GRACEFUL
Health
Air pollution and how it is affecting our health negatively
by Chinyere Nwakanma
Tuesday 28th May 2025 11.07 a.m BST
Supporting through research and by providing new innovations
Participants from different companies at the Net Zero MEA summit



Writing about the aftermath of the Net MEA zero summit as the stakeholders are working hard to innovate and create new products to help everyone based on what was discussed during the summit. It is good to know that there are many people who are looking at providing products to help cut emissions around the world. Air pollution is something of concern as the countries of the world grapple with driving down pollution in their major cities .Imagine inhaling serious smoke just like somebody indulging in the smoking habit, while travelling or walking down the street. For people with health issues like Asthma this is something that does trigger either panic attacks or real health attacks. If one has seen asthma sufferers ,one will know that air pollution is a serious health hazard and driving down emissions to net zero is something that must be taken seriously by everyone. Most Asthma sufferers spend half of their lives in the hospitals and many who care for others feel that others need to be considerate when smoking outside the house to protect vulnerable Asthma sufferers. I have had incidences where someone accidentally puffed smoke on my face while puffing cigarette down the street. The smoke and smell was pungent and I coughed down the road as I walked. And from that day I wondered how someone with Asthma will react to that and other air pollutants especially those from exhaust pipes. Air pollution is a serious threat especially to Asthma sufferers and children born with weak lungs can develop Asthma by living in unsafe polluted cities. Exhaust pipe fumes make everyone uncomfortable. Motorists are advised to service their cars all the time to cut down on the amount of exhausts fumes their cars are emitting especially in Africa and Asia. London is working hard to get this done by putting up the ULEZ zones , which is something good for Londoners.Air pollutants can make existing respiratory and cardiovascular problems , including asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke worst in sufferers.Being exposed to pollutants can also lead to other health issues like lung malfunction, neurological problems, and even death.Breathing Carcinogens from the air is a risk to people and can be the cause of lung cancer and potentially other types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity,reproductive, neurological, and immune system disorder.These are serious illnesses that affect productivities in the country of the world.Hospitals bill sufferers large sums for drugs to manage these illnesses in Africa and Asia ,while many people suffering from these stay at home without work because they are ill.One can see the losses that these causes to countries that is why many concerned people are speaking about preventing the diseases as prevention is better than cure.Preventing these diseases means that more people will be at work,more people will have healthy children and more people will be happy.The world health organization has given countries guidelines on what to do and many people are being asked to do more about reducing the net carbon emission in their cities by being conscious of what they are doing that could cause more emissions .