by Kelly McPartland, Senior Applications Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Air pollution remains one of our greatest environmental and health risks. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) – such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide – are being trapped at an increasing rate in our atmosphere, accelerating global warming and causing extreme climatic events. But it isn’t just the long-term consequences of climate change that should concern us, as there are numerous short-term dangers of air pollution to human health. Pollutants penetrating the lungs and bloodstream can have disastrous effects on the human body, leading to a range of illnesses that include strokes, chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancers, and heart attacks. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that poor air quality is responsible for around seven million deaths globally per year.1
Global uncertainty
Although natural causes contribute to air pollution, it is largely human activities – such as the burning of fossil fuels – that are to blame, highlighting the need for all countries to outline clear strategies to limit the release of harmful gases. The UN General Assembly has begun to take appropriate measures to tackle this issue for the benefit of the planet and future generations, with resolutions such as ‘The Future We Want’ and the ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’.2,3 However, many nations appear uncertain about how to work towards these goals, or are reluctant to comply. For example, China has declared carbon neutrality by 2060, but it is still investing heavily in fossil fuels as a source of energy – with multiple new coal-fired power plants currently in construction – and its emissions are forecast to increase until at least 2030.4 Similarly, India is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels for its energy needs, resulting in ever-increasing carbon emissions from the planet’s most populous country.
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