WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2019: BEAT AIR POLLUTION
It is not unusual to find permeations of smoke here, more than a whiff of dust there, with gaseous emissions every now and then. Lagos, the commercial centre of Nigeria, is a particularly polluted state with its huge population, hellish traffic congestions and poor waste disposal system. The importance of clean air cannot be overflogged, for clean air is crucial to sound health. In the absence of sound health, life could lose its value, hence the need to ensure clean air in the environment. Air is life; but with every breath taken, tiny particles are released into the air which harm our health (lungs, brain and heart) causing diseases, and the environment causing global warming and of course, affecting economic growth.
Air pollution occurs when a measurable amount of biological, physical and chemical pollutants in the air is found, or when the presence of undesirable impurities or certain components of the atmosphere rise abnormally, thus affecting the quality of air. Air pollution is caused by human activities (burning of natural fuels like coal, emission from industries and factories releasing large amount of carbon monoxide, agricultural activities due to the use of fertilizers, waste production mostly because of methane generation in landfills etc) or natural phenomena (volcanic eruptions, dust storms and wildfires), amongst others (Lateef M. A. & Sharjeel M., 2019). Nine out of ten people are exposed to levels of air pollutants that exceed World Health Organization (WHO) safe levels. Around seven million people worldwide die prematurely each year from air pollution with about four million of these deaths occurring in the Asia-Pacific region (UN Environment, 2019).
Clean air is so critical to sound health that polluted air is the leading cause of many chronic diseases like lung cancer and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Medical studies showed that air pollution significantly triggers asthma attacks. According to the American Lung Association, by 2020 asthma will affect 1 in 4 Americans and 1 in 5 families; exposure to air pollution has been linked to increased use of medications and an increased rate of emergency room visits and hospitalizations for people living with asthma.
Professor Thomas Munzel, a scientist, stated that particulate matter (ultrafine dust), which has the size of a virus, enters the bloodstream through the lungs when inhaled and is taken up by the vessels, causing local inflammation. Ultimately, this causes atherosclerosis (vascular calcification), thus leading to cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias which cause about 60% of deaths. (Peter P., 2018).
To raise awareness of the environment and specific environmental issues like pollution, global warming, sustainable food production and protection of wildlife; World Environment Day (WED) was established by the United Nations in 1972. Every year since June 5, 1974 when it was first held, WED has a new focus. This year’s focus is ‘Beat Air Pollution’. This is apt as the understanding of air pollution and how it affects our health and environment will help us take steps towards improving the air around us.The WED 2019 is an awareness to take action in combating this global epidemic. Survival is paramount to living things, hence quality air is indispensable to life. The UN image below describes ways of combating air pollution in line with enacting clean air laws by the environmental protection agencies of our country such as the
The air we breathe is as important as the food we eat, the water we drink and even the clothes we wear. Individuals, industries and governments must make concerted efforts to drastically reduce air pollution. Let’s beat diseases, reduce wastages and correct global warming by beating air pollution, shall we?
Contributors: Pharm. Mmesoma Mgboko, Pharm. Taiwo Olawehinmi, Pharm. Temitayo Soyinka, Pharm. Obianuju Nnedigwe, Pharm. Samuel Adedoyin, Pharm. Chioma Odogwu, Pharm. Rufina Ezeanowi, Pharm. Onyedikachi Obike, Pharm. Anaedu Chisom, Pharm. Gloria Nwakwo, Pharm. Rejoice Thomas Kaigama, Pharm. Temitayo Aderibigbe