Air Pollution: Understanding The Wikipedia Definition

Air pollution is the presence of harmful substances in the atmosphere, which can cause damage to humans, other living beings, and the environment. It can be caused by natural sources, such as wildfires, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions, or from anthropogenic sources, such as the burning of fossil fuels, industrial processes, and agriculture. Air pollution has significant impacts on human health, including respiratory issues, infections, behavioural changes, and diseases such as cancer and heart disease. It is a global issue, affecting both indoor and outdoor air quality, and has led to the development of various technologies and strategies to reduce and regulate it.

Natural and human-made sources

Air pollution is the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. It can be caused by both natural and human-made sources.

Natural Sources

There are many natural sources of air pollution, including dust, sea salt, volcanic ash and gases, smoke from forest fires, pollen, and other materials. For example, wildfires produce soot, a black powder composed mainly of carbon, which can affect people and other life. People often start wildfires, but they are still considered natural sources because they involve natural fuels.

Human-Made Sources

Transportation is one of the main sources of human-made air pollution, with automobiles responsible for about 60% of it. The gases inside car exhausts, such as nitrogen oxide, create smog and acid rain. Fossil fuels burned by many industrial power plants produce oxides, including 96% of the sulphur oxides in the atmosphere. Some industries also produce chemicals that create poisonous fumes.

Other human-made sources of air pollution include compounds inside carpets, paints, building materials, and furniture, especially when new. In buildings with tightly shut windows, the indoor air can be more polluted than the outdoors. Residential energy for cooking and heating, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry are also major sources of outdoor air pollution.

Health Effects

Air pollution has significant impacts on human health, leading to disease, increased hospitalizations, and premature death. It is the eighth-largest cause of death in Mexico, for example. Almost all of the global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds WHO guideline limits, with low- and middle-income countries suffering the highest exposures.

Indoor air pollution

Air pollution is not limited to the outdoors; homes, schools, and buildings can also experience air pollution. In fact, the air inside a building can sometimes be even more polluted than the air outside. Compounds inside carpets, paints, building materials, and furniture can pollute the air, especially when they are new.

The use of inefficient and polluting fuels and technologies in and around the home is a significant source of indoor air pollution. Around 2.1 billion people worldwide cook using open fires or inefficient stoves fuelled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung, and crop waste), or coal, which generates harmful household air pollution. Women and children, who typically spend the most time near the domestic hearth, bear the greatest health burden from the use of these polluting fuels and technologies.

Health effects

Air pollution has been linked to a range of adverse health effects, which can vary depending on the specific pollutants involved, the level of exposure, and individual factors such as age and pre-existing health conditions. Here are some of the key health impacts associated with air pollution:

Respiratory Problems

Outdoor and indoor air pollution can lead to a range of respiratory issues, including asthma, acute respiratory symptoms, and chronic respiratory diseases. Fine particulate matter in the air can be inhaled, causing irritation and damage to the lungs and airways. This can trigger asthma attacks and exacerbate existing respiratory conditions. Wildfires, the use of polluting stoves, and industrial processes are common sources of particulate matter and respiratory irritants.

Cardiovascular Issues

Exposure to air pollution has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, including heart diseases and strokes. Fine particulate matter and pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and ozone are believed to be key contributors to these issues. Transportation, especially the use of automobiles, is a significant source of these pollutants.

Lung Cancer

Long-term exposure to air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter and certain chemicals, has been linked to an increased risk of developing lung cancer. This is due to the accumulation of toxic substances in the lungs, which can damage cells and lead to cancerous growths over time.

Allergies and Immune System Disruption

Air pollution can worsen allergies and disrupt the immune system. Pollutants such as pollen, soot, and chemical emissions can trigger allergic reactions and irritate the respiratory system. Additionally, exposure to certain pollutants can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections and diseases.

Premature Aging and Skin Issues

Some air pollutants, such as ozone and particulate matter, can contribute to premature aging of the skin and other negative skin conditions. These pollutants can cause oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to wrinkles, skin discolouration, and other skin problems.

Other Health Effects

Air pollution has also been associated with various other health issues, including eye irritation, headaches, and in severe cases, premature death. Additionally, certain pollutants can have developmental impacts, especially in children, affecting their growth, respiratory, and neurological systems. Older individuals and those with pre-existing health conditions may also experience more severe health consequences from air pollution exposure.

Air pollution forecasting

Air pollution is a phenomenon that occurs when there is a presence of harmful substances in the atmosphere that exceed a certain concentration. These pollutants can be natural, such as dust, sea salt, volcanic ash, smoke from forest fires, and pollen, or human-made, largely from transportation, industrial power plants, and the burning of fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels, for example, releases oxides into the atmosphere, which mix with water vapour to form acid precipitation, which can be harmful to living things and damage buildings.

Air pollution is a significant concern as it affects the health and development of societies and endangers human life. In Mexico City, for instance, air pollution caused the city to be named "the most dangerous city for children" in 1998, and in 1992, all children under the age of 14 were prohibited from going to school due to air pollution. In Canada, the Government estimates that 14,600 premature deaths per year can be linked to air pollution from fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone.

Given the serious health and environmental consequences of air pollution, forecasting has become an important task. Air pollution forecasting involves predicting the concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere at a specified future date. This is done using three classical categories of methods: statistical forecasting, artificial intelligence, and numerical forecasting. Statistical forecasting methods involve the use of historical data and statistical techniques to identify patterns and trends in air pollution levels. Artificial intelligence methods, such as machine learning algorithms, can be used to analyse large datasets and make predictions based on complex relationships between variables. Numerical forecasting methods, on the other hand, utilise mathematical models and equations to simulate and predict the behaviour of air pollutants in the atmosphere.

Recent advancements have also led to the development of hybrid models that combine these classical methods to improve forecasting accuracy. For example, a combination of statistical and artificial intelligence methods can be used to train and validate predictive models, while numerical methods can be applied to simulate the physical processes involved in air pollution dispersion. Additionally, air quality monitoring systems, such as IMECA in Mexico City, play a crucial role in measuring and assessing the levels and risks associated with various pollutants. These measurements are essential for inputting data into forecasting models and evaluating the accuracy of predictions.

Global initiatives

Air pollution is a global concern, with the Earth's ozone layer being particularly vulnerable. In the 1970s, scientists discovered that certain chemicals released into the atmosphere caused ozone to turn into oxygen, allowing more ultraviolet rays to reach the Earth. This resulted in a global effort to ban these chemicals in 1987, which has led to a gradual recovery of the ozone layer.

To address air pollution, various global initiatives have been implemented:

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

The CCAC is a voluntary partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions, and civil society organizations. Founded in 2012, the coalition currently comprises over 140 state and non-state partners, working together to improve air quality and protect the climate. The CCAC has achieved notable progress in energy subsidy reform and the development of renewable technology initiatives. For instance, India's cooking gas subsidy program, PaHaL, has enhanced efficiency and reduced leakage, benefiting rural households with improved access to clean cooking fuel. Additionally, the CCAC supports the reduction of household air pollution through initiatives focusing on solar and other renewable energy sources, as well as innovative financing schemes for clean household energy technology.

The Global Methane Pledge (GMP)

The GMP is a voluntary framework that aims to collectively reduce methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. This initiative, supported by the CCAC, could have a significant impact on global warming, potentially preventing over 0.2˚C of warming by 2050.

The Clean Air Initiative

Announced in 2019 by the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment), and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the Clean Air Initiative calls on governments worldwide to commit to achieving safe air quality for their citizens. This initiative emphasizes the alignment of climate change and air pollution policies by 2030, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. According to the WHO, air pollution causes approximately 7 million premature deaths annually, with economic costs amounting to an estimated US$5.11 trillion in welfare losses globally.

BreatheLife

BreatheLife is a joint campaign of the Clean Air and Climate Coalition, World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, and World Bank. This initiative mobilizes cities and individuals to take action against air pollution, protecting both human health and the planet.

Lowering Organic Waste Methane (LOW-Methane) Initiative

Coordinated by the CCAC Secretariat, the LOW-Methane initiative is a coalition of organizations working collaboratively to accelerate the reduction of methane emissions from the solid waste sector. By sharing data, policies, technical assistance, and finance solutions, they aim to deliver on the Global Methane Pledge and the Paris Agreement.

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