There are several factors that compound the pollution situation in Dubai, with meteorological conditions such as its extreme heat and high humidity during summer months assisting in trapping pollutants within the atmosphere, as well as the more pertinent manmade causes.
Why is UAE air quality so bad?
The UAE has more heavily polluted air than that of many cities known as hotspots for smog, with haze or fog worsened by pollutants, because of its amount of dust and industrial activities as well as its number of cars rejecting polluting particles in the air.
Is Dubai a polluted city?
Development in the region has caused a rise in power stations and cars – and a drop in air quality. However, Dubai, where the number of cars – a major source of nitrogen oxides – increased from 740,000 in 2006 to 1.4 million in 2014, is the most heavily polluted city in the region and the 10th worldwide.
Is Dubai air clean?
In regards to its pollution levels, Dubai saw itself coming in with a PM2. 5 reading of 40.9 μg/m³ as a yearly average over 2019. This is indicative that Dubai is suffering from some fair amounts of pollution issues, with an unsafe quality of air to breathe for much of the year.
Why is Dubai so hazy?
The UAE has an atmosphere rich in water vapor since it’s surrounded by water bodies, where sea breeze circulation brings large amounts of water vapor inland during the day, which is trapped and forms fog during the night.”
Is air quality good in Dubai?
Air quality in Dubai is currently unhealthy for sensitive groups.
What is Dubai air quality?
Dubai Air Pollution. Dubai PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) AQI is 172 – Dubai PM10 (respirable particulate matter) AQI is 152 – Dubai NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) AQI is 21 – Dubai SO2 (sulfur dioxide) AQI is 22 – Dubai O3 (ozone) AQI is n/a – Dubai CO (carbon monoxide) AQI is 118 –
What is the dirtiest country?
It comes as no surprise to find Bangladesh is the world’s most polluted country with 77.1 µg/m³ (down from 97.1 µg/m³ in 2018 and 83.3 µg/m³ in 2019).
Which is the dirtiest city in the world?
Platform IQAir said that Lahore now stands at the top of its polluted cities ranking — with an air quality index of 203 on the US AQI scale, versus runner-up Dehli, India, with 183.
Is Dubai very humid?
Dubai is humid because its near to Sea and dry because of very little rain and desert near to it making it unique in world. Its not as humid as far eastern countries because they have more rain and forests.
Do you get sandstorms in Dubai?
In Dubai’s tropical desert climate, sandstorms are common and usually occur during dry summers. With proper precautions and care, residents can stay safe and successfully deal with a sandstorm. If you are new in the emirate and are worrying about how will you deal with a Dubai sandstorm season, we have got you covered.
What is the UAE doing to reduce air pollution?
Setting the air conditioner on 24 degrees or above (61 per cent), recycling or reusing products (61 per cent), washing full loads in the machine or dish washer (58 per cent) and taking shorter showers (56 per cent) are some of the top measures taken by people to reduce pollution around them.
Dubai’s Air Pollution Levels Have Been Noticeably HIGH For The Last 3 Days
You’ve probably noticed a layer of haze hanging in the air lately, haven’t you? Well, that’s the result of excessive pollution levels in Dubai, which are presently FOUR times higher than the World Health Organization (WHOrecommended )’s levels of exposure to air pollution. Accordin to the World Air Quality Index (AQI), there is a high concentration of PM2.5 in Dubai, making the air unhealthful for people who are sensitive to air pollution. Despite being in the amber zone currently, Dubai’s pollution was classified as ‘Unhealthy’ in the RED zone over the weekend, with an air quality index of 162 in the United States.
iPhone users in Dubai were alerted of the bad air quality, along with a message of caution advising residents to refrain from outdoor activities
Additionally, outdoor activity should be minimized.
“This poorness of air quality would be particularly dangerous to vulnerable portions of the population, with demographics such as young children, the elderly, pregnant mothers and the immunocompromised or ill-being most at risk”
IQAir, a Swiss organization, was responsible for developing this. Due to the excessive summer heat and humidity, contaminants in the environment, as well as artificial sources such as nitrogen dioxide and carbon emissions, are trapped in the atmosphere, further aggravating the terrible pollution situation in Dubai.
A report released by the Swiss organisation, IQAir in March 2021, stated Xinjiang in China as the1 most polluted city in the world
For a more in-depth report, please see this link.
Listen to the Lovin Daily: The UAE Remains On The UK Travel Red List Leaving Many Disappointed
ALSO READ: The AED1.2 billion super yacht docked in Dubai has been snatched from its competitors.
In the UAE, Fighting against Air and Water Pollution is becoming Urgent
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – January 11, 2019. Photo courtesy of AFP The exploitation of the country’s natural resources, as well as its rapid population increase and high energy consumption, have resulted in significant pollution levels in the United Arab Emirates. Global warming has resulted in steadily rising temperatures, which has resulted in water pollution and a high demand for power, among other consequences. Furthermore, due to the overall lack of environmental awareness among the populace and the country’s reliance on polluting natural resources such as oil, there is now much work to be done in order to sustain adequate living standards in the United Arab Emirates.
This included 3,400 kilograms of abandoned and forbidden fishing nets and 1,300 kilograms of rubbish retrieved from the bottom.
The “Together We Make a Difference” campaign, run by the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency and the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC), was the catalyst for the seventh such effort to be held in the United Arab Emirates in 2018.
I’d want to express my gratitude to all of our partners who contributed to this project, which builds on the environmental protection and preservation tradition of our founding fathers.” The UAE’s sea water is not the only natural resource that has been severely damaged.
As a result of its findings, the report concluded that the primary pollutants of concern in the United Arab Emirates are particulate matter (small solid or liquid particles found in the air) and ground-level ozone (O3), both of which frequently exceed the limits set by the country’s national ambient air quality standards.
When the report was released, Ruqaya Mohammad, the section manager for air quality, noise, and climate change at the EAD, who was in charge of the chapter on air quality, stated, “It is anticipated that Abu Dhabi will grow in population and economy while simultaneously minimizing anthropogenic impacts on air quality.” Following the publication of the report, the EAD and the government of the United Arab Emirates decided to take a “cross-sectoral approach to improve air quality by using the best technologies available, implementing the most appropriate policies for regional conditions, conducting extensive scientific investigation, and fostering close cooperation between government entities and the private sector,” according to Ruqaya’s sources.
Air pollution is not a new problem in the United Arab Emirates.
Because of the large quantity of dust and industrial activity in the UAE, as well as the large number of automobiles that reject toxic particles in the air, the UAE’s air is more highly polluted than the air in many other cities that are recognized as smog hotspots, with haze or fog worsened by pollutants.
- The United Arab Emirates has demonstrated public interest in the issue of environmental conservation, for example, through the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which has been held annually since 2008.
- It is dedicated to learning about the major social, economic, and environmental trends shaping the world in sustainable development, as well as to pressuring world leaders to address the world’s energy and sustainability challenges.
- There is still more work to be done in order to effectively solve the pressing issues facing the United Arab Emirates.
- Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa, the 30-year-old chairman of the Alliances for Global Sustainability (AGS), is one of the public figures who is committed to sustainability.
- However, if that is the case, we haven’t completely grasped the magnitude of the task ahead of us and the debt we owe future generations.
In addition, we don’t want people a century or two from now to look back on our lives and criticize us for failing to take the necessary precautions to avoid the catastrophe that was looming over us.” The UAE’s commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement, which the UAE signed with 195 other countries in 2016, aim to reduce global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius by 2050.
- Enacting these promises in the UAE is mostly accomplished through recycling, and AGS has created a model to convert plastic bottles, which are among the most polluting sources of pollution in the world today, into food-grade PET (polyethylene terephthalate) pellets for use in food packaging.
- The first two are concerned with the environment.
- The tunnel will be completed in 2021.
- This line is expected to begin in 2022, with the first station opening in 2023.
That there are numerous projects from both the governmental and commercial sectors demonstrates that, in the medium term, and with proper motivation, the United Arab Emirates may right their fate and move forward towards a more habitable future.
Dubai air quality: Dust blamed for poor quality
Dubai’s air quality is far from being among the worst in the world, according to the World Health Organization. In some regions, however, benzene and volatile organic chemicals are present in significant concentrations, as is particulate matter, often known as PM 10. Gulf News conducted a small-scale, self-financed investigation on air pollution, which indicated that the cities of Deira, Garhoud, and International City had the greatest levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution (NO2).
- Experts, on the other hand, believe that the situation is no worse than that of certain European urban regions.
- In accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, PM10 may either be directly released or can be generated in the atmosphere when gaseous pollutants such as sulfate dioxide and nitrogen dioxide react with one another to form tiny particles.
- We are subjected to sandstorms, but historical records demonstrate that there is natural dust present in the area “he explained.
- Karkain stated that the results of these elections were “already announced” on a Dubai Municipality web page, and so the information about them could not be obtained by Gulf News.
- “We have some studies in progress to identify the sources of pollution, but they have not yet been completed,” he explained.
- On the roadways, nitrogen oxide is a problem.
- According to him, the regular haze that can be seen above the city is not indicative of air pollution.
The study was funded by Gulf News.
Passive diffusion tubes do not provide the same level of accuracy as real-time monitoring.
In the end, three laboratories in Dubai declined to do the tests for Gulf News, and Gradko Environmental in the United Kingdom was hired in their place.
They have an open end on one side and are covered with mesh that has been treated with a pollutant-absorbing substance on the other.
Each tube was exposed for an average of eight to twelve days before being removed.
VOC passive tube measuring approximately 12 cm in length and constructed of stainless steel with a solid polymer absorbent, two brass swagelock caps, and an aluminum air diffuser – a small mesh cap – fitted to one end.
A member of the Gulf News team took one of each tube home and placed it upright with wire on first-floor balconies or ground-floor gardens for an average of ten days, or 246 hours, in open but not extremely windy places in open but not overly windy locations AirQuality/Airqualityindex.htm is the website where you can get information on Dubai Municipality’s air quality monitoring.
Despite the fact that the website claims that the computer system can interrogate each test site on an hourly, daily, monthly, and annual basis, Gulf News was unable to get any reports on this front.
United Arab Emirates: Air Pollution
Air quality in the United Arab Emirates is judged to be dangerous by the World Health Organization, according to WHO recommendations. According to the latest available statistics, the annual mean concentration of PM2.5 in the nation is 41 g/m3, which is more than the recommended limit concentration of 10 g/m3. A number of factors, such as industrial pollution and car emissions, contribute to poor air quality in the United Arab Emirates. Due to dust storms, there are seasonal changes in pollution levels, with the maximum levels occurring in February and March and June and August, respectively.
Description
Chemicals, particulate matter, and biological materials that react with one another to generate microscopic dangerous particles constitute outdoor air pollution. It causes to respiratory issues, chronic illnesses, increased hospitalization, and early mortality. It is also harmful to the environment. The concentration of particulate matter (PM) is an important measure of air quality since it is the most frequent air pollutant that has an impact on both short- and long-term human health. Fine particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and coarse particles with a diameter of less than 10 microns (PM10) are the two types of particulate matter that are used to measure air quality.
According to the World Health Organization’s air quality recommendations, yearly mean concentrations of PM2.5 should not exceed 10 g/m3 and annual mean concentrations of PM10 should not exceed 20 g/m3.
Risk
Air pollution has an impact on cities and rural places all over the world. Prepare for your journey by taking your health state into consideration, as well as your age, destination, duration of travel, and time of year, in order to limit the impacts of air pollution.
Symptoms
Short-term symptoms of air pollution exposure include irritated eyes, nose, and throat, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest discomfort, headaches, nausea, and upper respiratory infections. Long-term symptoms include lung cancer and heart disease (bronchitis and pneumonia). It also has the additional effect of exacerbating asthma and emphysema. Lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory sickness, and the development of allergies are all long-term consequences of smoking.
Prevention
- Adhere to air pollution alerts – inquire about and watch what the people are up to, and avoid physically demanding activities
- Patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should bring an inhaler, antibiotic or oral steroid with them on their travels – see your doctor to determine which is the most appropriate for you. Older travelers with pre-existing diseases should have a medical examination performed before to departure, which should include a stress and lung capacity test. Newborns and small children should be kept as far away from polluted places as possible, and parents should consider avoiding travel to polluted areas altogether. Inquire with your doctor about whether or not a face mask is appropriate for you.
Check out the air pollution levels in your city and country: WHO is the World Health Organization. The most recent update was made on April 16, 2020.
Question: How Does Dubai Air Quality Affect Our Health
It causes to respiratory issues, chronic illnesses, increased hospitalization, and early mortality.
It is also harmful to the environment. The concentration of particulate matter (PM) is an important measure of air quality since it is the most frequent air pollutant that has an impact on both short- and long-term human health.
How does air quality affect human health?
When the air is polluted, it can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat as well as shortness of breath, aggravation of asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and damage to the heart and circulatory system.
Why is the air quality in Dubai so bad?
In Dubai, there are a number of elements that contribute to the city’s pollution problem, including weather circumstances such as the city’s excessive heat and high humidity during the summer months, which aid in trapping pollutants in the atmosphere, as well as more significant anthropogenic issues.
Is the air quality in Dubai bad?
In terms of pollution levels, Dubai was found to have a PM2.5 value of 40.9 g/m3 on an annual average basis throughout the course of 2019. This placed it in the “unhealthy for sensitive populations” category, necessitating the use of a PM2.
Can unhealthy air quality make you sick?
It can also lead to other health concerns, such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma, which are all respiratory diseases that can become worse with time. Even after symptoms such as coughing or a sore throat have subsided, lung damage might occur. Wheezing, chest discomfort, a dry throat, a headache, or nausea are all possible symptoms.
What are four different symptoms in the human body that are caused by air pollution?
Provide an overview of four potential symptoms that might occur in the human body as a result of exposure to air pollution. Increased asthma, trouble breathing, wheezing, and decreased oxygen delivery to essential organs are all possible side effects of air pollution.
Why is UAE air quality bad?
A number of factors, such as industrial pollution and car emissions, contribute to poor air quality in the United Arab Emirates. Due to dust storms, there are seasonal changes in pollution levels, with the maximum levels occurring in February and March and June and August, respectively.
How does the UAE deal with air pollution?
Vision 2021 aspires to improve air quality to 90 percent of the population by 2021. An artificial intelligence-based platform for monitoring and analyzing air quality was built in the UAE, called the Air Quality Index (AQI). Information on air pollution is shown on the platform, which is used by the National Air Quality Platform (NAQP).
How bad is pollution in UAE?
Because of the large quantity of dust and industrial activity in the UAE, as well as the large number of automobiles that reject toxic particles in the air, the UAE’s air is more highly polluted than the air in many other cities that are recognized as smog hotspots, with haze or fog worsened by pollutants.
Is Dubai high in pollution?
Although Dubai is not the most polluted city in the area, it is the 10th most polluted city in the world. This is because the number of automobiles – a significant producer of nitrogen oxides – has surged from 740,000 in 2006 to 1.4 million in 2014. Until 2050, Dubai aspires to generate three-quarters of its energy from renewable sources.
What is Dubai air quality?
Air Pollution in Dubai: Real-time Air Quality Index (Dubai) (AQI) The current Min PM10 AQI is 89 78, the current O3 AQI is 22 13, the current NO2 AQI is 18 4, and the current SO2 AQI is 10 5.
Why is it hazy in Dubai?
What is the source of the Dubai fog? Dubai is known for its scorching temperatures, which are exacerbated by the fact that the desert resort is frequently quite humid.
Fog forms as the land cools down overnight, allowing heat from the soil to be transferred to the cooler surrounding air. Humidity occurs when the air is unable to retain its moisture any longer and becomes saturated with it.
Does wearing a mask help with poor air quality?
Wearing a highly effective air pollution mask has been found to help minimize the risk of exposure to PM2. 5 and other airborne particles, as well as the likelihood of disease and death as a result of exposure to air pollutants.
What health problems are caused by air pollution?
Exposure to excessive amounts of air pollution can result in a number of negative health consequences. As a result, it raises the chance of developing respiratory infections, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer. Exposure to air contaminants, both short and long term, has been linked to negative health effects in the past.
How does air pollution affect the lungs?
What Is the Impact of Air Pollution on the Lungs? The inhalation of air pollutants can irritate your airways, resulting in symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks, and chest discomfort. Exposure to air pollution increases your chance of developing lung cancer, having a heart attack, having a stroke, and, in severe situations, dying prematurely.
How bad is unhealthy air quality?
Air pollution has an impact on the lungs in several ways. Breathing in contaminants from the air can irritate your airways, resulting in shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks, and chest discomfort. The inhalation of polluted air increases your chance of developing lung cancer, having a heart attack, having a stroke, and in the worst circumstances, dying prematurely.
What are the symptoms of poor air quality?
What are some of the symptoms that are frequently associated with poor indoor air quality? Dryness and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin are common side effects of this medication. Headache. Fatigue. Inability to take a deep breath. Hypersensitivity and allergies are two terms that come to mind. Congestion of the sinuses. Coughing and sneezing are common. Dizziness.
Does bad air quality make you tired?
It is also possible that the increasing presence of contaminants in the air will lead to an increase in weariness. During air quality alerts, many individuals report feeling lethargic, especially if they exercise outside and breath higher than typical levels of the noxious pollutants in the air.
What is the UAE doing to help the environment?
The United Arab Emirates is working to safeguard the environment by prohibiting marine dumping, enacting laws and regulations, and making efforts toward sustainability, among other things.
Why is the air quality so bad in Abu Dhabi?
In Abu Dhabi, what are the most significant sources of air pollution? Abu Dhabi, like many of its neighboring cities, suffers from air pollution (as well as other environmental challenges such as water pollution and erosion) as a result of its fast rising population and the resulting increased need for energy as a result.
What are the environmental issues in UAE?
Threats to the environment Species that have become invasive. Invasive species are a significant element contributing to the decline of the UAE’s biodiversity. Carbon footprints are important. There are few water resources. Overfishing. Waste creation is a problem. Pollution of the air. Degradation of the land and desertification
Why is the air quality so bad in the Middle East?
At least half of the air pollution in the region comes from natural causes, including pollutants like as sand, dust, and sea salt, with the remaining half coming from human activity such as automobiles and factories (transport and industry).
In terms of dust storms occurring, Sudan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Iran are the nations that have recorded the most instances.
Where has the best air quality in the world?
Listed below are the world’s top five large cities with the cleanest air quality: Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Anchorage, Alaska is a city in Alaska. Auckland, New Zealand is the location of this event. Brisbane, Australia is the location.
Which is the most polluted country in the world?
Bangladesh is the first country on the list. Bangladesh is the most polluted country in the planet, with an average PM2 concentration of 450 parts per million.
UAE has most polluted air
The most recent post was made on June 27, 2015, at 10:09. As reported by the World Bank, the UAE is the most polluted country in the world, surpassing even China and India! The World Bank’s annual report on global environmental indicators, known as the “Little Green Data Book,” was issued last week and had a few shocks, including a surprising competitor for the title of country with the worst air quality in the world, which was unexpected. The United Arab Emirates was awarded the distinction rather than the world’s two most populous countries, India and China, both of which are notorious for pollution and whose capital cities, in particular, alternate between first and last place in global air pollution rankings (depending on who you ask).
2.5 criteria (which measures microscopic airborne pollutants smaller than 2.5 microns), the Middle Eastern nation comes out on top, with air containing a total of 80 micrograms of pollutants per cubic meter.
The United States, on the other hand, produced just 13 grams of CO2 per cubic meter of air.
Indoor Air Quality Testing Dubai
Certain items have the potential to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other chemicals into the indoor environment, which can have a negative influence on your health. In reality, indoor air quality testing demonstrates that the air quality within businesses or residences is far poorer than that of the outside environment. This is due to the presence of pollutants from sources such as paints, printer cartridges, adhesives, HVAC systems, and other similar sources of contamination. Indoor air quality testing is necessary to enhance and maintain indoor air quality since poor indoor air quality can be hazardous to your health.
An indoor air quality test can reveal issues inside a building’s air distribution system.
There are a few symptoms that indicate that you need to have your indoor air quality tested.
Cold or flu symptoms
If symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, coughing, and other symptoms do not subside and are persistent, it is possible that poor air quality is to blame.
Fatigue
It is possible to get weary or exhausted after inhaling pollutants.
This is another another negative consequence of poor air quality.
Dry, itchy, or watery eyes
It is possible to feel weary or exhausted after inhaling pollutants. Poor air quality has yet another negative consequence.
Inexplicable Odor
If you sense a musty odor, it might indicate that you need to have your air quality tested for mold contamination. Mold, on the other hand, can be a contributing factor to poor indoor air quality. It is critical that you thoroughly investigate your alternatives before settling on a certain organization to work with. All of our indoor air quality testing methods at Judux are carried out using the most up-to-date state-of-the-art technology. As a result, you can be confident that your property will be examined and maintained to the highest standards.
We customize our services, such as air quality testing for mold and other pollutants, to meet your specific requirements, and we are proud of the quality, integrity, and customer loyalty that we have built over the years.
Air Quality & Pollen Forecast for Dubai
The prediction for the Common Air Quality Index (CAQI), which has been used throughout Europe since 2006, is shown in the top panel. In this case, the number represents the quality of the air on a scale from 1 to 100, with a low value (green colors) representing excellent air quality and a high value (red colors) representing poor air quality. The CAQI color-coding system is utilized in all of the air pollution forecast panels of the meteogram to represent the degree of pollution in the air. Pollen forecasts do not fall under the purview of the Air Quality Index forecast, hence there are no formal color-coding criteria for pollen predictions.
- Due to the fact that weather models are unable to recreate small-scale changes along roadways, meteoblue makes use of the backdrop index.
- The second panel depicts the prediction for particles (including PM and desert dust) in the vicinity of Dubai.
- Particulate matter can come from a variety of sources, both natural and manmade.
- PM10 particles are described as those with a diameter less than 10 microns (about 1/7th the thickness of a human hair) and are less than 10 microns in diameter.
Additionally, when gases produced by automobiles and industries experience chemical interactions in the atmosphere, particulate matter is formed. PM10 is apparent to the naked eye as a haze, which we refer to as smog. PM10 are among the most damaging of all air pollutants, ranking third on the list.
- The forecast for the Common Air Quality Index (CAQI), which has been in use in Europe since 2006, is shown in the top panel of the graphic. An air quality index is a numerical value that ranges between one and one hundred on a scale of one to one hundred, with lower values denoting better air quality and higher values denoting worse air quality. The CAQI color-coding system is used to show the degree of pollution in all air pollution forecast panels of the meteogram. Because pollen are not included in the forecast for the Air Quality Index, there are no formal color-coding criteria for the pollen prediction. There are two types of air quality indexes: those that are near roads (“roadside” index) and those that are distant from roads (“background” index). Due to the fact that weather models are unable to recreate small-scale variations along roadways, meteoblue makes use of the backdrop index. As a result, measurements taken near roadways will provide greater values than those predicted here. Particles (PM and desert dust) are anticipated for Dubai in the second panel of the graph. Particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere is made up of small solid or liquid particles that are floating in the air. Particulate matter can come from a variety of sources, both natural and man- made. The particles that are tiny enough to be inhaled into the deepest portions of the lungs are the ones that cause the most worry for the public’s health. When the diameter of the particle is fewer than 10 microns (about 1/7th the thickness of a human hair), it is referred to as PM10 (microns per meter per second). The ingredients that make them up can include smoke, soot, dust, salt, acids, and metals, to name a few possibilities. Additionally, when gases generated by automobiles and industries experience chemical interactions in the atmosphere, particulate matter is produced. We may see PM10 as haze, which we associate with smog, when we look directly at it. Air pollutants such as PM10 are among the most hazardous of all.
PM10 comprises fine particulate matter, which is defined as tiny particles having a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, which is classified as PM2.5. Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been shown to have the greatest influence on public health, according to current research:
- In addition, PM2.5 increases the chance of dying at a younger age, particularly from cardiovascular reasons.
Desert dust is made up of particles less than 62 microns in size that originate in deserts. Most of the time, the dust particles are tiny, resulting in high levels of PM10 and PM2.5, as well as all of the associated health effects. In the third panel, forecasts of the concentrations of air pollution gases are offered to the reader. Ozone (O3) pollution in the lower troposphere is mostly produced by human activity in metropolitan settings. Ozone has the ability to:
- It will be more difficult to take deep and powerful breaths. When taking a deep inhale, it might cause shortness of breath and discomfort. Coughing and sore or scratchy throat are common side effects. Inflammation and injury to the respiratory airways
- Lung disorders such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis are made worse by smoking. Increase the number of asthma episodes that occur
- Increase the susceptibility of the lungs to infection
- It is possible to continue damaging the lungs long after the symptoms have subsided
- CREATE chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in humans
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a gas that is invisible to the naked eye and has a foul, harsh odor. It quickly combines with other chemicals, forming potentially dangerous compounds such as sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, and sulfate particles, among other things.
- In short, short-term exposures to SO2 can cause damage to the human respiratory system and make breathing difficult. Solvents like SO2 and other sulfur oxides may cause acid rain, which can be harmful to delicate ecosystems. Children, the elderly, and people who suffer from asthma are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of SO2 on their health.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a reddish-brown gas with a characteristic strong, biting odor. It is a significant air pollutant because of its presence in the atmosphere. The combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is the most significant source of nitrogen dioxide. The majority of the nitrogen dioxide released into cities originates from automobile exhaust. It is crucial to consider nitrogen dioxide as an air pollutant because it leads to the development of ozone, which has been shown to have negative effects on human health.
- NO2 causes inflammation of the lining of the lungs and has been shown to lower immunity to lung infections. NO2 causes respiratory difficulties such as wheezing, coughing, colds, flu, and bronchitis
- It also causes cancer.
The air pollution meteogram for Europe includes a fourth panel, which depicts the pollen prediction for the city of Dubai. For those living in higher latitudes, birch pollen is one of the most prevalent airborne allergies, especially during the springtime and later in the year. Pollen grains are released by the trees when they blossom, and these pollen grains are carried away by the wind. A single birch tree may generate as much as five million pollen grains in a single season. Pollen is disseminated by air currents and has the ability to travel long distances in the wind.
Summer pollen allergies are mostly caused by grass pollen, which is especially prevalent during the summer months.
It is common for grass pollen season to continue many months in humid areas.
Although precipitation can help to clear the air of pollen, when it occurs in conjunction with thunderstorms, the high winds can actually increase the pollen concentration.
Disclaimer
Neither the European Commission, nor the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, nor meteoblue are liable for any use that may be made of the forecast information contained here. Predictions are made using an atmospheric model with a resolution of 12 kilometers.
It is possible that the outputs are not sufficiently associated with real concentrations. Please visit your local air quality agency, especially if there is a pollution peak or a pollution alert, for further information.
Air pollution: the silent killer
Hans von der Brelie is the author of this piece. Updated:14/01/2022 It’s a mind-boggling figure that prompted my most recent investigation for Euronews. Witness: Every year, over 400,000 individuals on the European continent die prematurely. Why? It is the polluted air that they breathe in European cities that causes their deaths. I was really aback by the sheer magnitude of this figure. How is this possible? Infringement processes against EU member states, including France, have been launched by the European Commission for several years.
The concentrations of dangerous compounds in the environment are rapidly rising over legal limits, causing health issues and lowering the life expectancy of many individuals in major French cities such as Paris, Grenoble, Strasbourg, Marseille – and Lyon.
Monitoring air quality with ATMO
ATMO is an application that may be downloaded. I go for a walk in Lyon, a city that is well-known throughout Europe for its traffic congestion. The roadway that connects the city to the sunny south passes through its core. My ATMO app provides me with up-to-the-minute information about each street I pass through. It’s a magnificent spectacle, as the colors change from orange for poor air quality to dark red for really poor air quality. It’s a good day since there is no purple in sight. Get out of here as soon as you possibly can.
Traffic Pollution
In the morning, I have an appointment with Renaud Pierre, a singer-songwriter from Lyon, whom I will see when he is walking his kid to school. The classrooms are located right adjacent to the Croix-Rousse tunnel, which funnels significant traffic into the city center from the suburbs. “The problem,” Renaud informs me. “It’s the 47,500 vehicles that travel through this tunnel every day. There are even more automobiles speeding along the banks of the River Rhône, on top of all of the above. All of those automobiles contribute to a significant quantity of air pollution.
The levels of nitrogen dioxide are increasing dramatically.
Renaud, along with other parents and activists, was instrumental in bringing legal action against the city and the State of California.
Links to cancer
Is it true that there is a proven link between air pollution and people dying earlier than they should? I meet Thomas Coudon in the Léon Berard Cancer Research Center, where we discuss cancer research. he is currently working with a group of young scientists to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between pollution and cancer. And, sure, there is a link to this page. As Coudon affirms, “particulate matter pollution and diesel engines are both recognized as carcinogens.”
Low emission zones
Citizens are becoming more dissatisfied with the poor air quality. This is reflected in the results of municipal elections. In recent years, green parties have gained control of a rising number of major cities, including Lyon and its surrounding area. However, cleaning up the soiled legacy of the past will not be possible quickly. “Can you tell me why the air in Lyon is so polluted?” Bruno Bernard, the president of the Lyon Metropolitan Area, is the person I speak with. Bernard attributes the failure to respond to “a lack of action by governmental decision-makers such as the French State” – as well as the failure of past local administrations to move quickly.
“Low-emission zones should be established,” Bernard recommends.
Bernard and his colleagues are working on a detailed timeline that will see the elimination of diesel engines in the center of the city by 2026, among other things.
Report on air quality in Europe to 2021 RESPIRE – Association Nationale pour l’Amélioration de la Qualité de l’Air and la Défense des Victimes de la Pollution – is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving air quality and defending those who have been harmed by pollution.