Article | May our earth be free from the darkness of pollution | Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh | Central Chronicle

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May our earth be free from the darkness of pollution

 -    Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh

Writer, Author & Social Activist

Blogger - "Climate Diary Of Dr (Ms) Sharad Singh"

 

 143 years ago Edison invented the bulb so that man could get enough light even at night as per his wish. Light protects us from the imaginary fear of the dark. Light removes our inner depression and communicates enthusiasm. That's why we like the festival of Diwali the best because in this festival we light a lot of lights with terracotta diyas, electric decorations and this light fills our mind with enthusiasm and enthusiasm. But, unfortunately, even after so much light, there is a twilight shadow in the cities due to pollution.

 

On hearing the name of Diwali, only one thing first comes to mind, and that is light… plenty of light. Everything looks clean and beautiful in the light. That is why we always pray for the light, strive for the light and always want to be in the light. Nobody likes darkness. No one wants his house to be dark or his life to be dark. Keeping this desire of man in mind, approximately 143 year ago, Edison invented the bulb so that man can get enough light even at night as per his wish. Light protects us from imaginary fears of the dark. Light removes our inner depression and communicates enthusiasm. Psychologists have also proved that if you are feeling depression, then one should stay in bright light, it cures depression. From mental health to physical health is dependent on light. That's why we like the festival of Diwali the best because in this festival we light a lot of lights with terracotta lamps, electric decorations and this light fills our mind with encourage and enthusiasm. But even with so much light, there is a twilight shadow in the cities. No fog and smog, yet twilight fade in the bright evenings of city lights. I have expressed my feeling about this in this way in my poem which is titled "The sick evening of the city" -

It's not evening yet

But it's getting dark

The light is suffocating

Roads look sick

The streets look sick

People look sick

Respiratory disease

Has become common

It's not that face

Who had imagined for the town. 

Regrettably, today the whole earth is coming under the grip of such pollution. The darkness of pollution is reducing the light of the brighten earth. Every year, millions of people around the world lose their lives due to pollution related diseases. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata of India are included in the 10 most polluted cities in the world. Every year by the time of October, the air of these cities becomes poisonous. Pollution has the biggest impact on people's health, especially the lungs, breathing capacity of children and the elderly. Instead of decreasing, this danger is increasing. According to the 'Air Quality and Health in Cities' report, PM 2.5 pollution caused 1.7 million deaths in 2019 in 7,239 cities around the world. Delhi has the highest average level of PM 2.5 among the world's most populous cities. The report said that India and Indonesia saw the biggest increase in PM 2.5 pollution, while China showed the biggest improvement. Of the 7,239 cities included in the study, 18 cities in India had the highest increase in PM 2.5 pollution from 2010 to 2019. Apart from this, two cities were from Indonesia. Apart from this, the 20 cities with the highest reduction in PM 2.5 pollution from 2010 to 2019 were from China. Data from 2010 to 2019 were studied for this study. The analysis was done by focusing on the two most harmful pollutants fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The report said that the risk of PM 2.5 pollution is higher in cities located in low- and middle-income countries. But that doesn't mean that small towns are spared from it. Dense settlements, high-rise buildings and the ever-increasing number of vehicles have put even small towns near dangerous levels of air pollution.

According to health experts, PM 2.5 refers to a category of pollutant particles whose size is close to 2.5 microns. Its levels rise mainly due to forest fires, power plants and industrial processes. Due to the increase of PM 2.5, the risk of many serious diseases also increases with foggy and poor vision. These particles easily enter the body through inhalation and can cause sore throat, burning sensation and serious damage to the lungs. Eye irritation, watery eyes, difficulty in breathing, cough and skin-related problems are most likely to be caused by exposure to elevated levels of PM 2.5.

During the Corona period, we were happy that the level of air pollution in our cities had come down significantly because during that time people did not leave their homes, very few vehicles were moved. But a person cannot always remain in lockdown. As soon as the threat of corona subsided, life again went on its old fast pace. This means that the level of air pollution started increasing again. About a quarter of the world's population lives in just the four South Asian countries that are among the most polluted - Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The AQLI found that the life span of people living in these countries would decrease by an average of five years, as they live in conditions that have 44 percent higher pollution levels than they were 20 years ago. The World Health Organization has been warning for a long time that particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen monoxide and sulfur dioxide are very dangerous for people's health. In the past years, the WHO has repeatedly said that a limit should be set for these harmful substances, otherwise people living in big cities will suffer a lot. In order to deal with air pollution, efforts are being made to cut down the number of vehicles in many cities around the world. According to a study published in the journal Environment International, it not only reduces air pollution but also noise pollution and greenhouse gases, and it also encourages other travel options including walking and cycling.

So this Diwali we should decide that we will live our life, our city and our earth free from the darkness of air pollution. 

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 (23.10.2022)

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