Air pollution has major impact on global weather
Air pollution caused by humans is not only causing health and
environmental issues, it is also affecting global weather. The
researchers at the Texas A&M University have recently found the
clear link between the increased air pollution, and changing weather
patterns, particularly on the formation of powerful storms.
In their study, researchers used pollution emission data compiled by the
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change and looked at two scenarios, the first one for a rate in
1850, the so called pre-Industrial era, and the second one from 2000. By
comparing these two scenarios researchers discovered that air
pollutants from Asia affect storms that hover over the Pacific and
subsequently the weather patterns in North America as well as the rest
of the
world.
The ever-increasing air pollution in many of the Asian fast-growing
economies has major impact on storm formation and global air
circulation. It makes storms stronger and more intense, and these storms
are then characterized with more precipitation in them.
The pollutants that come in the air form particles called aerosols. The
level of these particles in the atmosphere affects the scattering or
absorbing solar radiation, and can thus indirectly lead to alteration of
cloud formations.
The researchers are convinced that the Pacific storm track is
intensified because of the growing Asian air pollution. Aerosols in the
air over Asia impact the global weather patterns through these powerful
Pacific storms can affect weather significantly, both at regional as
well as global level.
Hopefully, future studies will shed even more light on the link between air pollution and climate and weather patterns.
Industrial heavy metal pollution is contaminating earthworms, threatening entire ecosystems
Earthworms in New England forests are absorbing heavy metal pollution,
thereby poisoning the animals that feed on them, according to a study
conducted by researchers from Dartmouth College and the University of
Vermont, and published in the journal Soil Biology and Biochemistry.
This phenomenon may partially explain an observed decline in the populations of wildlife in the area, the researchers said.
Earthworms
have long been known to play a complex role with North American
environments, both human and wild. Although prized for their promotion
of soil health in agricultural and garden settings, earthworms are not,
in fact native to the northern United States or Canada. After being
driven from the region by a cooling climate, they were reintroduced by
European settlers and proceeded to dramatically change the character of
East Coast forests.
How harmful is household air pollution?
The use of wood or coal fuel for cooking, heating, and lighting, is said
to be putting three billion people worldwide at risk of damaged health
and early
death.
There are many countries in the world, most in Africa and Asia that
predominantly use wood or charcoal, or coal, to cook, heat, and light
their homes - approximately one third of global population.
These smoky fuels are very dirty and the result of their combustion is
high levels of indoor air pollution. It is reported that in some areas,
household air pollution is so high that it actually contributes to an
increase of outdoor air pollution.
Because of the excessive levels of household air pollution an estimated
600-800 million families worldwide are at increased risk of
illnesses that include respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, COPD,
asthma, and lung cancer.
The UK researchers from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
concluded that household air pollution killed approximately 4 million
people in 2010. The researchers also reported that there are close to 3
billion people that are currently exposed to excessive levels of
household air pollution.
Many third world countries have failed in their efforts to tackle
household air pollution and the public awareness of the risks of cooking
with wood and coal in poorly ventilated homes remains very low.
Scientists and health personnel in countries where household air
pollution is still taking heavy toll need to work with governments and
international health agencies to increase awareness of this issue in order to have any chance of success.
