Urban Air Pollution- An emerging concern

Abstract

Air pollution in cities and urban sectors are increasing significantly on a time scale at global level. This alarming fact is substantiated with its gravity in the sense that more than 80% of people living in urban areas are exposed to air quality levels that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) limits. The situation world over is more critical to populations in low – income cities which are most impacted. According to the urban air quality database, 98% of cities in low – and middle income countries with more than 100 000 inhabitants do not meet WHO air quality guidelines. However, the cities in high – income countries this percentage decreases to 56%. The WHO reveals the fact that around 3000 cities in 103 countries have started measuring air pollution levels and recognizing the associated health impacts. With declines of urban air quality, the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma, increases for the people who live in these cities. An effort has therefore been made by the authors in this paper to explain briefly some of the relevant factors responsible for urban air pollution such as heat island effect, albedo effect, urban planning with environmental inputs, climate change, urban environment policy parameters, sustainable urban transport, environmental sustainability etc. These issues need to be addressed globally on high scientific scale for effective reduction of urban air pollution.