The Hazardous Effects of Air Pollution on People Around the World, Part 1 of 2

On today’s program we’ll cover air pollution around the world, its effects on human health, and what we can do to reduce the problem. The world is facing a severe air pollution problem, with less than 1% of the Earth’s population breathing air that is considered acceptable. Globally, more than 10 million people die each year from conditions caused by various types of air pollution. “There are two main types of air pollution, smog and soot. Smog forms on warm sunny days and is exacerbated by chemicals that exit vehicles' tailpipes and smoke stacks.” “Soot, on the other hand, is deadlier and more of a health hazard than smog, causing more premature deaths and lung cancer.”

Low- and middle-income countries are exposed to the highest pollution levels. The study also revealed the top five most polluted countries: Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, and Bangladesh. “Pakistan’s, Lahore city has been declared the most polluted in the world by an air quality monitor as citizens continue to breathe in toxic smog in the last couple of days. In India, approximately 93% of the population is exposed to high levels of the hazardous particulate matter PM 2.5; the most polluted region is the nation’s capital New Delhi.” “Research shows that air pollution in India could reduce the life expectancy of 40% of the population by up to nine years or more.”

Africa has some of the world's worst air pollution. The continent is home to five of the top 10 countries worldwide with the highest levels of outdoor fine particulate matter. A recent report states that air pollution is Africa's second leading risk factor for death.

At a conference held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2010, Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) expressed Her concerns for people, particularly children, affected by the global air pollution crisis. “Many of us now live in the cities and we cannot avoid the pollution, like the ozone smog, which takes away our health and sometimes even our precious lives. One in five Emirati children have asthma, and hundreds in the country lose their lives to pollution-related problems every year.”