Tuesday, November 12

Toxic smog has engulfed northern India and Pakistan in recent weeks, leading to hundreds of hospitalizations.

Smog, a combination of smoke and fog, is a dangerous type of air pollution that causes severe damage to the lungs. Large cities like India's New Delhi and Pakistan's Lahore experience poor air quality year-round, as their massive populations produce thousands of tonnes of CO2 per day. Power plants, vehicles, and trash combustion are the largest sources of air pollution in these large cities, but air in rural areas and farms usually stays relatively clean.

However, during the post-monsoon season, which falls from October to December, farms begin burning the fields to prepare for the next round of crops to be planted. Winter also generally has less rain and wind, and the colder air brings the pollution low to the ground, as warm air rises and cold air sinks. These factors, coupled with the usual pollution, bring a thick layer of smog to northern India and Pakistan during winter.

Unfortunately, this time around, the pollution has been significantly worse than previous years. New Delhi's air quality has been hazardous for weeks, averaging out around 350 on the Air Quality Index (AQI), according to IQAir. Localized air quality levels are exceeding 450 in some areas, which is extremely hazardous to health. On the other hand, air pollution in northern Pakistan is even worse. Lahore has averaged an AQI of over 1,000 over the last few days, with local totals going over 1,500. The nearby city of Multan is also averaging similar numbers, along with most of the country's Punjab province. In fact, pollution levels in the region are so bad that the smog can even be seen from space-- staggering images taken from NASA Worldview showed a thick layer of white smog covering all of northern India and Pakistan.

Air pollution is dangerous to be around, and its effects are plaguing thousands of people across Pakistan. Air pollution can cause a large variety of adverse health effects immediately, including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat and breathing difficulties like coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and asthma. High exposure to air pollution can also increase the chances of a heart attack, stroke, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and neurological issues like dementia and cognitive impairment, and can also cause high blood pressure, pneumonia, and cataracts in the long run.

Over 30,000 people have been hospitalized with various ailments from exposure to severe air pollution, and countless outdoor activities have been shut down. Schools and government buildings have been closed until Sunday, and outdoor sports events, exhibitions, festivals, and outdoor dining have all been shut down until the pollution dissipates. Markets, shops and malls are being forced to close by 8 pm as well-- only necessary locations like pharmacies, gas stations, and medically-related businesses are being allowed to stay open.

The pollution should fade away in the coming months, but a natural solution to the problem is not expected to arrive for another few weeks, at the least. Until then, residents living in the area should avoid going outside, minimize travel, and keep air circulating inside the house to prevent the pollution from reaching their lungs and helping them maintain their health.

Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Male penguins usually gift a female penguin a pebble to win her over. That pebble is then used to make their nest where they lay their eggs.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results. (Willie Nelson)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Armistice (noun)- An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting a war, or in other words, a truce.

In a Sentence: Both sides in the conflict agreed to an armistice.