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Air Pollution - the Invisible Killer
A report compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2018 found that 93% of children in the world breathe in toxic air every day, and that poor quality air is causing approximately seven million deaths annually as well as a whole host of health problems.
These deaths are mainly in low and middle-income countries; however, the risk from dying from long-term exposure to toxic air in London has risen over the past three years, following many years of decline. This rise is largely due to PM2.5 particulates from diesel engines, coal-burning power stations, agriculture, and shipping.
Toxic air is a global problem that is putting many lives at risk.
What causes toxic air?
Air pollution can be a result of human activity or it can be a natural occurrence. Natural air pollution can be
caused by radon gas that rises to the earth’s surface or sulphur dioxide from volcanoes. Manmade air
pollution is a result of engines, coal-powered plants, incinerators, factories, building material, and fertilizers.
Smog
Smog occurs when the above-mentioned pollutants react with sunlight, heat, moisture, and ammonia to cause a low-lying haze, which can impact visibility.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is both natural (from decomposition, ocean release and respiration) and human-made. Human-made sources come from activities like cement production, deforestation as well as the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.
Too much carbon in the atmosphere causes a greenhouse effect, which increases the earth’s temperature through trapping heat. Over the past 150 years, humans have pumped unprecedented levels of CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming, and climate change.
What does toxic air do to our health?
Toxic air can cause a variety of health problems, such as respiratory problems, cancers, and nervous system issues. Very young people and elderly people are particularly vulnerable, but it affects anyone who breathes it in.
Toxic air harms our bodies by killing or damaging cells and interfering with bodily functions. This air can be exhaled, remain in the lungs or move into the blood from the lungs. Once it is transferred to the blood, it is carried to all parts of the body.
Furthermore, research has found that when pregnant women are exposed to polluted air they are more likely to give birth prematurely. It can also impact cognitive ability and trigger asthma. Air pollution also impacts neurodevelopment and cognitive ability and puts children at risk of cardiovascular diseases later in life.
“Air Pollution is stunting our children’s brains, affecting their health in more ways than we first suspected.” says Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health at WHO.
Humans are not the only ones affected by toxic air - it also affects entire ecosystems. It can impact rivers, soils, fish, insects, birds, and animals.
These deaths are mainly in low and middle-income countries; however, the risk from dying from long-term exposure to toxic air in London has risen over the past three years, following many years of decline. This rise is largely due to PM2.5 particulates from diesel engines, coal-burning power stations, agriculture, and shipping.
Toxic air is a global problem that is putting many lives at risk.
What causes toxic air?
Air pollution can be a result of human activity or it can be a natural occurrence. Natural air pollution can be
caused by radon gas that rises to the earth’s surface or sulphur dioxide from volcanoes. Manmade air
pollution is a result of engines, coal-powered plants, incinerators, factories, building material, and fertilizers.
Smog
Smog occurs when the above-mentioned pollutants react with sunlight, heat, moisture, and ammonia to cause a low-lying haze, which can impact visibility.
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is both natural (from decomposition, ocean release and respiration) and human-made. Human-made sources come from activities like cement production, deforestation as well as the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.
Too much carbon in the atmosphere causes a greenhouse effect, which increases the earth’s temperature through trapping heat. Over the past 150 years, humans have pumped unprecedented levels of CO2 into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming, and climate change.
What does toxic air do to our health?
Toxic air can cause a variety of health problems, such as respiratory problems, cancers, and nervous system issues. Very young people and elderly people are particularly vulnerable, but it affects anyone who breathes it in.
Toxic air harms our bodies by killing or damaging cells and interfering with bodily functions. This air can be exhaled, remain in the lungs or move into the blood from the lungs. Once it is transferred to the blood, it is carried to all parts of the body.
Furthermore, research has found that when pregnant women are exposed to polluted air they are more likely to give birth prematurely. It can also impact cognitive ability and trigger asthma. Air pollution also impacts neurodevelopment and cognitive ability and puts children at risk of cardiovascular diseases later in life.
“Air Pollution is stunting our children’s brains, affecting their health in more ways than we first suspected.” says Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health at WHO.
Humans are not the only ones affected by toxic air - it also affects entire ecosystems. It can impact rivers, soils, fish, insects, birds, and animals.
How does planting trees help?
Planting billions of trees across the world is one of the most effective and cheapest ways of removing CO2 from the atmosphere to tackle the climate crisis. Trees and plants use the energy from sunlight, and through photosynthesis they take carbon dioxide from the air and water and convert it for growth. They then release oxygen into the air.
As a tree matures, it can consume 48 pounds of carbon dioxide a year and release enough oxygen for a human to breathe for two years. By the time the average tree reaches 40 years old, it will have sequestered around 1 ton of CO2. Furthermore, the Edgar database found the average citizen of the United Kingdom (UK) produced 5.6 tonnes of CO2 a year in 2017. This means it would take 262 trees to absorb an individual's annual CO2 emissions. Trees also absorb other pollutants from the air. Research has found they can absorb benzene, which is present in exhaust fumes, formaldehyde found in building and household materials, as well as many other harmful pollutants.
Trees help us in many other ways - they provide shade, which helps to cool us down and reduces the need for air conditioning if there are trees providing shade for buildings. They protect us from UV rays, provide food, water, and habitats for animals, birds, and insects, and they absorb rainfall which can alleviate flooding in some areas. In fact, in New York City, urban trees help retain nearly 900 million gallons of rainwater annually, saving the city more than $35 Million in stormwater management costs.
Research has estimated that tree planting could remove two-thirds of all emissions from human activities that remain in the atmosphere today. There is a size equivalent to more than that of China and the USA combined which is treeless land that would naturally grow 1.2 trillion native trees.
Our mission
Our mission is to go beyond carbon neutrality and become carbon negative through tree planting initiatives.
Please come and join us! There are many ways in which you can help, from volunteering to donating. Visit our join us page to find out how your money can help, or get in touch if you would like to volunteer or discuss partnerships.
Planting billions of trees across the world is one of the most effective and cheapest ways of removing CO2 from the atmosphere to tackle the climate crisis. Trees and plants use the energy from sunlight, and through photosynthesis they take carbon dioxide from the air and water and convert it for growth. They then release oxygen into the air.
As a tree matures, it can consume 48 pounds of carbon dioxide a year and release enough oxygen for a human to breathe for two years. By the time the average tree reaches 40 years old, it will have sequestered around 1 ton of CO2. Furthermore, the Edgar database found the average citizen of the United Kingdom (UK) produced 5.6 tonnes of CO2 a year in 2017. This means it would take 262 trees to absorb an individual's annual CO2 emissions. Trees also absorb other pollutants from the air. Research has found they can absorb benzene, which is present in exhaust fumes, formaldehyde found in building and household materials, as well as many other harmful pollutants.
Trees help us in many other ways - they provide shade, which helps to cool us down and reduces the need for air conditioning if there are trees providing shade for buildings. They protect us from UV rays, provide food, water, and habitats for animals, birds, and insects, and they absorb rainfall which can alleviate flooding in some areas. In fact, in New York City, urban trees help retain nearly 900 million gallons of rainwater annually, saving the city more than $35 Million in stormwater management costs.
Research has estimated that tree planting could remove two-thirds of all emissions from human activities that remain in the atmosphere today. There is a size equivalent to more than that of China and the USA combined which is treeless land that would naturally grow 1.2 trillion native trees.
Our mission
Our mission is to go beyond carbon neutrality and become carbon negative through tree planting initiatives.
Please come and join us! There are many ways in which you can help, from volunteering to donating. Visit our join us page to find out how your money can help, or get in touch if you would like to volunteer or discuss partnerships.
