Air Pollution
in cities

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No longer can we take for granted, one of the most basic requirements of life on this planet - clean air!

Pollution of the air we breathe is the cause of much of the ill health prevalent in our times. An unavoidable feature of urban settlements and oftentimes regulatory apathy in those rural areas where it is a problem.

So how can Urban Yogees keep their bodies inured against the harmful effects of the now ubiquitious air pollution? Starts with being aware of all the obvious and not-so-obvious sources of air pollution. Then browse through the detox pages for solutions to them.

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Vehicular Exhaust fossil fuel fumes

The most well known and obvious source of urban air pollution is the exhaust fumes from various combustion-engine, fossil fuel burning vehicles.
Cars idling at traffic junctions, poorly maintained vehicles, and especially polluting are the heavy vehicles like buses, trucks and trailers.
While the transition to electrically powered vehicles has begun, whether it will truly solve the problem remains to be seen. After all, electricity is also generated via fossil fuel burning, so the net gain equation needs some calculation there.

Industrial Fumes factory by products

For the better part of the last century, cities were characterised by the towering chimneys of industrial buildings and factories. Though many have been shifted to non-residential zones, enough remain to contribute to the deterioration of urban air.
A lack of foliage and greenery to counter this daily release of air pollutants does not help either. Cities usually have to rely on wind or seabreeze to help clear some of the smog that hangs over these areas.

CFC appliances chloroflourocarbons

Fridges, air conditioners, freezers, supermarket chillers, chilled vending machines - basically any appliance or device which chills and cools commonly uses CFCs.
Even spray cans like room fresheners and deodorants make use of this toxic class of chlorine based chemicals. Industrial foaming agents, cold chain transport vehicles, insulation and packing materials too - are all sources of CFCs contaminating our air.

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