Air pollution isn’t something we typically think about on a day to day basis. However, did you know that it kills thousands of people every year throughout the globe?
It is caused by a number of things including carbon emissions such as those released through vehicles and industrial plants. It is estimated that in the UK alone, 28,000 to 36,000 deaths occur due to air pollution.
Here, we’ll look at 3 reasons it may be time to take action to reduce air pollution.
- It reduces our capacity to fight off illness
Did you know that air pollution can impact our ability to fight off illness? The coronavirus outbreak has highlighted this, with a study showing those with the virus are more likely to die in areas of high pollution.
This is largely because the virus attacks the respiratory system. Air pollution has the most damaging impact on the respiratory system, so the lungs are more likely to be already damaged. This impairs your ability to fight off things like the coronavirus if you do become infected.
- It’s damaging the environment
Among the many harmful effects of air pollution, its damage to the environment is particularly worrying. It can impact entire ecosystems, animal and plant life.
If nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide mix together with oxygen and water in the atmosphere, they can also cause acid rain. These pollutants are commonly created by motor vehicles and coal-fuelled power plants. Acid rain can damage water supplies and plant life.
- The damage to our health
Air pollution can significantly damage our health. It can cause both short- and long-term health issues. Some of the most serious short-term health problems include bronchitis and pneumonia. Less serious short-term effects include headaches, nausea and dizziness.
In the long term, lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory diseases could occur. It can even lead to early death if levels are particularly high. It is thought that almost 2.5 million people die worldwide from the effects of air pollution.
4. How can air pollution be reduced?
There are a lot of ways we can control air pollution levels. Before the coronavirus took over, global warming was the biggest threat to the planet. However, since lockdowns were placed across the globe, pollution levels fell significantly. This shows just how much humans contribute towards the pollution crisis.
Industrial businesses can help to lower their carbon emissions by investing in ERG air pollution control solutions. Meanwhile, automotive companies are busy producing electric only powered vehicles, set to diminish motor vehicle pollution.
There are a lot of ways to reduce the amount of air pollution in the world. The above are some of the main reasons why it’s important to tackle high pollution levels. In the UK alone, there have been more than 2000 locations identified as having air pollution levels which exceed current guidelines. So, work does need to be done to bring these levels down and protect both our planet and ourselves.
