With Stronger Lungs
A two-decade study that looked at 2,000 kids in 5 cities in Southern California was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Its results remind us once again of the importance of clean air. After all, air is now the world’s biggest environmental health risk with 7 million deaths per year. The researchers found the relationship between the decline of air pollution in the region since the early 1990s and the “statistically and clinically significant improvements” in children’s lung function and growth. In fact, the number of school-age kids with “abnormally low lung faction” dropped by more than half between the 1994-1998 group (7.9% with abnormally low lung function) and the most recent…
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Urban air is getting so dirty: 7 out of 8 people fail to breathe standard air
Are you one of those urban dwellers? Air quality has been improving over time in many cities. For example, Japan is almost synonymous with clean air. But unfortunately, while some places are getting better, more others are getting worse, especially as a larger percentage of humanity is moving to urban areas every year. Let’s just see the fact: air pollution now kills more people every year than malaria and AIDS combined and that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution now the world’s biggest environmental health risk with 7 million deaths per year. The WHO has created database that contains results of ambient (outdoor) air pollution monitoring from…
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The Chinese Water
For visitors, China’s water problem becomes apparent upon entering the hotel room. The smell of a polluted river might emanate from the showerhead. Need to quench your thirst? The drip from the tap is rarely potable. Can you trust the bottled water? Many Chinese don’t. What about brushing your teeth?s Suggested by the government’s own figures, more than half of the country’s largest lakes and reservoirs were highly contaminated by 2011 that they were no longer suitable for human consumption. China’s more than 4,700 underground water-quality testing stations show that nearly 3/5 of all water supplies are “relatively bad” or worse. Despite Chinese economic growth is striking, the quality of…
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Air Quality – How’s it in Europe?
In March 2015, BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany) has published “Sootfree Cities”, a ranking which graded the efforts of 23 major European cities to improve air quality. Upon this ranking, it is highlighted how European cities have been actively combating air pollution in the transport sector. Meanwhile, the local air quality actions are still not enough and cities are also exposed to pollution they cannot control. These emissions are regulated at national or EU level where inadequate actions against air pollution are seen. The city of Zurich has become the winner, due to a mixed policy that includes a strong commitment to reduce pollution from vehicles, the promotion…
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Moms-to-be, be aware of air pollution
When you’re pregnant, there are many things you’ll pay extra caution. The food you eat or the quality of your sleep. However, there’s something important but is also inconspicuous that many pregnant women may well neglect. That’s the quality of the air you breathe for you and your baby. Air quality is important for us, and it’s particularly critical for those who are pregnant. Studies done by School of Public Health in Columbia University, New York, have shown that kids who are exposed to the highest levels of air pollution before birth have a greater risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms than their less exposed peers. Those harmful…
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Airport and Air Pollution
Smoke Solution> I am a frequent traveller and have been to many airports. Airport is the first impression of foreigners to a country. A clean and fresh airport can always give a nice start of the journey. For years, I could find myself enjoying different airports and sometimes found it even nicer to have an overnight sleep there than a local hostel. However, in recent years I witnessed some unpleasant changes. Demand for air travel is now higher than ever, thanks to cheaper tickets and easier technology. Anyway, the growing demand has mainly led to two consequences: more flights (including those of delayed) and more passengers staying in the airports.…
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Air Pollution in China: Breathing a hazardous cocktail of chemicals every day
Millions of people in China are breathing a cocktail of chemicals every day. These chemicals are mostly caused by man-made sources: coal-fired power plants, factories and vehicles. They are highly hazardous and responsible for heart disease, stroke, respiratory illnesses, birth defects and cancer in the country. I’m a Chinese, and I’ve been living there for several decades. Air pollution in China is absolutely not an exaggerating problem. The pollution-made haze or smog covers the land almost each day. Without a mask, it’s basically impossible to step out from your door. With a booming economy and increasing demand for energy, China has built new coal-fired power plants at an astonishing rate.…
