It's funny how we often take nature for granted. As the rise in burning fossils fuels and unwanted waste increases on a global scale there's no end to the damages that can be caused by air pollution. 

So what is air pollution?

It is the presence in or introduction in or the air of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. Examples include, diesel exhaust and other forms of air pollution.

It is also often defined as contamination of air by smoke and harmful gases mainly oxides of carbon, sulphur and other gasses.


What effects air quality?

According to British Columbia Air Quality the amount and kind of pollutants that are released into the air play a major role in determining the degree of air pollution in a specific area. However, other factors that are involved include:

- Topography (terrain), such as mountains and valleys.
- Weather, such as wind, temperature, air turbulence, air pressure, rainfall and cloud cover.
- the physical and chemical properties of pollutants.


Effects of air pollution?

• Chemical reactions involving air pollutants can create acidic compounds which can cause harm to vegetation and building.
• When air pollutants such as sulphuric acid combines with the water droplets that make up clouds, the water droplets become acidic, forming acid rain.
• When this acid rain falls over an area, it can kill trees and harm animal, fish, wildlife and many other ecological species.

Recent Air Pollution reports from China, India and the United States bring awareness of the growing global health concern. In addition to increasing the risk of both heart and lung disease, Pollution causes a slew of other serious health problems including neuro-development disorder that put severely polluted areas at risk, as well as the global community.

Researchers internationally also believe the global increase in air pollution levels may already be linked to the rising rated of disorders such as schizophrenia and autism, among others.

It is argued by a team of international researchers that Climate Change has had relatively little effect on death rates resulting from outdoor air pollution. However, they also found that ozone pollution leads to 470,000 premature respiratory deaths including an extra 1,500 deaths each year from increased ozone. On the other hand it was estimated that outdoor air pollution was amongst the most important environmental risk factors for health. As stated by Jason West of the University of North Carolina. "Many of these deaths are estimated to occur in East Asia and South Asia, Where population is high and air pollution is severe." He explained. (Environmental Research Web, 2013: http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/news/54068)

According to an OECD Report, Air Pollution 'will become a bigger global killer than dirty water. It will also become the cause of premature death, killing an estimated 3.6 million people a year by 2050.' (Fiona Harvey, 2012: Guardian, http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/mar/15/air-pollution-biggest-killer-water)

Where there is a will there's a way!

To almost any problem there is a solution.

Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington are demonstrating to the world there is a better way. These cities and others across the United States, are designing and building Green Streets which trap storm water run-off and capture pollutants. Green Streets can be more cost efficient in managing urban storm water run-off than the usual "gray" infrastructure of concrete gutter and storm drains.

Most of all, the really do look amazing!

Mumbai's Green Twin Towers Project

As well as achieving the aesthetics, the building also employs a number of green features that could help to improve the town's air pollution problems, with such features including 2500 metres of vertical gardens that will act as almost man-made trees and a facade that is said to reduce direct solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation.

The building itself exemplifies the issues of air pollution that India has suffered in recent years. Due to a growing reliance on fossil fuels and traffic congestion, the results have begun to take their toll.



This building ensures that the building will lower CO2 levels in surrounding areas.


Of course there are many other suitable ways to reduce air pollution. For example, reducing emissions released into the atmosphere and finding and using alternative resources and technologies that are both environmentally friendly and sustainable.