Air pollution is a growing global issue, that is detrimental to human health and the environment. Major sources of air pollution include manufacturing, power and transport. Some of the major health effects of air pollution are lung and heart diseases. Read more on what air pollution is, global air pollution trends and more here.
I wear a pollution mask in Beijing, and I’ve always taken it off when I get into the subway. That’s because I’ve always assumed air in the subway is better than outside. But am I right to take it off? I’ve heard a lot of Beijingers debating whether air in …
As wildfires were raging across the American West this summer, NPR ran a story on pollution masks people can use to protect themselves from all that air pollution. As a non-expert nerd who has dedicated years to understanding how to live under Beijing’s particulate cloud, I was eager to see …
Beijing said they would cut air pollution in a plan announced earlier this year (and a few months before and another one back in 2013). But what does the data say? To get to the bottom of it, I analyzed monthly PM2.5 data for 2017 so far and compared it …
There’s good data showing that masks (including surgical masks) really can stop pollution and even have demonstrated physiological benefits. Masks work. But one place data is lacking is for air pollution mask lifespan. Just how long do air pollution masks really last? Really Just One Day? I frequently …
Delhi’s air pollution has raised a lot of concern over the last few years. Awareness peaks in the winter and then wane for the rest of the year. How well does this general awareness fit with the air quality data? Smart Air analyzed PM2.5 data from the pollution monitor at …
A friend of mine just sent me this map of air pollution in San Francisco from the San Francisco Chronicle. Using the latest PM2.5 data, I created a map for China using the same scale: Based on that scale, China’s best city (which is Haikou, according to the World Health Organization database) …
A user on Quora asked recently how bad the air pollution in Nepal is. Nepal has glorious mountains and shining temples. But how is the air? I checked the World Health Organization’s global PM2.5 database. According to that database, Kathmandu’s PM2.5 particulate pollution averaged 49 micrograms/m3 in 2013: …
What is Asbestos? Asbestos is a mineral that makes a great fiber. People use that fiber in lots of building materials, like insulation, paints, electric wiring, wall boards, and floor tiles. It might be all around us. Should I Be Concerned? When any of these materials break apart, …
Asbestos in China is a commonly used building material, and it may be more dangerous than formaldehyde. So why do so few people talk about asbestos in China? Contrast that with other pollutants. One day a few years ago, a Chinese friend of mine asked me about jiaquan (甲醛). “Huh?” I …
During the winter pollution season in Beijing, everyone people get worried about the air pollution. I heard about this so much that I decided to make a meme out of it. But I see people who seem to think pollution takes a vacation for the summer. Take as an example …
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