The reports about China's air pollution problem is flooding the newspapers. "National Environmental Analysis", a report prepared by the Asian Developmental Bank has observed that out of the world's 10 most polluted cities, 7 are in China. They are Taiyuan, Beijing, Urumqi, Lanzhou, Chongqing, Jinan and Shijiazhuang. While in Shanghai, air quality index, a new air quality reporting system that monitors sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, PM10 and PM2.5, reached 254 on Wednesday. The figure, highest in last two months, indicates that the air had reached the level of heavy pollution. Shanghai's hourly density of PM2.5, air particles smaller than 2.5 microns, also reached 250 micrograms per cubic meter by 10 am today, while the reading was only 60 micrograms per cubic meter early Tuesday morning! On the other hand, NASA images showed thick cloud covers over Beijing. According to their report, people in China are breathing air three times more toxic than what's hazardous to humans! Below is the comparison of the images prepared by NASA.
(Click on the image for full-size image)
The image in the left (January 3, 2013) shows clear skies with lingering smog and haze on the ground whereas in the right image (January 14, 2013), we can observe dense cloud cover filled with the yellow/ gray tint of air pollution.
While China is in headlines these days, but reports suggest that India is not very far behind! In fact, a report by Tel Aviv University reports that Indian megacities are seeing a double-digit increase in pollution than the cities in the classic environmental villain to the east, China. It states that from 2002 to 2010, Bangalore saw the second highest increase in air-pollution levels in the world at 34%, and Indian cities including Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur and Ahemdabad, are not very far behind. In Delhi, it is reported many times that the PM 2.5 rose above 500mg/cu whereas the normal levels should be only 60 to 80 mg/cu as per Indian national quality standards.
It is an upcoming issue and needs to given priority as according to World Heath Organisation, more than 2 million people die every year due to air pollution. A study showed that 3.2 million people died from air pollution in 2010, compared to 8,00,000 in 2000. The annual Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report ranked air pollution in the world's top 10 list of killer disease for the first time. It reported 1.2 million deaths a year in east Asia and China, and 712,000 in south Asia, including India. We do not have medicines or drugs to cure air pollution except for the controlling the emissions from anthropogenic activities! Hope we can control our own activities and solve the problems!
