Posted in E-Books, General Studies

Physical environment in Air pollution

   Published Date: 31st March 2023
Physical environment in Air pollution

Physical environment in Air pollution

Hello aspirants,

The physical environment plays a critical role in air pollution as it can both contribute to and be impacted by air pollution. Air pollution refers to the presence of harmful pollutants in the air, such as particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. These pollutants can be released into the air through natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions and wildfires, as well as human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, industrial processes, and transportation.

The physical environment can contribute to air pollution through factors such as weather patterns and topography. For example, atmospheric inversions can trap pollutants close to the ground and prevent them from dispersing, leading to high levels of pollution in certain areas. Topography can also impact air pollution as pollutants can be trapped in valleys and other low-lying areas.

Air pollution can also impact the physical environment, including plants, animals, and natural resources. Pollutants can damage crops and vegetation, harm wildlife, and impact water and soil quality. In addition, air pollution can contribute to climate change, which can have a range of impacts on the physical environment, including rising sea levels, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and changes to ecosystems.

To address the impacts of air pollution on the physical environment, efforts are needed to reduce air pollution levels through measures such as reducing emissions from transportation and industry, promoting cleaner energy sources, and implementing policies and regulations to improve air quality. These efforts can help to protect the physical environment and ensure that it remains healthy and sustainable for current and future generations.

Download GK Notes 

Physical environment in Air pollution

Overview

Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.

Household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities and forest fires are common sources of air pollution. Pollutants of major public health concern include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Outdoor and indoor air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases and are important sources of morbidity and mortality.

WHO data show that almost all of the global population (99%) breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants, with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures.

Air quality is closely linked to the earth’s climate and ecosystems globally. Many of the drivers of air pollution (i.e. combustion of fossil fuels) are also sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Policies to reduce air pollution, therefore, offer a win-win strategy for both climate and health, lowering the burden of disease attributable to air pollution, as well as contributing to the near- and long-term mitigation of climate change.

Impact

From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate.

Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in both cities and rural areas is causing fine particulate matter which result in strokes, heart diseases, lung cancer, acute and chronic respiratory diseases.

Additionally, around 2.4 billion people are exposed to dangerous levels of household air pollution, while using polluting open fires or simple stoves for cooking fuelled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal.

The combined effects of ambient air pollution and household air pollution is associated with 7 million premature deaths annually.

Sources of air pollution are multiple and context specific. The major outdoor pollution sources include residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry. Policies and investments that support sustainable land use, cleaner household energy and transport, energy-efficient housing, power generation, industry, and better municipal waste management can effectively reduce key sources of ambient air pollution.

WHO response

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a critical role in responding to global health issues, including those related to air pollution. The WHO response to air pollution involves a range of strategies aimed at reducing the health impacts of air pollution and improving air quality around the world.

One key component of the WHO response is providing guidance and recommendations to governments and other stakeholders on how to address air pollution. This includes developing air quality guidelines, which provide evidence-based recommendations for air pollution levels that are safe for human health, and offering technical assistance to countries to implement effective air quality management strategies.

The WHO also conducts research on the health impacts of air pollution, including studies on the links between air pollution and diseases such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. This research helps to inform policy decisions and guide interventions to reduce air pollution.

Another important aspect of the WHO response to air pollution is advocacy and communication. The WHO works to raise awareness about the health impacts of air pollution and the need for action to address this issue. This includes engaging with policymakers, health professionals, and the public to promote measures that can reduce air pollution and protect human health.

The WHO also collaborates with other international organizations, such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), to coordinate efforts to address air pollution and promote sustainable development.

WHO promotes interventions and initiatives for healthy sectoral policies (including energy, transport, housing, urban development and electrification of health-care facilities), addressing key risks to health from air pollution indoors and outdoors, and contributing to achieving health co-benefits from climate change mitigation policies.

WHO provides technical support to WHO’s Member States in the development of normative guidance, tools and provision of authoritative advice on health issues related to air pollution and its sources.

WHO monitors and reports on global trends and changes in health outcomes associated with actions taken to address air pollution at the national, regional and global levels.

WHO has also developed and implemented a strategy for raising awareness on the risk of air pollution, as well as available solutions that can be implemented to mitigate the risks of exposure to air pollution. Through digital outreach and partnerships, WHO has helped enrich the value proposition of addressing air pollution for health and environment ministries, city governments and other stakeholders from sectors with significant emissions.

Overall, the WHO response to air pollution aims to reduce the health impacts of this issue and promote cleaner, healthier environments around the world.

More Related PDF Download

Maths Topicwise Free PDF >Click Here To Download
English Topicwise Free PDF >Click Here To Download
GK/GS/GA Topicwise Free PDF >Click Here To Download
Reasoning Topicwise Free PDF >Click Here To Download
Indian Polity Free PDF >Click Here To Download
History  Free PDF > Click Here To Download
Computer Topicwise Short Tricks >Click Here To Download
EnvironmentTopicwise Free PDF > Click Here To Download
UPSC Notes >Click Here To Download
SSC Notes Download > Click Here To Download

Topic Related Pdf Download

Physical environment in Air pollution

pdfdownload.in will bring you new PDFs on Daily Bases, which will be updated in all ways and uploaded on the website, which will prove to be very important for you to prepare for all your upcoming competitive exams.

The above PDF is only provided to you by PDFdownload.in, we are not the creator of the PDF, if you like the PDF or if you have any kind of doubt, suggestion, or question about the same, please send us on your mail. Do not hesitate to contact me. [email protected] or you can send suggestions in the comment box below.

Please Support By Joining Below Groups And Like Our Pages We Will be very thankful to you.

Post Views: 270

Author: Deep