Pollution Exposure in Daily Life
Pollution is a pervasive topic in the modern world. A precious layer on Earth, composed of various gases in different proportions, which we call the environment, is getting polluted nowadays. Knowingly or unknowingly, we affect our health and well-being through breathing air, drinking water, and consuming food daily. Especially indoor and outdoor pollutants encroach on our health daily. Many people feel safe at home, but this is not true.
Nowadays, people are aware of pollution and understand its harmful effects. They try to balance their health with meditation, yoga, physical exercises, and some precautions, but that’s not enough to correct the environment where they live. According to the United Nations, 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air on Earth. Air pollution causes 12.5% of deaths per year in India, with approximately 100,000 children under the age of 5 losing their lives.
Some gases cause severe health issues, such as carbon monoxide exposure. It may slow down reflexes, cause drowsiness, and lead to confusion because carbon monoxide binds more easily with haemoglobin than oxygen, affecting the body. Similarly, other gases negatively impact us. High concentrations of carbon dioxide cause suffocation, inconvenience, and headaches. Apart from these, solid and liquid particles in the air, such as Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5), PM10, fly ash, stubble burning residue, dust, smoke, and mist, block the tiny pores in our lungs. This can result in nonfatal heart attacks, premature death in individuals with heart or lung disease, and irregular heartbeats.
Lead, commonly used in petrol to enhance combustion, is also present in batteries, paints, and hair dye products, which are easily accessible to the public. Lead content can harm the nervous system, cause cancer, and lead to intestinal issues. Long-term exposure to lead reduces children's IQ. While some causes of pollution are man-made or anthropological, there are also natural causes. For example, dust storms, dry land, wildfires, volcanic activity, and the radioactive decay process contribute to environmental imbalance.
Staying at home for better health is not always possible because indoor air pollution also damages our health. According to the State of Global Air Report 2019, an estimated 847 million individuals in India were exposed to indoor air pollution in 2017, representing almost 60% of the population. Daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, using cosmetics, and controlling home temperature with appliances like air conditioners and heaters contribute to indoor pollution. Chemicals in air fresheners, soaps, mosquito repellents, paints, glue, asbestos, and radon also pollute the air. Long-term exposure to these pollutants causes irritation, headaches, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive lung diseases, respiratory infections, and acute toxicity.
Other types of pollution, such as soil pollution, contaminate food like vegetables, fruits, and cereals. Water pollution is another major concern for the public, particularly for seafood lovers, as pure drinking water is scarce. Oil spills further affect seafood quality. Problems like acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and ozone depletion compound the issue.
If we compare two developed metropolitan cities like Pune and Delhi, both are economically developed, populated, and industrialized, but their climates differ greatly. After Diwali, Delhi often becomes a "gas chamber," while Pune remains relatively unaffected. Greenery and precipitation in Pune clean the air, with rainfall often occurring after Diwali, washing away pollutants. In Delhi, however, low temperatures trap smoke and pollutants in the air, forming a smoggy, hazardous layer. In November 2016, Delhi experienced the "Great Smog," with particulate matter levels over ten times the acceptable limit. The World Health Organization has raised red flags about Delhi's air quality. People now opt for air purifiers instead of focusing on correcting the environment, which ironically adds to pollution.
The government of Delhi has taken several steps, such as installing smog towers, promoting electric vehicles, setting up war rooms, and launching the Green Delhi app to combat stubble burning.
Government initiatives include:
- The National Clean Air Program
- The Climate and Clean Air Coalition
- The Bharat Stage Emission Standards (BS)
- The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority
- The Commission for Air Quality Management
- The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
However, these policies and initiatives are futile unless we change our lifestyles. We must contribute to the environment daily to provide a cleaner world for future generations. Avoiding plastic, reducing automobile use, living in eco-friendly homes, and consuming organic products can help. Taking responsibility for maintaining cleanliness within a 1 km radius can significantly impact the environment.
Remember, every harmful action against the environment may not directly affect you but could harm another species essential for maintaining the ecosystem balance. It is our responsibility to leave a healthier planet for future generations to breathe and thrive.