Emissions
Carbon dioxide
Global warming is a major contributor to carbon dioxide (CO2). The gas remains in the atmosphere after it is released. This makes it hard for heat to escape and causes global warming.
Primarily, it is released by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas as well as from cement production.
At 413 parts in million, the Earth’s average CO2 monthly concentration was as of April 2019. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, it was only 281 ppm.
Over the past 800,000 years, CO2 concentrations have fluctuated from 180 to 280ppm. However, this has been dramatically accelerated due to pollution by humans.
Nitrogen dioxide
You can get nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from fossil fuels burning, exhaust emissions of cars and fertilizers containing nitrogen that are used for agriculture.
Although NO2 is much less in the atmosphere then CO2, it traps heat 200 to 300 times better than CO2.
Sulfur dioxide
While sulfur dioxide (SO2) comes primarily from fossil fuels, it is also possible to be released through car exhausts.
To produce acid rain, SO2 may react with water, oxygen or other chemicals in the air.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an indirect greenhouse gas as it reacts with hydroxyl radicals, removing them. Hydroxyl radicals decrease the life span of carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gasses).
Particulates
What does particulate matter mean?
Particulate Matter refers to small amounts of solids and liquids in the air.
While some are visible (e.g. dust), others can’t be seen with the naked eye.
Particulate matter can contain materials such as soil, metals and microplastics.
The measurement of particulate matter or PM is in micrometres. In reports and studies, the two most important ones are PM10 (less that 10 micrometers) and PM2.5 (2 less than 2.5 micrometers).
Carbon monoxide, fossil fuels and cement production are all contributing to air pollution.
Researchers measure particulates levels in the atmosphere by measuring cubic metres.
A variety of factors can release particulate matter into the atmosphere, including driving cars or burning fossil fuels.
How dangerous are particulates?
Because particles less than 10 micrometres wide can penetrate your lungs or get into your bloodstream, they are considered dangerous. Higher concentrations of particles are common in urban areas along roadsides.
Impact on health
How can pollution create health problems?
The World Health Organization states that air pollution can cause a third of all deaths due to strokes, heart disease, and lung cancer.
Although some of the health effects of pollution are still unknown, it is possible that pollution can increase inflammation and narrow the blood vessels leading to strokes or heart attacks.
This is not all. Nearly 10 cases of lung cancer in the UK can be attributed to air pollution.
Particulates can get into the lungs, lodge there and cause inflammation. Some chemicals found in particulates can also cause cancer.
Toxins and pollution cause death
Every year, around seven million people are killed by air pollution. A variety of problems can be caused by pollution, including strokes and asthma attacks.
Asthma triggers
For a variety of reasons, asthma sufferers can be affected by air pollution. Traffic fumes and pollutants can cause irritation to the airways. Particulates in your lungs can also get in your throat, causing inflammation.
Pregnancy problems
Research in January 2018 suggested that women who are exposed to pollution during pregnancy are almost 20 percent more likely to give birth to babies with defects.
Living within 3.1 miles (5km) of a highly-polluted area one month before conceiving makes women more likely to give birth to babies with defects such as cleft palates or lips, a study by University of Cincinnati found.
The research shows that for every 0.01mg/m3 increment in fine air particles birth defects are increased by 19 percent.
Research has shown that this can lead to birth defects in women who are suffering from inflammation or ‘internal stresses’.
What are the current measures taken to combat air pollution
Paris climate agreement
Paris Agreement was signed for the first time in 2015. It is an international agreement that aims to limit and control climate change.
It hopes to hold the increase in the global average temperature to below 2°C (3.6ºF) ‘and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C (2.7°F)’.
By 2050, carbon neutral
The UK government announced its intention to carbon-neutralize the country by 2050.
The plan is to plant more trees, and install ‘carbon capture technology’ at the source.
Critics are concerned that the first option could be used to export carbon offset to other countries.
International carbon credits let nations continue emitting carbon while paying for trees to be planted elsewhere, balancing out their emissions.
By 2040, there will not be any new petrol and diesel cars
The UK government had announced in 2017 that all new petrol- and diesel vehicles would be outlawed by 2040.
However, MPs on the climate change committee have urged the government to bring the ban forward to 2030, as by then they will have an equivalent range and price.
Paris Agreement was signed for the first time in 2015. It is an international treaty to limit and control climate change. Image: Paris air pollution, 2019, 2019.
Norway provides subsidies to electric cars
State subsidies are a major factor in the rapid electrification process of Norway’s automobile fleet. The heavy taxes that are imposed on diesel and petrol cars almost completely exempt electric cars from, making them more competitively priced.
Due to a lower tax quotient, a VW Golf equipped with a standard-combustion engine will cost you nearly 334,000 Kroner (34,500 euros, $38,600). The e-Golf is 326,000 Kroner.
Climate change criticisms
According to The Committee on Climate Change, there has been a shocking lack of preparation by the government for climate-related risks.
The committee assessed 33 areas where the risks of climate change had to be addressed – from flood resilience of properties to impacts on farmland and supply chains – and found no real progress in any of them.
The UK is not prepared for 2°C of warming, the level at which countries have pledged to curb temperature rises, let alone a 4°C rise, which is possible if greenhouse gases are not cut globally, the committee said.
Additionally, it stated that urban areas need to have more green spaces in order to reduce the urban heat island effect and avoid flooding by taking up excessive rainfall.