As per World Health Organization (WHO), almost the entire global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds WHO air quality limits, and threatens their health.
Causes
The main causes of air pollution are:
- Vehicular emissions
- Industrial emissions
- Dust fall
Effects
Major effects of air pollution are described here under:
- Respiratory diseases and eye irritation etc.
- Reduced visibility
- Loss of vegetation
- Damage to material, heritage and monuments
- Effects the growth of plants
Remedies
Some remedies are given in the following which can be effective against rising air pollution:
- Always keep your vehicle in good condition
- Prefer 4-stroke engine vehicles
- Use CNG as transport fuel
- Limit the industrial effluents as per Punjab Environmental Quality Standards (PEQS)
- Do not establish industrial units within the residential areas
- Apply 3R formula i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Plant as many trees as possible