Air pollution

Updated: Mon, 30 Apr 2018

Amid 'air apocalypse', mask-clad Lahore looks for answers

As the Pakistani city of 10 million's air worsens, residents are fighting back against a health 'human rights crisis'

Air pollution costs Americans $2,500 each a year in healthcare
Air pollution also contributes to 107,000 premature deaths per year in the United States, a report finds By Matthew Lavietes | Thu, 20 May 2021
Pakistan looks to new tech to curb crop burning and cut smog
Subsidised farm machinery that eliminates the need to burn fields could improve Lahore's choking air pollution, government hopes By Rina Saeed Khan | Tue, 8 Dec 2020
As lockdown clears the air, Cairo looks to keep pollution low
Expanded public transit, cleaner fuels and more shared bicycles could help preserve coronavirus-era gains, officials say By Menna A. Farouk | Mon, 25 May 2020
Hour on London Tube bad as a day in traffic for pollution
In some Tube stations the air can be up to 50 times dirtier than on the street, a study found By Umberto Bacchi | Thu, 10 Jan 2019
Time to see air pollution as a human rights threat: U.N.
"Making it a human right can really empower the billions of people around the world who have been fighting for their right to breathe clean air" By Shannon Larson | Mon, 4 Mar 2019
Polluted air to shorten lives by 20 months - researchers
Of all health risks, air pollution is the fifth leading cause of death, killing more people each year than road accidents and malaria, says global report By Shannon Larson | Wed, 3 Apr 2019
Posh pollution: the exclusive London addresses with toxic air
London residents can look up their address on a new website, addresspollution.org, to see whether the air at their home breaches annual legal limits By Sonia Elks | Tue, 17 Sep 2019
Asia's coal addiction puts chokehold on air-polluted cities
In a lawsuit, Jakarta residents will argue policymakers have failed to tackle air pollution, hoping to force the government to move away from coal power and into renewables By Michael Taylor | Wed, 20 Mar 2019
factbox 10 facts about air pollution on World Environment Day
Tackling the causes of dirty air and climate change together could bring big benefits for public health By Megan Rowling | Wed, 5 Jun 2019
London school-bag basics: books, lunch, air-pollution sensor
Primary-school pupils are taking part in a study to understand better how their daily routines expose them to toxic air By Shannon Larson | Fri, 22 Mar 2019
As winter smog chokes Lahore, Pakistan moves to cut air pollution
Efforts to crack down on pollution from agricultural burning, dirty factories, brick kilns and vehicles are underway By Rina Saeed Khan | Mon, 7 Jan 2019
Southern Asians unaware of deadly risks from polluted air
A study of media content found the public debate on air pollution largely focused on vehicle emissions, overlooking other causes and longer-term health issues By Michael Taylor | Thu, 28 Mar 2019
Air pollution linked to psychotic experiences in UK teens
With two-thirds of the global population projected to live in a city by 2050, further research into the health effects of air pollution is crucial, scientists say By Lin Taylor | Wed, 27 Mar 2019
Pakistan moves to curb urban air pollution after high court ruling
Pakistan's environmental protection agency is installing air quality monitors and warning factories to add pollution filters By Saleem Shaikh and Sughra Tunio | Mon, 30 Apr 2018
Indian officials lament inaction of cities with world's worst air
Only a few of India's 100 most polluted cities have drawn up plans to combat air pollution despite being asked to do so By Reuters | Wed, 2 May 2018
Deadly air pollution shortens lives by nearly 2 years
Researchers launch a website that tells users how many years of life air pollution could cost them By Sebastien Malo | Mon, 19 Nov 2018
As smog season looms, Pakistan shuts polluting brick kilns
"The closure will have an economic impact - but so does their continued operation, which has a huge environmental impact," says one official By Imran Mukhtar | Fri, 19 Oct 2018
FACTBOX-Air pollution: Why and how it kills
By 2040, Asia will account for almost 90 percent of the rise in premature deaths attributable to air pollution. By Thin Lei Win | Thu, 18 May 2017
Smoke to ink? Indian inventors try a new approach to air pollution
After a chance encounter, engineers find a way to capture soot from diesel generators - and sell it to ink manufacturers By Huizhong Wu | Wed, 2 May 2018
Artist's 'pollution pods' highlight global air quality problem
"You're seeing a comparison between different cities, and you can feel it and see it as you move from dome to dome. I think it's a really powerful way of bringing this (issue) to people's minds" By Serena Chaudhry | Fri, 20 Apr 2018
As Islamabad's trees disappear, its children lead a green push
Environmental education in schools is leading to a surge of tree planting - and many more tree nurseries - in the capital By Saleem Shaikh and Sughra Tunio | Tue, 27 Mar 2018
Urban nomads: Mongolian herders battle with a new future
As climate-driven drought takes hold, Mongolia's nomads are retreating to the city - and facing choking pollution By Max Baring | Thu, 3 May 2018
Hanoi enjoyed just 38 days of clean air in 2017
"A bit more than one month were days with good air quality" By Michael Taylor | Tue, 30 Jan 2018
As India’s capital struggles with smog, Kashmir bans leaf burning
Worsening lung problems - and a black carbon threat to glaciers - are the reason restrictions are being put into force, officials say By Athar Parvaiz | Wed, 20 Dec 2017