Latest news with #TanushreeGanguly
Voice of America
26-02-2025
- Health
- Voice of America
How to Reduce Risks of Bad Air Quality
Air quality differs from place to place and day to day. But about 99 percent of the world's population breathes air at some point that does not meet pollution guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Different forms of air pollution kill about 7 million people each year, the U.N. health agency estimates. But health experts say there are some actions individuals can take to protect themselves, even in the world's most polluted cities. The first step is to start with the understanding that air is not only polluted when it looks smoky or smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly. She is an air quality expert with the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago's India program. 'Blue skies can't guarantee you clean air,' Ganguly told The Associated Press. Pollutants and their sources Air pollutants often come from people burning things. Examples include fuels as well as clearing operations involving crops or trees. Pollutants can also be released from wildfires. Among the most dangerous particles we can breathe in are called particulate matter. The smallest of these are known as PM 2.5. This is because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter. These particles can travel deep inside human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Larger particles, known as PM 10, are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining or wind-blown dust. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels. This information comes from Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. Health effects The American-based Health Effects Institute says air pollution is the second-largest risk factor for early death worldwide, behind high blood pressure. Short-term exposure can cause asthma attacks and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, especially in older people and those with existing medical problems. Long-term exposure can cause serious heart and lung problems that can lead to death. A recent study by the U.N. children's agency UNICEF found that more than 500 million children in East Asia and Pacific countries breathe unhealthy air. The pollution is linked to the deaths of 100 children under age 5 every day. June Kunugi, UNICEF's Regional Director for East Asia, said the polluted air limits growth, harms lungs and affects thinking abilities. 'Every breath matters, but for too many children every breath can bring harm,' she said. How to tell if air is safe? Over 6,000 cities in 117 countries now record and follow air quality levels. Many mobile apps include air quality information as well. But it can be difficult to know how bad the air is by looking at these numbers. To help people better understand air quality levels, many countries have established an air quality index, or AQI. Larger numbers on this index mean worse air. Different countries have different air quality standards. For example, India's daily PM 2.5 limit is more than 1.5 times higher than in Thailand and 4 times higher than WHO standards. How can you protect yourself? For individuals, experts say the goal should be to limit exposure when air quality is bad, by staying indoors or wearing a mask. This is not always possible, though. Danny Djarum is with the World Resources Institute. He told the AP there are many people who live or work outside and 'can't really afford' to stay indoors. People also need to watch indoor air pollution that can be caused by common household activities like cooking or burning incense. What are the benefits — and limitations — of air purifiers? While air purifiers can help reduce indoor air pollution, experts say they do have limitations. The devices work by pulling air from a room and then pushing it through a filter that traps pollutants. The filtered air is then sent back into the room. Air purifiers work best when used in small spaces and when people are nearby. This is because they can only clean a certain amount of air, said Rajasekhar Balasubramanian of the National University of Singapore. He added, 'If we have a tiny air purifier in a large room, it won't be effective.' I'm John Russell. And I'm Caty Weaver. Aniruddha Ghosal reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________________ Words in This Story smog - n. a kind of air pollution that can consist of smoke, gases, chemicals, etc. factor - n. something that contributes to the production of a result expose – v. to subject to risk from a harmful condition asthma – n. a kind of a chronic lung disorder standard – n. something established by authority as a rule for the measure of quality afford – v. to be able to pay for incense – n. a kind of material used to produce a pleasant smell when burned filter – n. to pass a liquid or gas through a piece of equipment in order to remove solid pieces or other substances
Euronews
12-02-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Air purifiers, masks and staying indoors: How to reduce your risk from air pollution
Everyone loves a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, too often our air is anything but fresh. While air quality varies dramatically from place to place and day to day, nearly the entire world - about 99 per cent of the global population - is exposed to air at some point that doesn't meet the strict standards set by the World Health Organization. Polluted air, laden with noxious gasses or tiny, invisible particles that burrow into human bodies, kills 7 million people prematurely every year, the UN health agency estimates. For the millions living in some of the world's smoggiest cities - New Delhi; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bangkok; and Jakarta, Indonesia - bad air might seem inescapable. But there are things that you can do, starting with understanding that the air isn't only polluted when it looks smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago in India. "Blue skies can't guarantee you clean air," she said. What are the most dangerous kinds of air pollutants and their sources? Air pollutants often come from people burning things: Fuels such as coal, natural gas, diesel and gasoline for electricity and transportation; crops or trees for agricultural purposes; or as a result of wildfires. Fine, inhalable particles, known as particulate matter, are among the most dangerous. The tiniest of these - known as PM 2.5 because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter - can get deep into human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Coarser particles, known as PM 10, are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining or the wind blowing eroded dust, according to the WHO. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels, said Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The sources and intensity of air pollution vary in different cities and seasons. For instance, old motorbikes and industrial boilers are major contributors to bad air in the Indonesian capital Jakarta while the burning of agricultural waste is a major reason for air pollution spikes in cities in Thailand and India. Brick kilns that burn coal add to pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. And seasonal forest fires cause problems in Brazil and North America. What health problems can air pollution cause? Air pollution is the second-largest risk factor for early death globally, behind high blood pressure, according to a recent report by the Health Effects Institute. Short-term exposure can trigger asthma attacks and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, especially in the elderly or people with medical problems. Long-term exposure can cause serious heart and lung problems that can lead to death, including heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung infections. A recent analysis by the UN children's agency found that more than 500 million children in East Asia and Pacific countries breathe unhealthy air and the pollution is linked to the deaths of 100 children under five every day. June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia, said the polluted air compromises growth, harms lungs and impacts cognitive abilities. "Every breath matters, but for too many children every breath can bring harm," she said. What's the best way to tell if air is safe? Over 6,000 cities in 117 countries now monitor air quality, and many weather mobile apps include air quality information. But trying to gauge how bad the air is by looking at these numbers can be confusing. To help people understand air quality levels more easily, many countries have adopted an air quality index or AQI - a numerical scale where larger numbers mean worse air. They are also often assigned different colours to show whether the air is clean or not. But different countries have different air quality standards. For instance, India's daily PM 2.5 limit is more than 1.5 times higher than that of Thailand and 4 times higher than WHO standards. This means that countries calculate AQIs differently and the numbers aren't comparable. This is also why sometimes AQI scores by private companies using stricter standards may be different from those calculated by national regulators. What are the best ways to protect yourself from air pollution? The goal, of course, is to limit exposure when air quality is bad, by staying inside or wearing a mask. Staying inside, however, isn't always possible, especially for people who must live or work outside, noted Danny Djarum, an air quality researcher at the World Resources Institute, an environmental advocacy group. "They can't really afford not going out," he said. Pakaphol Asavakomolnant, an office worker in Bangkok, said that he wears a mask every day and avoids riding to work on a motorbike. "I get a sore throat when I come to work in the morning and I forget to wear a mask," he said. People also need to be aware of indoor air pollution which can often be caused by common household activities like cooking or even burning an incense stick. What are the benefits and limitations of air purifiers? Air purifiers can help reduce indoor air pollution, but they have their limitations. They work by pulling air from a room and pushing it through a filter that traps pollutants before circulating it back. But they are most effective when used in small spaces and when people are nearby. Air purifiers can only clean a certain amount of air, said Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, who studies urban air quality at the National University of Singapore. "If we have a tiny air purifier in a large room, it won't be effective," he said. Air purifiers are also too expensive for people in many developing countries. "The majority of people who are affected by air pollution can't really afford air purifiers," said WRI's Djarum.
Gulf Today
12-02-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Nearly everyone in the world breathes bad air. This is what you can do to lower your risk
Everyone loves a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, too often our air is anything but fresh. While air quality varies dramatically from place to place and day to day, nearly the entire world — about 99% of the global population — is exposed to air at some point that doesn't meet the strict standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Polluted air, laden with noxious gasses or tiny, invisible particles that burrow into human bodies, kills 7 million people prematurely every year, the UN health agency estimates. And for the millions living in some of the world's smoggiest cities - many of them in Asia like New Delhi; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bangkok; and Jakarta, Indonesia - bad air might seem inescapable. But there are things that people can do, starting with understanding that the air isn't only polluted when it looks smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago in India. "Blue skies can't guarantee you clean air,' she said. Air pollutants often come from people burning things: Fuels such as coal, natural gas, diesel and gasoline for electricity and transportation; crops or trees for agricultural purposes; or as a result of wildfires. Fine, inhalable particles, known as particulate matter, are among the most dangerous. The tiniest of these - known as PM 2.5 because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter - can get deep into human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Coarser particles, known as PM 10, are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining or the wind blowing eroded dust, according to the WHO. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels, said Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The sources and intensity of air pollution varies in different cities and seasons. For instance, old motorbikes and industrial boilers are major contributors to bad air in Indonesian capital Jakarta while burning of agricultural waste is a major reason for air pollution spikes in cities in Thailand and India. Brick kilns that burn coal adds to pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. And seasonal forest fires cause problems in Brazil and North America. Air pollution is the second-largest risk factor for early death globally, behind high blood pressure, according to a recent report by the Health Effects Institute. Short-term exposure can trigger asthma attacks and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, especially in the elderly or people with medical problems. Long-term exposure can cause serious heart and lung problems that can lead to death, including heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung infections. A recent analysis by the UN children's agency found that more than 500 million children in East Asia and Pacific countries breathe unhealthy air and the pollution is linked to the deaths of 100 children under 5 every day. June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia, said the polluted air compromises growth, harms lungs and impacts cognitive abilities. "Every breath matters, but for too many children every breath can bring harm,' she said. Over 6,000 cities in 117 countries now monitor air quality, and many weather mobile apps include air quality information. But trying to gauge how bad the air is by looking at these numbers can be confusing. To help people understand air quality levels more easily, many countries have adopted an air quality index or AQI — a numerical scale where larger numbers mean worse air. They are also often assigned different colors to show whether the air is clean or not. But different countries have different air quality standards. For instance, India's daily PM 2.5 limit is more than 1.5 times higher than that of Thailand and 4 times higher than WHO standards. This means that countries calculate AQIs differently and the numbers aren't comparable. This is also why sometimes AQI scores by private companies using stricter standards may be different from those calculated by national regulators. The goal, of course, is to limit exposure when air quality is bad, by staying inside or wearing a mask. Staying inside however, isn't always possible, especially for people who must live or work outside, noted Danny Djarum, an air quality researcher at the World Resources Institute, an environmental advocacy group. "They can't really afford not going out,' he said. Pakaphol Asavakomolnant, an office worker in Bangkok, said that he wears a mask every day and avoids riding to work on a motorbike. "I get a sore throat when I come to work in the morning and I forget to wear a mask,' he said. People also need to be aware of indoor air pollution which can often be caused by common household activities like cooking or even burning an incense stick. Air purifiers can help reduce indoor air pollution, but they have their limitations. They work by pulling air from a room, pushing it through a filter that traps pollutants before circulating it back. But they're are most effective when used in small spaces and when people are nearby. Air purifiers can only clean a certain amount of air, said Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, who studies urban air quality at the National University of Singapore. "If we have a tiny air purifier in a large room, it won't be effective,' he said. Air purifiers are also too expensive for people in many developing countries. "The majority of people who are affected by air pollution can't really afford air purifiers,' said WRI's Djarum.
Boston Globe
12-02-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
Nearly everyone in the world breathes bad air. This is what you can do to lower your risk.
But there are things that people can do, starting with understanding that the air isn't only polluted when it looks smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago in India. Get Love Letters: The Newsletter A weekly dispatch with all the best relationship content and commentary – plus exclusive content for fans of Love Letters, Dinner With Cupid, weddings, therapy talk, and more. Enter Email Sign Up 'Blue skies can't guarantee you clean air,' she said. Advertisement What are the most dangerous kinds of air pollutants and their sources? Air pollutants often come from people burning things: Fuels such as coal, natural gas, diesel and gasoline for electricity and transportation; crops or trees for agricultural purposes or as a result of wildfires. Fine, inhalable particles, known as particulate matter, are among the most dangerous. The tiniest of these — known as PM 2.5 because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter — can get deep into human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Coarser particles, known as PM 10, are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining or the wind blowing eroded dust, according to the WHO. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels, said Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The sources and intensity of air pollution varies in different cities and seasons. For instance, old motorbikes and industrial boilers are major contributors to bad air in Indonesian capital Jakarta while burning of agricultural waste is a major reason for air pollution spikes in cities in Thailand and India. Brick kilns that burn coal adds to pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. And seasonal forest fires cause problems in Brazil and North America. Advertisement What health problems can air pollution cause? Air pollution is the second-largest risk factor for early death globally, behind high blood pressure, according to a recent report by the Health Effects Institute. Short-term exposure can trigger asthma attacks and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, especially in the elderly or people with medical problems. Long-term exposure can cause serious heart and lung problems that can lead to death, including heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung infections. A recent analysis by the U.N. children's agency found that more than 500 million children in East Asia and Pacific countries breathe unhealthy air and the pollution is linked to the deaths of 100 children under 5 every day. June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia, said the polluted air compromises growth, harms lungs and impacts their cognitive abilities. 'Every breath matters, but for too many children every breath can bring harm,' she said. What's the best way to tell if air is safe? Over 6,000 cities in 117 countries now monitor air quality, and many weather mobile apps include air quality information. But trying to gauge how bad the air is by looking at these numbers can be confusing. To help people understand air quality levels more easily, many countries have adopted an air quality index or AQI — a numerical scale where larger numbers mean worse air. They are also often assigned different colors to show whether the air is clean or not. But different countries have different air quality standards. For instance, India's daily PM 2.5 limit is more than 1.5-times higher than Thailand's limit and 4-times higher than WHO standards. This means that countries calculate AQIs differently and the numbers aren't comparable with each other. This is also why sometimes AQI scores by private companies using stricter standards may be different from those calculated by national regulators. Advertisement What are the best ways to protect yourself from air pollution? The goal, of course, is to limit exposure when air quality is bad, by staying inside or wearing a mask. Staying inside however, isn't always possible, especially for people who must live or work outside, noted Danny Djarum, an air quality researcher at World Resources Institute, an environmental advocacy group. 'They can't really afford not going out,' he said. Pakaphol Asavakomolnant, an office worker in Bangkok, said that he wears a mask every day and avoids riding to work on a motorbike. 'I get a sore throat when I come to work in the morning and I forget to wear a mask,' he said. People also need to be aware of indoor air pollution which can often be caused by common household activities like cooking or even burning an incense stick. What are the benefits — and limitations — of air purifiers? Air purifiers can help reduce indoor air pollution, but they have their limitations. They work by pulling air from a room, pushing it through a filter that traps pollutants before circulating it back. But they're are most effective when used in small spaces and when people are nearby. Air purifiers can only clean a certain amount of air, said Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, who studies urban air quality at the National University of Singapore. 'If we have a tiny air purifier in a large room it won't be effective,' he said. Air purifiers are also too expensive for people in many in developing countries. 'The majority of people who are affected by air pollution can't really afford air purifiers,' said WRI's Djarum. Associated Press journalists Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, Julhas Alam in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Jintamas Saksornchai in Bangkok contributed to this report. Advertisement
Al Arabiya
12-02-2025
- Health
- Al Arabiya
Nearly everyone in the world breathes bad air. This is what you can do to lower your risk
Everyone loves a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, too often our air is anything but fresh. While air quality varies dramatically from place to place and day to day, nearly the entire world–about 99 percent of the global population–is exposed to air at some point that doesn't meet the strict standards set by the World Health Organization, the agency has reported. Polluted air laden with noxious gases or tiny invisible particles that burrow into human bodies kills 7 million people prematurely every year, the UN health agency estimates. And for the millions living in some of the world's smoggiest cities–many of them in Asia like New Delhi, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Bangkok, and Jakarta, Indonesia–bad air might seem inescapable. But there are things that people can do, starting with understanding that the air isn't only polluted when it looks smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly of the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago in India. 'Blue skies can't guarantee you clean air,' she said. What are the most dangerous kinds of air pollutants and their sources? Air pollutants often come from people burning things: fuels such as coal, natural gas, diesel, and gasoline for electricity and transportation; crops or trees for agricultural purposes; or as a result of wildfires. Fine inhalable particles known as particulate matter are among the most dangerous. The tiniest of these–known as PM 2.5 because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter–can get deep into human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Coarser particles known as PM 10 are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining or the wind blowing eroded dust, according to the WHO. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels, said Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The sources and intensity of air pollution varies in different cities and seasons. For instance, old motorbikes and industrial boilers are major contributors to bad air in Indonesian capital Jakarta, while burning of agricultural waste is a major reason for air pollution spikes in cities in Thailand and India. Brick kilns that burn coal add to pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. And seasonal forest fires cause problems in Brazil and North America. What health problems can air pollution cause? Air pollution is the second-largest risk factor for early death globally, behind high blood pressure, according to a recent report by the Health Effects Institute. Short-term exposure can trigger asthma attacks and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, especially in the elderly or people with medical problems. Long-term exposure can cause serious heart and lung problems that can lead to death, including heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung infections. A recent analysis by the UN children's agency found that more than 500 million children in East Asia and Pacific countries breathe unhealthy air, and the pollution is linked to the deaths of 100 children under 5 every day. June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia, said the polluted air compromises growth, harms lungs and impacts their cognitive abilities. 'Every breath matters, but for too many children every breath can bring harm,' she said. What's the best way to tell if air is safe? Over 6,000 cities in 117 countries now monitor air quality, and many weather mobile apps include air quality information. But trying to gauge how bad the air is by looking at these numbers can be confusing. To help people understand air quality levels more easily, many countries have adopted an air quality index, or AQI–a numerical scale where larger numbers mean worse air. They are also often assigned different colors to show whether the air is clean or not. But different countries have different air quality standards. For instance, India's daily PM 2.5 limit is more than 1.5-times higher than Thailand's limit and 4-times higher than WHO standards. This means that countries calculate AQIs differently, and the numbers aren't comparable with each other. This is also why sometimes AQI scores by private companies using stricter standards may be different from those calculated by national regulators. What are the best ways to protect yourself from air pollution? The goal, of course, is to limit exposure when air quality is bad by staying inside or wearing a mask. Staying inside, however, isn't always possible, especially for people who must live or work outside, noted Danny Djarum, an air quality researcher at World Resources Institute, an environmental advocacy group. 'They can't really afford not going out,' he said. Pakaphol Asavakomolnant, an office worker in Bangkok, said that he wears a mask every day and avoids riding to work on a motorbike. 'I get a sore throat when I come to work in the morning and I forget to wear a mask,' he said. People also need to be aware of indoor air pollution, which can often be caused by common household activities like cooking or even burning an incense stick. What are the benefits–and limitations–of air purifiers? Air purifiers can help reduce indoor air pollution, but they have their limitations. They work by pulling air from a room, pushing it through a filter that traps pollutants before circulating it back. But they're most effective when used in small spaces and when people are nearby. 'Air purifiers can only clean a certain amount of air,' said Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, who studies urban air quality at the National University of Singapore. 'If we have a tiny air purifier in a large room, it won't be effective,' he said. Air purifiers are also too expensive for people in many developing countries. 'The majority of people who are affected by air pollution can't really afford air purifiers,' said WRI's Djarum.
