UAE- Air pollution poses a top challenge: paper
Date
2/15/2016 1:06:00 AM
(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI 15th February 2016 (WAM) -- A revelation by the American Association for the Advancement of Science that more than 5.5 million people worldwide die prematurely every year due to household and outdoor air pollution comes as shocking news commented a UAE daily.
Also sadly two countries with population of more than a billion India and China account for 55 percent of these deaths.
"Countries across the globe should lend an ear to scientists who warn that the number of premature deaths will continue to climb in the years ahead unless more aggressive measures against pollution are adopted" said The Gulf Today in an editorial on Monday.
A Global Burden of Disease study carried out by the Institute for Health Metrics has revealed that air pollution ranks behind high blood pressure diet and smoking as the fourth greatest risk factor for fatalities worldwide.
Power plants industrial manufacturing vehicle exhaust and burning coal and wood all release small particles into the air that are dangerous to a person's health. The World Health Organisation recently described air pollution as a "public health emergency" across the globe in a serious warning about the dangers of unclean air. According to WHO officials there are many components of air pollution both gaseous and solid.
But high concentrations of small and fine particulate pollution are particularly associated with high numbers of deaths from heart disease and stroke as well as respiratory illnesses and cancers. A measurement of fine particulate matter of 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter (PM2.5) is considered to be the best indicator of the level of health risks from air pollution.
Experts point out that preventive measures include ensuring that houses are energy efficient that urban development is compact and well served by public transport routes street design is appealing and safe for pedestrians and cyclists and waste is well managed.
Such activities not only clean the air but can also serve as a catalyst for local economic development and promotion of healthy urban lifestyles.
"Air quality monitoring systems should be well developed so as to improve surveillance for all illnesses related to air pollution. Health is wealth and there can be no compromise when it comes to dealing with the deadly menace of air pollution" concluded the daily.