Statistics from the World Health Organisation show that poor air quality is responsible for as many as seven million premature deaths every year. This is a shocking and staggering statistic, and it disproportionately affects people living in low-and-middle-income countries. Below, we explain why air quality and the health of the planet are inexorably linked, and introduce a simple step you can take to reduce the negative impact that your home fire has on the air quality in your area.
Air quality and the earth’s ecosystem
The quality of air on our planet is directly linked to the earth’s ecosystem. Our combustion of fossil fuels is directly responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, which have had a devastating impact on the general health of the planet in the past few decades. This, in turn, has seen worrying levels of air pollution in some of the world’s rapidly developing cities. In fact, the deterioration in the quality of air around the world has led the UNECE to describe it as “the world’s largest environmental health threat.” Not only is dirty air bad for the planet, but it can lead to a range of health complications, including asthma, cancer, and pulmonary illnesses.
Where is air quality the poorest?
According to data from IQAir, the most polluted countries in the world are Bangladesh, Chad, and Pakistan. Lahore in Pakistan is also listed as one of the top three most polluted cities in the world, highlighting the severity of the problem there. The data fits the notion that low-and-middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by poor air quality, which is often due to overcrowding in densely populated urban centres and an overreliance on fossil fuels.
The importance of air quality for the future of our planet
From a human standpoint, the fact that 7 million people die every year as a result of poor air quality is a hugely worrying statistic. Air quality affects the quality of life in countries all around the world, restricting the lives that people can live and increasing the pressure on health systems as a result. Therefore, it’s fair to say that poor air quality undoubtedly hampers the human experience. But the problem is much bigger than this.
Air pollution affects everything on the planet. It can harm forests, wildlife, and agriculture, primarily as a result of the pollution of precipitation, which then permeates into soil and water bodies that the earth relies on for nutrients. Essentially, air pollution can cause environmental degradation on a huge scale. What’s more, pollutants like black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and aerosols all affect the amount of incoming sunlight, which is driving up the temperature of the planet. As we know, this is one of the primary causes of the climate change crisis that we’re currently facing.
We can all take steps to improve air quality
Although air quality is a global problem that needs state-level attention, the choices we make every day can influence the quality of air in our homes and communities. For instance, choosing ultra-dry firewood over wet wood or traditional coal for your home fire is a great way to reduce your footprint. Dry wood emits less smoke than wet wood and is much better for your health and the environment. Browse our selection of kiln-dried firewood today to reduce the environmental impact of your home fire.
