Image from: Pattaya Mail: https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/what-is-pm2-5-284683
There are some things in the world that you KNOW is bad for you and you can SEE it, but air pollution is a different story. Ultrafine particulate matter, smaller than a strand of human hair, is known as PM 2.5, is what you call a silent killer. Because of its size, it can easily penetrate the natural barriers of your mucus and nostrils and directly access the bloodstream. These particulates are considered a major environmental risk and can contribute to a whole host of illnesses such as an increased risk of stroke, heart attacks, and both chronic and acute respiratory disease. As well, these particulates can exist as dust, fossil fuels emissions, and even indoor cooking smoke! So now you’re probably thinking, I should try to avoid and limit my exposure to PM2.5 as much as possible, but even that might not be enough.
Image from: USA EPA: https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that the annual exposure to PM2.5 does not exceed 12 micrograms per meter cubed. However, a recent study showed that even stricter guidelines should be implemented. The study found that 99% of deaths due to non-accidental causes were associated with PM2.5 levels below the current EPA guidelines. In the study, they compared 4.5 million veterans with annual levels of ultra-fine particulates where they lived. The results showed that the average particulate levels are the lower than 12 micrograms. So, this begs the question, are our current air pollution laws good enough to prevent the health consequences? Ziyad al-Aly, the co-author of the study says that “there’s not a whole lot a person can do other than really participate in the discussion”.
So what can you do then as an individual who cares about the wellbeing of people and the planet? Demand action by local, regional, and national level policy-makers working in sectors like transport, energy and urban planning. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these some examples of successful policies that reduced air pollution:
Industry: Clean technology that reduce and filter factory emissions.
Energy: Access to clean energy instead of relying on fossil fuels for households heating, cooking, and lighting.
Transport: Prioritize rapid transit, walking and cycling networks, shifting towards low-emission vehicles.
It is unfortunate to learn that even the lowest levels of this invisible killer can affect our health in the long-run, however it also encourages us to take action immediately. By reaching out to policy makers and becoming an active voice in the community, perhaps we can make progress towards cleaning our air.
– Michael Ge
