Every vehicle on the road raises dust, impacting air quality.
Air pollution is a silent menace that affects billions of people globally, and humans, ironically, have become the living vacuum cleaners for the pollutants they themselves create. From vehicle emissions to factory smoke and dust particles raised from roads, pollutants surround us in every environment, making the simple act of breathing a hazardous activity. As industries, vehicles, and households continuously emit harmful pollutants, the question arises: where do all these pollutants go? Unfortunately, much of it enters the very lungs of those who create them.
Sources of Air Pollutants
Air pollutants are generated from multiple sources:
Smoke from Kitchens: Especially in rural areas and developing nations, biomass and wood-burning stoves release fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that is inhaled by millions, often in poorly ventilated spaces.
Vehicle Emissions: Cars, trucks, and buses release nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM), which mix into the air we breathe.
Tyre Dust and Road Dust: The friction between tyres and roads releases microplastic and rubber particles into the air. Every vehicle that moves on the road raises dust, further adding to particulate matter levels in the environment.
Industrial Emissions: Factories release large amounts of smoke filled with sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and other chemical byproducts. These pollutants form ground-level ozone and acid rain, which cause respiratory diseases.
All the pollutants that are released into the atmosphere don’t just disappear. Instead, they circulate and settle into the environment, including the air we breathe. Much of the particulate matter, soot, and gases remain suspended in the atmosphere, inhaled by people over time. These pollutants then settle in human lungs, causing numerous respiratory and cardiovascular problems. In urban areas with dense traffic and industrial activity, people are constantly exposed to high levels of these pollutants.
Immediate Effects of Air Pollution
Breathing in these pollutants has immediate and long-term consequences:
Air pollution is a silent killer
- Respiratory Irritation: People exposed to high levels of particulate matter experience difficulty in breathing, coughing, wheezing, and throat irritation.
- Asthma Attacks: Exposure to pollutants like ozone and PM2.5 can trigger severe asthma attacks, particularly in children and the elderly.
- Reduced Lung Function: Long-term exposure to polluted air reduces lung capacity and function, leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and emphysema.
- Heart Attacks and Strokes: Air pollutants increase the risk of cardiovascular issues, including heart attacks and strokes, due to the constriction of blood vessels and inflammation in the respiratory system.
- Cancer: Prolonged exposure to certain air pollutants, such as benzene and formaldehyde, is associated with an increased risk of cancer.
Humans: The Living Vacuum Cleaners
Humans are essentially the living vacuum cleaners of the pollutants they generate. We inhale the dust, smoke, and gases released by vehicles, factories, and domestic activities. As a result, our bodies are constantly filtering and absorbing toxins from the air. These pollutants don’t just pass through us harmlessly; they accumulate in our respiratory system, bloodstream, and tissues, causing long-term damage.
In effect, the human body becomes a filter for the pollutants in the environment. Over time, this filtering capacity deteriorates, leading to serious health complications.
Death Rates and Reduced Lifespan Due to Air Pollution
The data reflects a growing health crisis linked to worsening air quality, with an estimated toll rising from 1,100,000 deaths in 2013 to 1,750,000 in 2023.
Globally, air pollution is responsible for approximately 7 million premature deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In India alone, over 1.6 million deaths are attributed to air pollution annually, making it one of the leading causes of death. This staggering figure reveals the harsh reality that people living in polluted environments are more prone to diseases like lung cancer, stroke, and respiratory infections.
Air pollution also significantly reduces life expectancy. A study by the University of Chicago’s Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) suggests that air pollution reduces global life expectancy by an average of 2 years. In heavily polluted areas like northern India, life expectancy could be cut by up to 9 years.
Combating Air Pollution in Daily Life
While we cannot entirely escape air pollution, there are ways to minimize our exposure to harmful pollutants, especially when we are on the road in daily traffic:
- Wear Protective Masks: High-quality masks, such as N95 respirators, can filter out fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and protect your respiratory system from pollution.
- Avoid Peak Traffic Hours: Try to plan your commutes outside of peak traffic hours when pollution levels are typically higher.
- Use Public Transport: Reducing the number of vehicles on the road by using public transport helps lower overall air pollution.
- Keep Windows Closed: When driving through heavily polluted areas, keep the windows closed and use the car’s internal circulation system to prevent outside pollutants from entering.
- Indoor Air Purification: Use air purifiers at home and work to ensure cleaner indoor air.
