How Toxic Is YOUR Air? Incredible Graphs Reveal Deadly Pollution Levels in Cities Around the World Over the Past 160 Years

Emissions

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the biggest contributors to global warming. After the gas is released into the atmosphere, it stays there, making it difficult for heat to escape—and warming the planet in the process.

It is mainly released during the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, and during the production of cement.

The average monthly concentration of CO2 in Earth’s atmosphere, as of April 2019, is 413 parts per million (ppm). Before the Industrial Revolution, the concentration was only 280 ppm.

CO2 concentrations have fluctuated between 180 and 280 ppm over the past 800,000 years, but have increased dramatically due to human-caused pollution.

Nitrogen dioxide

The gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is produced during the combustion of fossil fuels, car exhaust fumes and the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers in agriculture.

Although there is much less NO2 in the atmosphere than CO2, it is 200 to 300 times more effective at trapping heat.

sulfur dioxide

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is also mainly produced during the combustion of fossil fuels, but can also be released through car exhaust fumes.

SO2 can react with water, oxygen and other chemicals in the atmosphere to cause acid rain.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an indirect greenhouse gas because it reacts with and removes hydroxyl radicals. Hydroxyl radicals shorten the life of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Particles

What is particulate matter?

Fine dust consists of small particles of solid or liquid substances in the air.

Some are visible, such as dust, while others are invisible to the naked eye.

Fine dust can consist of, among other things, metals, microplastics, soil and chemicals.

Fine dust (or PM) is described in micrometers. The two most important ones mentioned in reports and studies are PM10 (less than 10 micrometers) and PM2.5 (less than 2.5 micrometers).

Scientists measure the amount of particulate matter in the air per cubic meter.

Particulate matter is released into the air by a number of processes, including the burning of fossil fuels, driving and steel production.

Why are particulate matter dangerous?

Fine dust is dangerous because particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter can penetrate deep into your lungs or even enter your bloodstream. Fine dust is found in higher concentrations in urban areas, especially along major roads.

Health impact

What health problems can pollution cause?

According to the World Health Organization, one-third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease can be attributed to air pollution.

Some of the effects of air pollution on the body are not yet known, but pollution can cause inflammation, which narrows arteries and can lead to heart attacks or strokes.

In addition, almost one in ten cases of lung cancer in the UK is caused by air pollution.

Particles find their way into the lungs and get stuck there, causing inflammation and damage. In addition, some chemicals in particles that find their way into the body can cause cancer.

Deaths from pollution

About seven million people die prematurely each year from air pollution. Pollution can cause a number of problems, including asthma attacks, strokes, various forms of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Asthma triggers

Air pollution can cause problems for asthmatics for several reasons. Pollutants in exhaust fumes can irritate your airways, and particles can travel into your lungs and throat, causing inflammation in these areas.

Problems during pregnancy

Women exposed to air pollution before pregnancy are nearly 20 percent more likely to have a baby with birth defects, a January 2018 study found.

A University of Cincinnati study found that women who live within 3 miles of a heavily polluted area a month before they plan to become pregnant are at greater risk of having a baby with birth defects such as a cleft palate or lip.

The study found that for every 0.01 mg/m3 increase in particulate matter in the air, the number of birth defects increases by 19 percent.

Previous research has shown that this causes birth defects because women suffer from inflammation and ‘internal stress’.

What is being done to tackle air pollution?

Paris Climate Agreement

The Paris Climate Agreement, first signed in 2015, is an international agreement to manage and limit climate change.

The aim is to keep the increase in global average temperature below 2°C (3.6°F) and ‘make efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C (2.7°F)’.

CO2 neutral in 2050

The UK government has announced plans to make the country carbon neutral by 2050.

They want to achieve this by planting more trees and installing carbon capture technology at the source of the pollution.

Some critics worry that the government will use this first option to export its carbon offsets to other countries.

International carbon credits allow countries to continue emitting carbon while paying to plant trees elsewhere, thus offsetting the emissions.

No new petrol or diesel vehicles in 2040

In 2017, the UK government announced that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars would be banned from 2040.

However, MPs on the Climate Change Committee have called on the government to bring forward the ban to 2030, as the range and price will be the same by then.

Norwegian subsidies for electric cars

The rapid electrification of the Norwegian car fleet is largely attributed to generous state subsidies. Electric cars are almost completely exempt from the heavy taxes levied on petrol and diesel cars, making them competitively priced.

A VW Golf with a standard combustion engine costs almost 334,000 kronor (34,500 euros), while its electric cousin, the e-Golf, costs 326,000 kronor thanks to a lower tax burden.

Criticism of the lack of action on climate change

The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has said there is a “shocking” lack of government preparedness for the risks climate change poses to the country.

The committee assessed 33 areas where climate change risks needed to be addressed – from flood resilience of properties to impacts on agricultural land and supply chains – and found no real progress in any of these areas.

The UK is not prepared for 2°C of warming, the level at which countries have pledged to curb temperature rise, let alone a 4°C rise, which is possible if global greenhouse gas emissions are not cut, the commission said.

It was also argued that cities need more green spaces to counter the heat island effect and prevent flooding by absorbing heavy rainfall.