Three different reports, which were released recently, give us one message on air pollution.
First is the study undertaken by the world bank. A World Bank report that was released this Thursday estimates that premature deaths due to Air pollution resulted in an annual loss of $5.1 trillion to the global economy. The finding was based on a 2013 global data on air pollution. The report further states that air pollution kills as many as 5.5 million people every year. That's one in a ten worldwide. The world bank went about measuring how premature deaths were costing the global economy. It has found that the global economy incurred a cost of $225 billion due to lost work days - due to premature deaths alone - sans the cost of treating air pollution-related ailments. Economists opine that the total estimate is still a modest figure and the full cost if calculated along with health costs could be much more. Though rich countries are also on the losing end, the worst affected are the developing nations. India, in particular, has lost 1.4 million people to air pollution related ailments and $560 billion due to air pollution-related deaths and welfare costs, in the year 2013 alone.
The second one is a study by researchers Barbara Maher and David Allsop of Lancaster University. They possibly discovered a direct link between vehicular emissions and Alzheimer's. Earlier studies on Alzheimer's have revealed the increased presence of magnetite (tiny magnetic iron particles) in the brains of affected individuals. Magnetite appears to have a role in the development of neurological disorders and Alzheimer's. Incidentally, magnetite nanospheres (round particles) along with other metal particulates, of sizes smaller than 10nm to more than 100nm are found in city air pollution. They get created in the process of vehicular engine combustion (especially in diesel vehicles) and friction in braking. When magnetite particles less than the size of 200nm are inhaled, they can enter the brain through nerve cells of the olfactory bulb, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. From the olfactory areas, these particles can reach regions of the brain that get affected in Alzheimer's, like the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Researchers have found a striking similarity between toxic magnetite particles found in the brains of people affected by Alzheimer's and magnetite nanospheres in air pollution.
The third one is a study conducted on 26,239 people to understand the health cost of inactivity. The report appeared in the journal of The American Heart Association. Researchers classified the volunteers into two groups, one an inactive group and another with a moderate workout for half hour 5 days a week routine. They found that people who did a moderate workout, say those who walked for 30 minutes for 5 days a week saved an average of $2500 annually on healthcare spending related to heart disease. They have also found that the global economy is losing $68 billion annually as health costs due to inactivity.
From the first two reports, we can understand how fatal air pollution is and how subtle and lethal vehicular emissions are. Losing 1.4 million people a year due to air pollution related ailments is not something we can continue to neglect. And the estimates and findings we have, are just based on cognizable date available today. The real picture that we don't see could be more serious.
Now the third report gives us a ray of hope to look into. Even if we partially minimize the usage of vehicles and start walking at least for 30 minutes a day, to destinations within a radius of 2 Km, we could bring down the vehicular emissions, and stay healthy, plus save money spent on health care. Needless to mention that we must take all necessary pedestrian safety while on foot. Nevertheless, our micro level endeavor to walk, in cumulation, will have an immense macro level impact. Emission levels will fall. With that, the number of premature deaths and health ailments due to air pollution will also see a reduction.
First is the study undertaken by the world bank. A World Bank report that was released this Thursday estimates that premature deaths due to Air pollution resulted in an annual loss of $5.1 trillion to the global economy. The finding was based on a 2013 global data on air pollution. The report further states that air pollution kills as many as 5.5 million people every year. That's one in a ten worldwide. The world bank went about measuring how premature deaths were costing the global economy. It has found that the global economy incurred a cost of $225 billion due to lost work days - due to premature deaths alone - sans the cost of treating air pollution-related ailments. Economists opine that the total estimate is still a modest figure and the full cost if calculated along with health costs could be much more. Though rich countries are also on the losing end, the worst affected are the developing nations. India, in particular, has lost 1.4 million people to air pollution related ailments and $560 billion due to air pollution-related deaths and welfare costs, in the year 2013 alone.
The second one is a study by researchers Barbara Maher and David Allsop of Lancaster University. They possibly discovered a direct link between vehicular emissions and Alzheimer's. Earlier studies on Alzheimer's have revealed the increased presence of magnetite (tiny magnetic iron particles) in the brains of affected individuals. Magnetite appears to have a role in the development of neurological disorders and Alzheimer's. Incidentally, magnetite nanospheres (round particles) along with other metal particulates, of sizes smaller than 10nm to more than 100nm are found in city air pollution. They get created in the process of vehicular engine combustion (especially in diesel vehicles) and friction in braking. When magnetite particles less than the size of 200nm are inhaled, they can enter the brain through nerve cells of the olfactory bulb, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. From the olfactory areas, these particles can reach regions of the brain that get affected in Alzheimer's, like the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Researchers have found a striking similarity between toxic magnetite particles found in the brains of people affected by Alzheimer's and magnetite nanospheres in air pollution.
The third one is a study conducted on 26,239 people to understand the health cost of inactivity. The report appeared in the journal of The American Heart Association. Researchers classified the volunteers into two groups, one an inactive group and another with a moderate workout for half hour 5 days a week routine. They found that people who did a moderate workout, say those who walked for 30 minutes for 5 days a week saved an average of $2500 annually on healthcare spending related to heart disease. They have also found that the global economy is losing $68 billion annually as health costs due to inactivity.
From the first two reports, we can understand how fatal air pollution is and how subtle and lethal vehicular emissions are. Losing 1.4 million people a year due to air pollution related ailments is not something we can continue to neglect. And the estimates and findings we have, are just based on cognizable date available today. The real picture that we don't see could be more serious.
Now the third report gives us a ray of hope to look into. Even if we partially minimize the usage of vehicles and start walking at least for 30 minutes a day, to destinations within a radius of 2 Km, we could bring down the vehicular emissions, and stay healthy, plus save money spent on health care. Needless to mention that we must take all necessary pedestrian safety while on foot. Nevertheless, our micro level endeavor to walk, in cumulation, will have an immense macro level impact. Emission levels will fall. With that, the number of premature deaths and health ailments due to air pollution will also see a reduction.