Air pollution is one of the biggest killers all over the world. In fact, air pollution in India killed approximately 1.2 million deaths in 2017. A survey published by Lancet Planetary Health unusually high rates of lower respiratory infections, heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, and lung cancer caused one in eight deaths. The situation is so alarming that no Indian state achieves the air quality limits mentioned by WHO. Not just outdoor, the poor condition also affects the indoor air quality, which makes it extremely important to take steps to curb the situation. Read on to find out the dangers of air pollution and the effects of not controlling pollution.
Catastrophic Impact of Air Pollution in the Future
The impact of increasing air pollution is more dangerous than you think. If air pollution is not controlled, by 2030 the air will become so poisonous that it will be necessary to use an oxygen kit to breathe easily. Rising air pollution will also lead to premature aging. Human exposure to air toxins will also increase by a great extent if air pollution is not controlled. The Environmental Protection Agency exposure to pollutants is directly linked to cancer and heart disease. The excessive level of air pollution not just has an impact on human health but also the entire eco-system. The combination of acidic air pollutants and water droplets leads to acid rain, which kills trees and also harms animals.
How will air pollution affect the world?
Air pollution has a world-wide problem, which makes it important to know the possible effects of uncontrolled pollution. Global warming is one of the serious concerns of all the environmentalists. Global warming or greenhouse effect is one of the reasons why the climate is warming up. As predicted by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there will be an increase in the average temperature of 1 degree Celsius by 2025 and 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st Century. In the last few hundred years, greenhouse gases (small amounts of water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone) have increased as a result of rising population and industrialization. The stratospheric ozone layer, which filters out harmful ultraviolet rays increase the risk of skin cancer, eye cataracts, depress the immune system, harm aquatic system and crops.
Can air pollution be controlled?
The level of air pollution has reached such an extent that controlling pollution will be a slow process. This is the reason why you need to take small steps to control air pollution. Taking steps such as carpooling, have car emissions tested, minimizing clutter, limited usage of room fresheners can go a long way in controlling air pollution both indoor and outdoor. Some other ways to control air pollution are:
- Use energy efficient light bulbs
- Use energy efficient appliances
- Choose environment-friendly
- Keep your cars well-tuned and maintained
- Turn off lights, computers, and appliances
How can we protect our health from air pollution?
An ‘alarming’ 7 million people around the world die every year as a result of air pollution. Not just outdoor, but also indoor air pollution affects health and well-being. The alarming statistics makes it necessary to take the right steps-both indoor and outdoor to stay safe from pollution. Wearing N95/99 masks, restricting outdoor activities for kids, detoxifying your body can help you stay protected from outdoor pollution. When it comes to indoor air pollution, make sure you install a HEPA air purifier can go a long way in protecting you from the ill-effects of indoor air pollution. KENT provides a range of HEPA air purifiers, which are efficient in removing indoor air pollutants such as PM 2.5, dust particles and carcinogen agents so that you breathe safe. Click here to know more about HEPA air purifiers.
Source: https://www.kent.co.in/blog/what-will-happen-if-the-level-of-air-pollution-continues-to-increase/
Mary Pelchat 