Any human-caused change to the environment that has a negative impact on ecosystems or human health is referred to as pollution. As a result, there are numerous types of pollution in the land, water, and air, which can take the shape of bacteria, chemicals, heavy metals, gases, and even noise.
Focusing on air pollution at this moment The burning of fossil fuels (coal, gas, and oil) and wildfires both contribute to outdoor air pollution. These produce toxic gases, airborne soot (fine particles), and smog (produced by ground-level ozone). Fireplaces and home cookstoves that use gas, coal, or biomass fuels like wood or crop waste, which are occasionally used in low-income nations, are among the sources of indoor air pollution.
The cycle of air pollution is complicated and deadly. Temperature rises make its harmful effects worse. The chance of wildfires going out of control and the consumption of electricity both go up with rising temperatures (think of air conditioners). Both have the potential to produce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, which in turn boosts global temperatures and fuels other extreme weather patterns, creating a vicious cycle that only gets worse with time.
What effects does air pollution have on your health?
Numerous studies over the years have consistently found that increasing outdoor levels of fine dust particles are associated with an increase in hospitalizations for serious health issues such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease relapses. Short-term exposure and long-term exposure both appear to be important.
Risk evaluations of the world’s population over a 14-year period were compared to global models of pollution levels. One in five deaths in 2018 were caused by the burning of fossil fuels alone. Heart attacks and strokes account for the majority of these events.
