If the atmospheric air is clean and full of vitality, our lives will be long and healthy, but if it is polluted, our lives will be short and full of disease. According to a recent report of WHO, ‘The combined effects of ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution cause about seven million premature deaths every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.’ In the absence of clean water, the business of ‘mineral water’ has flourished in recent times. Now it is possible to buy a bottle of clean water anywhere. The day is not far when the air pollution would be so high that we will have to survive on canned clean air. In fact, a startup company named ‘Vitality Air’ is all set to sell ‘canned air’ in India because, in cities like Delhi, it is becoming increasingly difficult to breathe clean air.
Air pollution is pervasive, even within our homes. Such pollutants may not sound alarming but indirectly prove to be dangerous to health. For example, according to research published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, many toxic elements are found in dust, which can cause problems in humans, ranging from cancer to reproduction. Deadly chemicals in the dust can accumulated on furniture, floors, and walls inside the house. Researchers found that hazardous chemicals such as flame-retarding phenol and fragrance additives in perfumes are mixed in the air and found on household objects along with dust. Harmful chemicals are also found on smartphones, food products, T.V. remote controls, and other household objects. Being in constant contact with such chemicals weakens our hormone responses, physical development, digestion, and immunity. Similarly, toxic chemicals can be found in children’s plastic toys, packaging of food products, and personal care products, which creates a greater health risk for children due to prolonged exposure to these items. Due to everyday pollution, the eyes burn, and affected people may suffer from diseases like cough, asthma, lung cancer, bronchitis, heart disease, etc. Research has shown that about 40% of stroke cases, 40% of heart disease, 11% of people with immunity issues, and 0.6% of lung cancer cases demonstrated a linkage to pollution. According to WHO, ‘Sources of air pollution are multiple and contextspecific. The major outdoor pollution sources include residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry.’
Some specific cases of heavy pollution have been reported in the recent past. For example, in November 2015, Beijing’s air had become 30 times more toxic than normal. In December 2015, China issued a red alert for the first time, where they closed schools, industries, construction work, and increased the fine on vehicles several times. They installed an air-reporting system at more than 1500 locations, where air pollution was monitored every hour, and the results were released online to reduce air pollution.
Last year in December, the city of Milan in Italy was very much polluted. When the people started having trouble breathing, the government banned private vehicles in the morning from 10 am to 4 pm, four days a week. In Rome, an odd-even formula for vehicles was introduced, and the use of bicycles was encouraged. In March 2015, the level of pollution in Paris had increased immensely. They introduced measures such as the system of odd-even vehicles only and encouraged bicycles in Paris and about 22 areas adjacent to it. Due to this, half of the cars were reduced on the roads and pollution also was reduced.
Many efforts are being made to attack pollution in the environment. Some of these are as follows:
Air Purifier Bulb: These Air Purifier Bulbs collect pollutants present inside the house, which can then be easily cleaned.
Photo Catalytic Air Purifier: This unique substance reacts with the sun’s light and helps remove the air pollutants from the atmosphere. Many companies in the world are researching this. According to a report of the British Society ‘Environmental Commission,’ this substance will have many benefits if applied on roads.
Gas-to-Liquid Fuel: This fuel has been said to be an alternative to diesel. It is obtained from natural gas in liquidform through a refinery system. It has been claimed that with its use, the emission of nitrogen oxide is reduced by 5–37%, and the emission of pollutants is decreased by 10–38%. In order to reduce air pollution, some steps should be taken publicly. For example, factories should be established away from the city areas, and technology should be adapted to maximize the absorption of smoke and waste materials emitted in the air. Employment, cottage industries, and other facilities should be made available in villages to stop people from moving to the cities. Vehicles should be regulated in such a way that smoke emissions are reduced. There is a need for a fuel that can be completely oxidized, thus minimizing emitted smoke. Apart from this, a proper garbage disposal should be arranged; sludge and human waste need to be discharged with adequate sewage arrangements in cities and towns. There needs to be a ban on indiscriminate cutting of forests while bringing awareness for tree plantation campaigns and promoting environmental consciousness campaigns in the schools and colleges. We must take whatever steps to keep the air clean because it can give us a healthy and long life.
Source: Akhand Jyoti Magazine 2020 Nov-Dec