According to World Health Organisation (WHO) data of the most polluted cities and towns, the regions of eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asia have the worst outdoor air pollution in the world.
India alone tops the list with six of its cities in the top 10 of the world’s most polluted cities.
There are many factors causing this huge man-made situation. Emissions from cars, buses and airplanes are clouding the air especially in big towns and cities.
Razing forests as well as open burning has further messed-up the air’s condition directly.
Other than that, unfiltered smoke from factories and industrial facilities has also adversely affected the quality of the air we depend on.
Effects of air pollution
Harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide can cause a number of diseases in humans. In fact, one in nine deaths worldwide is caused by air pollution alone.
1.4 million deaths occur every year as a result of strokes and 2.4 million deaths to heart disease.
In the report, WHO also states that people in low- and middle-income countries have a higher exposure to air pollution than those in high-income countries.
People exposed to polluted air either outdoors or within their households are at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases such as lung cancer and respiratory infections including pneumonia.
How to reduce air pollution
There are many sustainable ways to at least reduce the risk of developing such diseases as well as helping preserve the environment.
Firstly, use and encourage others to use electric-generated public transport instead of driving private cars. This helps reduce gas emissions that pollute the air.
Secondly, help reduce smoke emissions by using renewable energy sources such as wind turbines as practised by France and Canada to generate energy. Alternatively, use solar energy harvested from sunlight like Germany and China.
Thirdly, switch from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Diesel releases more black carbon which makes the environment more polluted.
In addition, CNG can replace diesel, gasoline and propane as it produces less harmful gases during fuel combustion.
Natural disasters that take a toll on human life often occur whenever unnatural activities are uncontrolled.
During the Chernobyl Nuclear Facility disaster in Ukraine a few decades ago, radioactive substances were spread through the air and caused 4,000 deaths by cancer.
Environmental care is vital to preserve planet earth and maintain the good quality of human life.
This article first appeared in hellodoktor.com and was reviewed by The Hello Doktor Medical Panel. The Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.