Environmental sustainability: air quality

Instead of choosing one specific source of information of environmental factors, I wanted to concentrate on one specific subject: air quality. Air pollution is one of the most common threats to our health and still one of those that we often forget. It is always present - but we rarely see it.

What is causing air pollution in this planet? Outdoor air pollution is most often caused by energy production, industrial sources and transport and traffic. (1,2,3) For example soot or black carbon has been used as energy resources for centuries, but the health and climate effects of black carbon have been neglected almost as long time. In addition, agriculture may also release substances (such as pesticides) that are affecting air quality and are toxic compounds. (1,2) Air pollution is certainly a global concern, it is not only present in developed Western countries nowadays, but big industrial countries, such as India and China, are struggling with this same problem. In addition, at the same time than people in developed countries have woken to see the problem and tried to improve facilities and invested in cleaner tehnologies for better air quality, in developing countries industrial systems, increasing traffic and energy production are causing great amounts of release of air pollutants. The oudoor air pollutants are affecting also the quality of indoor air. Nevertheless, indoor air pollution is caused also by many other reasons, for example tobacco use, using unhealthy fuels and unsatisfactory stoves and cooking practices, (3)
In addition to thinking what is causing air pollution, as important is to think what is air pollution causing to individuals. The effects of air pollution on human health range from mild changes in respiratory function, through increased respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity, to increased mortality. (1) In children, outdoor air pollution is increasing the incidence of acute lower respiratory tract infections, asthma, low birth weight, and impaired lung function.(1) It is also assumed that small particles (PM10 and PM2.5) in air pollution are largely responsible for these adverse health impacts and excess deaths.(1) In addition, epidemiological studies have shown that daily exposure to ozone both increases mortality and the occurrence of respiratory diseases.(1)

Outdoor air pollution as well as other toxic substances are causing polymorphic symptoms. COPD and cancer incidences are increasing, there might be different kinds of other respiratory symptoms. Especially exposure to lead may cause IQ impairment.(3) Children may have respiratory problems when there is high levels of air pollution in and around their homes and schools. (4) Exposure to indoor air pollution may cause similar symptoms. It is assumed that indoor air pollution causes number of child deaths due to respiratory illnesses. Lung cancer and COPD are also common among adults exposed to high amounts of indoor air pollutants.

What could we do to prevent these environmental health problems of air pollution, are there any solutions? We should also think about other possibilities, if we are not able to stop air pollution but we don`t want to exposure ourselves to it. Siting home buildings, schools, play and recreation areas away from traffic, noise, industrial and waste sites reduces people`s exposure to air pollution.(4) Nevertheless, the most important thing is to try to stop pollution of the air. Associated sectors have lot more possibilities than a single human being, for example factors related to energy production and industrial processes may use cleaner fuels and improve their facilities. It is vital to follow up different barometers that may have information of air pollution, for example annual mean levels of PM10 (ug/m3), annual ambient concentrations of lead in the atmosphere (ug/m3), lead level in blood (particularly children (ug/dl)) and waste management codes.(3) International protocols are needed for recording and reporting emissions of pollutants from industrial and traffic sources. Especially inside European Union they have recently concentrated on the sources of air pollution and European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) has a new protocol, which ensures that firms are required to report annually the amount of certain pollutants they release to the environment. (1)In addition, at homes we have still some possibilities to affect. For example ensuring access to safe and cleaner household fuels for cooking and heating especially in developing countries, reduces air pollution inside home and makes the quality of air much healthier to breathe. (4)

The happy news is that actions that reduce the exposure to toxic chemicals and child mortality caused by indoor air pollution give us a double benefit of addressing the Millenium Development Goal 4 on child mortality and Millenium Development Goal 7 on environmental sustainability. (2) Once again, we need lots of education and training of safe chemical management and good environmental practices. The involvement of different sectors of society, including legislation, is needed.(2) Public awareness of health effects that air pollution is causing us in everyday life is important. And in developing countries, each country should take air pollution seriously and take responsibility for the problem locally.

The following video tells us more about the consequences that air pollution is evoking in the Arctic areas and those are really affecting us all. We see climate change often as disaster to our nature, but understand far too less about the consequences to our health. Everything is affecting everything and if we are not taking care of the entireness, we will see the systemic crisis. It really counts, what kind of air we are breathing.

References:
(1) Health and Environment Alliance.”Putting health at the centre of environmental issues.” http://www.env-health.org/r/90
(2) Melnick, M., McNeely, J., Kakabadse-Navarro, Y., Schmidt-Traub, G. & Sears, R. 2005a. Environment and human well-being: a practical strategy.(pdf) UN MIllenium Project. Task Force on Environmental Sustainability 2005. Earthscan. (sivu 89/109 Air pollution)
(3) The World Bank. 2003. Environmental Health.
(4) WHO 2003. Protecting our children.