More Than Meets the Eye; Other Lesser Known Impacts of Air Pollution

Having known about the health consequences of the commonly monitored air pollutants discussed in the previous post, we should also be concerned on some of the other less known repercussions that air pollution can potentially inflict upon us.

It is not hard to imagine of the grim mood that is associated with the hazy conditions in cities. Being devoid of the optimistic feeling that the sun may bring as the sun is always enshrouded by the thick smog in heavily polluted cities. However, do you know that air pollution can also lead to psychological distress and even depression? It has been reported that the hazardous smog can result in physical changes in the brain which can hinder our cognitive learning ability and weaken our memory capacity of our brain. 

Beside imposing huge health implications on the residents living in major world cities, air pollution can also be detrimental to the blooming tourist industry. There are reports that have attributed the decline in tourism growth to the hazardous air quality in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. 

Smoggy conditions from poor air quality can greatly reduce the aesthetics of the tourist attractions and even result in the closure of outdoor tourist activities. For instance, Singapore's tourist industry was greatly hit by the 2013 Transboundary Haze with significant drop in the tourist arrivals over the affected period.

Fortunately, some cities are already rolling out drastic measures to tackle the air pollution issues. For instance, Paris mayor has announced plans to ban high polluting coaches and trucks. In addition, there are also future proposals to ban all diesel vehicles from the city by 2020 and "semi-pedestrianise" its famous city centre by encouraging cycling as the mode of transport. 

Dust, Smoke Particles or are There More?

23,000 times. This is the average number of breaths we take in a day according to an interesting article from HeraldTribune on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). 

Perhaps we should be more aware of the potential air pollutants that we may be breathing. Are air pollutants similar to the suffocating smoke that is liberated when we are having our barbecue sessions? Or are there more perilous air pollutants that we should be aware of?  

Today we shall explore on the commonly monitored outdoor air pollutants and how can we utilise the air quality index to safeguard ourselves. Many countries have established their air quality standards based on World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines focusing on four major pollutants namely the particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. 

Probably particulate matter (PM) is considered as the most hazardous out of the four aforementioned pollutants. PM refers to mixture of suspended microscopic particles and liquid droplets such as dust particles and acidic gas droplets. The sources of PM include natural occurrences such as forest fires and volcanic activities, as well as human influences from industrial activities and vehicles. These microscopic particulate matter are health threatening as they can penetrate deep into our respiratory system and thus result in the increased risk of respiratory diseases and even lung cancer. Refer to the WHO link for more information of other air pollutants. 

In Singapore, Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is the air quality index used by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to monitor air standards. During haze episodes such as the 2013 Southeast Asia haze episode, PSI was used predominantly to monitor the particulate matter and I felt that it was informative in advising daily activities for Singaporeans through its 24-Hour and 3-Hour PSI readings. For instance, 24-Hour PSI readings help to advise employers and schools on the need to halt outdoor activities while 3-Hour PSI readings allow us to make informative decisions on our daily activities such as reducing outdoor recreational activities. Below is the PSI advisory by NEA.

National Environment Agency PSI Advisory
http://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/anti-pollution-radiation-protection/infographic-2.pdf?sfvrsn=0

Useful Links
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100112/ARTICLE/1121008?p=1&tc=pg
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/
http://www.nea.gov.sg/anti-pollution-radiation-protection/air-pollution-control/psi/psi

Are we taking fresh air for granted?

We often hear of the quote "let's head out and grab some fresh air". However, have we ever pondered on our perceptions of fresh air? Is it the air that you would breathe while strolling in the park or is it the pristine air from the Alps? 

Muldoon's Corner, New Zealand

This is a photo that I took near the edge of Muldoon's Corner while I was travelling in New Zealand. The air was crisp and refreshing with clear blue skies and this is my own opinion of fresh air. 

Recently, I met a friend from Shanghai and he was envious of the clean air that I got to enjoy in Singapore. He went on to complain about the poor air conditions that he had to face back in Shanghai and the mounting public concerns of the increased risk of lung cancer. Upon listening to his rant, I concurred with him on the importance of fresh air and shared with him on my experience of the severe haze episode in Singapore back in 2013. 

Perhaps do we really take fresh air for granted and only realise its importance when being deprived of it? Air pollution is indeed a pressing issue in many major cities around the world and I have my personal experience, albeit a short one. Stay tuned as I seek to explore the severity of air pollution around the world and other air pollution related issues.