Air pollution is the 'new tobacco', warns WHO head

[bluefirecorp_]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/27/air-pollution-is-the-new-tobacco-time-to-tackle-this-epidemic

and

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/27/air-pollution-is-the-new-tobacco-warns-who-head

Air pollution is the new tobacco. Time to tackle this epidemic

- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Air pollution puts the health of billions at risk from the simple act of breathing. The World Health Organization estimates nine in 10 people globally breathe polluted, toxic air.

The cost of the lost lives and ill health caused is also a colossal economic burden: $5tn a year, according to a World Bank report. Tackling air pollution by closing polluting power plants and shifting to cleaner transport, such as cycling or electric cars, has a double benefit as it also tackles climate change.

[primer61]

No wonder China is the most affected country. With their immense focus on heavy industry, face mask is now a necessity, not a fashion element anymore.

The problem itself is much more serious than smoking, as it can't be fixed on an individual level (i.e. banning smoking). Complex measures to improve the situation shall be implemented, and all countries should cooperate. Tobacco is a joke if compared to global air pollution and I`m afraid it can be that we`re too late to fix the environment.

[bluefirecorp_]

Face masks aren't air filters.

China's actually dealing with tobacco problems too. If I remember correctly, China has an increase in tobacco smokers rather than a decrease like the rest of the civilized world.

[adriana_jones]

Environmental problems are really topical nowadays and should definitely be discussed. Air pollution has a prejudical influence on our health and life expectancy. People should pay more attencion to cars and i believe that in the city centers they should be banned. Also i find it reasonable to build power plants far away from the places where people live. Air pollution is a vital problem!

[bluefirecorp_]

People should pay more attencion to cars and i believe that in the city centers they should be banned. Also i find it reasonable to build power plants far away from the places where people live.

Hydrogen and battery electric cars don't produce emissions. Power generation can be done cleanly without emissions near population centers too.

[o_e_l_e_o]

Face masks aren't air filters.

Not enough people understand this. A surgical facemask is to protect others from the wearer's exhaled germs. It does absolutely nothing to protect the wearer from pollution or airborne micro-organisms. If you want to protect yourself you need a respirator with a N99 or P3 (US or EU) rating.

[bluefirecorp_]

Face masks aren't air filters.

Not enough people understand this. A surgical facemask is to protect others from the wearer's exhaled germs. It does absolutely nothing to protect the wearer from pollution or airborne micro-organisms. If you want to protect yourself you need a respirator with a N99 or P3 (US or EU) rating.

I do wonder how long it'll be until the government starts issuing respirators for the local populations. To be fair, with universal healthcare; the cost of a respirator is much lower than that of lung cancer.

[crwth]

That's why the most important now in our civilization is to research something that would benefit every one of us, not just the people who produce it but for the whole society. There are some government entities here in my country who try to help lessen the pollution caused mainly by vehicles, but it wouldn't be enough. Sooner or later, that effect would increase resulting in the death of living organisms, health, climate, etc.

I have searched about air quality policy in the U.S. and the EU, and it's a review of the high level of atmospheric pollution. The paper was done in 2015, so after three years time, what has improved?

Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1309104215302592

[SneakyLady]

Air pollution is worse than tobacco because we don't even have a choice, we are forced to destroy our health faster than usual just from existing in such polluted environments.

This is why we need to rely less on the completely unsustainable physical world for resources and sustenance.

Fortunately the accessibility of the internet and subsequent digitization of society is making us less dependent and I still have hope for a better future.

[Sealis]

Thats a natural since we are going into the path of industrialization. And since most improvements occurring are for the quality of life only, this endangers the environment since we dont concentrate on how to reduce pollution while improving quality of life.

[virendarnagpal]

Pollution is the result of human greed.  We instead of utilizing natural resources have started exploiting it.  The status will worsen unless we do not control our greed. 
Will have to plant more and more trees.  Control population explosion.  Switch to green renewable energy for our needs. 
If we continue exploiting nature in the way we are doing; the day of end of life on earth is not far away.   

[guybrushthreepwood]

I hope this isn't just going to be one more thing they're looking to squeeze some tax money out of in order to try "prevent".

Face masks aren't air filters.

Not enough people understand this. A surgical facemask is to protect others from the wearer's exhaled germs. It does absolutely nothing to protect the wearer from pollution or airborne micro-organisms. If you want to protect yourself you need a respirator with a N99 or P3 (US or EU) rating.

It is for that in surgery, but I think the people who wear them in China are doing so for their own benefit and nobody elses -- so they're probably just misinformed about their effectiveness. They're not gas masks and are hardly air tight so it seems logical that they would do little about pollution -- or others germs. I've always wondered how effective they were at stopping germs from spreading, though. They seem a bit of an archaic invention to me, but what do I know -- I'm not a Doctor hehe.

[o_e_l_e_o]

It is for that in surgery, but I think the people who wear them in China are doing so for their own benefit and nobody elses -- so they're probably just misinformed about their effectiveness. They're not gas masks and are hardly air tight so it seems logical that they would do little about pollution -- or others germs. I've always wondered how effective they were at stopping germs from spreading, though. They seem a bit of an archaic invention to me, but what do I know -- I'm not a Doctor hehe.

There is good evidence that surgical face masks reduce bacterial dispersal from the upper airway, but actually very little evidence that they reduce wound infections. Certainly where I work, non-operating personnel in the OR (anesthesiologists, nurses, observers, etc) do not wear face masks except during orthopedic/trauma causes at insistence of the surgeons (with no evidence to support this demand). Masks take on another role in a surgical environment, however, and that is to protect the wearer from splashes of blood, pus, serous fluid, amniotic fluid, or anything else that might spurt out under pressure.

I know that in Japan at least it is seen as courteous to wear a face mask when ill to limit the spread of your germs to others, but I have no doubt that many people think that wearing one offers them some protection too. But yes, they are not air tight and so do not protect against airborne pathogens or toxins.

[omegasoldier]

Face masks aren't air filters.

Not enough people understand this. A surgical facemask is to protect others from the wearer's exhaled germs. It does absolutely nothing to protect the wearer from pollution or airborne micro-organisms. If you want to protect yourself you need a respirator with a N99 or P3 (US or EU) rating.

Totally agreed. And masks aren't that effective for this purpose as well, you have to replace them regularly. They do nothing against air pollution, but it is indeed a fashion thing in China, and some other Asian countries to some extent.
The main reason for air pollution in China aren't cars, but intense industrialization. They use coal as a main source of energy, causing extreme pollution by burning it. The government, however, recognized the problem and started to take measures against pollution in 2012. For example, they reduced the amount of coal used (managing to keep the same economic growth rate) and develop nuclear and hydro energy sources. Actually, if China manages to improve its grave environmental situation, the rest of the world can do it as well. This would be an excellent example to follow.

[ATMD]

Face masks aren't air filters.

Not enough people understand this. A surgical facemask is to protect others from the wearer's exhaled germs. It does absolutely nothing to protect the wearer from pollution or airborne micro-organisms. If you want to protect yourself you need a respirator with a N99 or P3 (US or EU) rating.

Totally agreed. And masks aren't that effective for this purpose as well, you have to replace them regularly. They do nothing against air pollution, but it is indeed a fashion thing in China, and some other Asian countries to some extent.
The main reason for air pollution in China aren't cars, but intense industrialization. They use coal as a main source of energy, causing extreme pollution by burning it. The government, however, recognized the problem and started to take measures against pollution in 2012. For example, they reduced the amount of coal used (managing to keep the same economic growth rate) and develop nuclear and hydro energy sources. Actually, if China manages to improve its grave environmental situation, the rest of the world can do it as well. This would be an excellent example to follow.

Tax incentives? Money could be the primary driving force to give industrialists' incentives to reduce pollution. Currently the restructuring production strategies of 'going green' is not being rewarded adequately.

[BestSSS]

If you look at the map of the world, you can easily see that the main sources of air pollution are the countries with very little vegetation and no snow during the winter.
After all, if we all know the main source of oxygen are trees. And where to take fresh air if there is simply no vegetation.