What You Need to Know About Pollution: In China, the morning routine of many individuals, both Chinese and International, has diverged from the usual four S’s, shit, shower, shave and shampoo, to also checking the latest Air Quality app for the daily pollution level. Whether you track the pollution or not, it is difficult to go unnoticed. Last winter, here at NYU Shanghai, the inaugural class unfortunately witnessed the worst pollution levels we have seen yet, with AQIs literally going off the charts. As we continue our endeavors here in Shanghai, it is wise to gain some knowledge on this issue and how to make a contribution to minimizing pollution and our exposure to its harms. How to measure pollution: Pollution is measured using the Air Quality Index (AQI), an indicator based on air pollutants that have damaging effects on our health and environment. The AQI specifically measures pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone. The two pollutants that pose the biggest threats to our health are ground-level ozone and airborne particles, what we frequently see as grey smog. AQI values range from 0 to 500, with 500 being the greatest level of air pollution. Generally hazardous levels start at 300 and up. With improvements in technologies used to measure air quality, such as wind sensors and ceilometers, forecasting has improved; however pollution isn’t as easily predicted as the weather is. Another measure is PM or particulate matter, the term for solid or liquid air pollutants in the air. Bigger particles are ranked PM10, while the smaller ones are PM2.5. Particles that are ranked PM10 include smoke, dirt and dust while PM2.5 are most commonly toxic organic compounds, still just as harmful. Don’t be fooled by the small ranks, both PM10 and PM2.5 can cause health problems. Causes of pollution in China: The driving cause of air pollution in China is the expanding industrialization this country continues to face. Coal industries are the leading culprit, accounting for 16.7% of the pollution (Chinadiaologue.com). Coalmines create emissions of methane, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, all severely harmful to human health. Additionally, the immense amount of car fuel emissions from congested transportation is major cities is a contributing harmful factor. Is there a solution to the problem? In September 2013, the State Council of China issued an Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution, aimed to reduce air pollution promptly. Currently the plan has focused on closing mills, factories and smelters to reduce coal consumption. China’s strategy also includes increasing non-fossil fuel energy and going green with eco-friendly energy sources. Apart from governmental changes, the public can also make changes to reduce air pollution. To take part in the action to reduce air pollution you can conserve energy, recycle to reduce production emissions, plant trees, go green with your electricity, and drive efficiently. How to minimize harm for yourself: According to an article written by Joseph Kahn in the New York Times, only 1% of China’s urban population breathes relatively safe air. The harms of being exposed to pollution are extensive ranging from respiratory problems to cancer. What is key when living in areas with risky levels of air pollution is to limit your exposure to it by wearing masks outdoors, getting air purifiers (cleaning the filters when needed) and minimizing exercise outdoors. When you exercise, particles in the air travel deeper into your lungs and can create more health problems. Pollution in current news: A new documentary that has officially gone viral in China has brought pollution to the forefront of discussion. Chai Jing, reveals the chilling reality about pollution in China. “This is how history is made. With thousands of ordinary people one day saying, ‘No, I’m not satisfied, I don’t want to wait…I want to stand up and do a little something,’” –Ms.Chai Ms.Chai teaches us all the importance of taking a stand for something important. No change will be made without a public effort. To view her groundbreaking documentary click here. This article was written by Mike Chen. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Green Shanghai