Air pollution - part of the trinity of pollution along with water and noise - is basically letting out all the harmful gases that we don’t want on earth into the atmosphere and then let it come back and bite us. It may seem to be the last thing on your list of concerns, but know this - contamination in the atmosphere accounts for 7 million deaths worldwide [wikipedia].
We know air pollution, yes, unless you've been living under a rock like Patrick Star.
But how much do you know of the effects it can cause in your lifestyle?
Start from the basics: The average human being travels 5 km a day - in cars, bicycles, motorbikes, buses. We are very used to the smoke coughed up by the surrounding vehicles. The furthest we’d go is to shout at the guy who has filled up some cheap gas who’s exhaust gases are fogging up the neighborhood.
And women. They hate it when hot, dirty air particles settle on their silky hair or supple skin. Spotting a lady on a two wheeler without protective masks and covers in India is unheard of.
Main cause? Simply put together all the inventions of man that spew out dark smoke as an exhaust or by product of an action
Our fathers told us of days when roads used to be filled with trees and the cool shade on either sides of the road. They don’t really enjoy getting stuck in traffic nowadays with all these skyscrapers and the evolution of the concrete jungle. Trees by the roadside are all but slowly disappearing to make space for the high-end IT distributor or the famous marketing agency because their million-dollar buildings are all apparently worth more than 150 years of preserved green heritage embodied in a strongly rooted oak tree.
Who would notice, right?
Now when the pollution numbers have gone off the charts and the day when we’d need a gas mask is fast approaching, it is evident that we need to take measured steps towards conservation of our greenery. In a matter of years, the focus of our daily news will be to show how which jungle has been depleted and another 5 species are now history; things that will clearly depict the human race as scientifically and technologically advanced fools who didn't know better than to kill themselves with their inventions designed for better living.
So much for a tree?!
Why trees?
Petrol and other fuels that we use emit thick black smoke when they’re burnt. This smoke contains a poison, an X-factor, known as carbon monoxide. This little bugger circles around a while before reaching the upper levels.
Now here’s where our trees come to save the day. They simply double up the monoxide by trapping it and give out oxygen! They’re like nature’s own programmed filters - how cool is that? FREE oxygen for everyone and assured human sustenance and makes the world that much greener and healthier. To quote the King of Pop, Michael Jackson who sang -
“Heal the world
Make it a better place,
For you and for me
And the entire human race”
Save our trees. Save our species.