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Air pollution in Nigeria

Air pollution is the discharge of any harmful substance into the air, which can cause minor health problems, including burning eyes and nose, itchy irritated throat, and breathing problems to significant health problems including chronic respiratory diseases or mortality. In Nigeria, air pollution is associated with different health risks such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory infections, tuberculosis, lower respiratory infections, COPD, chronic respiratory diseases, ischemic heart disease, stroke, communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases . Nigeria is ranked amongst the world's first five and the largest country in Africa, with the top-most level of premature death associated with air pollution .

Recomendations.

In order to effectively handle the air pollution crisis in Nigeria, it is important for the country to provide regular inspections of automobiles to ensure that older cars are not releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. It is also integral that Nigeria removes cars from the road that are toxic to the environment.

(2) The implementation of efficient electric energy will help decrease the need for generators, which produces unhealthy air pollution in households and work environments.

(3)Nigerians can reduce air pollution in the household by substituting fuelwood for biogas, which is a form of biofuel that is instinctively manufactured from the decay of natural waste. Biogas will provide sustainable options for preparing food and heating the household while eliminating air pollution both inside the household and the outside environment.

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Drug Abuse
My community of Mamma Cannes has a growing drug and alcohol abuse issue, especially within the male adolescent to young adult population. The situation is directly linked to the rise in school dropouts among youths in this community and as such the problem continues to intensify. Within this community, apart from alcohol, the main drug of choice is marijuana and because of the evident Rastafarian population the severity of the issue is being trivialized.
Possible Solutions for the Drug Abuse Issue:
1. Workshops on the value of education-workshops and community outreach programs should be organized to try to initiate a change in attitude and behaviour towards school and education which would prevent the issue of school dropouts and drug abuse.
2. Mentorship programs- these can be created to pair youths with rehabilitated members of their community where they can gain first hand knowledge on the issues surrounding the drug abuse problem.
3. Use of community center for skills training- providing meaningful classes that teaches skills after school, will seek to keep youths gainfully employed and out of trouble.

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My village Chantimelle has a large amount of people who has made significant strive and has shown great potential. Lately, I have been seen a growing trend with alcohol abuse mainly with the young men who I have seen as being talented in may ways. For example, most of them went to secondary and tertiary level. I firmly believe that this trend has to do with peer pressure, lack of parental control and low self esteem. To curb some of this problem, the community, church and parents can come together by having small talks with those persons by letting them know the effects and consequences of alcohol abuse and how it can lead to mental illness. The Government can also provide some form of employment be it big or small to reduce what is happening to these young men. "I love my community"

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Posted by Henissa Charles
One environmental health issue in my community is Noise Pollution. Many may think that this is not an environmental or community health issue.
At present, there isn't much being done to combat this issue. Though there are laws within the country that speak specifically to noise pollution, it has been totally disregarded by the residents of Happy Hill. Residents often seek the assistance of the RGPF and on most days, they are sadly of little to no help. I do believe that if stricker penalties are enforced and if the RGPF fully cooperate, this issue can be resolved.
Here is a short video that highlights the negative effects of noise pollution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpExZUKWNdU

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 California, USA - Climate Change and Wildfires (Real)

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 California, USA - Climate Change and Wildfires (Real)

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Wildfires produce a range of harmful air pollutants, from known cancer-causing substances to tiny particles that can aggravate existing health problems and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Climate change around the world had a very strong impact in the year 2020 when a lightning storm seemed to have started a huge wildfire that lasted multiple months.
However, discussions about what the community must do have been going on for a while as of the year 2021. Kristin Olsen, former California Assembly Republican Leader said the following for a news article in 2018,
"“Water supply. To help improve our environment, economy, health and well-being, California must build water storage facilities, desalination plants, stormwater capture systems, water recycling plants, and other infrastructure projects. We must become more innovative in increasing and delivering water in order to meet our state’s present and future ecosystem needs. It is unacceptable and unnecessary to pit the needs of the environment against the needs of people. It need not be a zero-sum game if we create and store more water!” (Olsen 2018).
It is very clear what California should do. More water to keep the atmosphere moist year round could very well be a deciding factor in the case of another dry season like last year 2020.

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California, USA - Climate Change and Wildfires

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California, USA - Climate Change and Wildfires

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In River Road, there is a major case of water pollution. This pollution is as a result of the waste products, from the distillers,  being dumped into the river.  This poses a major threat for the  flora and fauna in the surrounding area.  Many fishes can die and since the water is  very stagnant, there may be a perfect environment for mosquitoes.
Dealing with the problem.
The distiller needs to practice proper waste disposal techniques. Instead of dumping waste products into the river, the distiller can create a waste storage on their compound (maybe a tank in order to collect waste). The waste can then be properly disposed of at a later date, and in a environmentally safe place.

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Chennai is the capital of Tamilnadu. It is known for many interesting things such as clothes, food and temples. But there are some community health issues in Chennai such as, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution. In this Padlet post I will be focusing on Water Pollution in Chennai. Water pollution has been a great disadvantage for people living there as it has many negative effects. It has cause many disease such as cholera, dengue, and malaria, especially during the rainy seasons. This became an issue in the year 2015.

Some ways in which we can avoid this:
- Use phosphate free detergents.
- Check cellar drain often.
- Do not pour grease or fat down the drain.
- Try to avoid plastic bags,  bottles etc.
- Cut down on Chemicals released from factories, which are located near any water resource.
- Encourage and educate the upcoming generations/ youngsters to not litter or defecate in any water source.

- Abinaya Kumar

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In some communities in Nigeria, water is not well distributed and pollution is one of the major causes . It is so bad that seeing multiple water bodies filled with garbage and other types of refuse has become something common.  High levels of toxicants like metals and pesticide are found in the water and this quality of water could affect the people, economy and environment at large.
What could be done to improve this situation:
1. A water quality regulating system should be put in place to monitor the water's physical, chemical, biological and ecological information.
2.  Raising public awareness on the topic of how important it is to keep the water bodies sanitize. Getting the general public to participate will really help.
3. The federal and local government should make strict policies against water pollution. They should also add fines people would pay if they go against those policies.

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In my community there is not enough being done to prepare us for a natural disaster. Disaster preparedness and response plays a critical role in migrating the adverse effects  of a natural disaster. Preparedness range from individuals with first aid training to stockpile of equipments ,supplies and contingency plans and evacuation routes. In my community there are only a few places such as churches where people can go in cast of a natural disaster. However these places are not equipped to hold the amount of people wishing the community and the buildings are not properly maintained.
The following are suggestions for disaster preparedness:
- offer first aid training for people’s within the community.
- encourage people to stockpile on non perishable food items.
-  conduct regular practice drills within the community.
- Organize the neighborhood to be self sufficient after a disaster.

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Oil Spillage

Nigeria is one the countries suffering from oil spillage and it effects. The Niger Delta is Africa's most important oil-producing region, as well as one of the world's most polluted areas. In Nigeria, oil spills are a normal occurrence. Pipeline and tanker incidents account for half of all spills (50 percent); other causes include sabotage (28 percent) and oil production operations (21 percent); and inadequate or non-functional production equipment accounts for 1% of spills. Oil spills have been destroying the environment and killing people in this region of Nigeria for decades. Oil coats otters' and seals' fur, exposing them to hypothermia. Even if marine animals are spared the immediate consequences of an oil spill, their food source can be contaminated. Marine mammals that consume fish or other foods that have been exposed to an oil spill can be contaminated by the oil and die or suffer other consequences.

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There has been many complaints about a terrible stench around the Woburn area, St. George, Grenada. In fact, this stench has polluted the air of the communities of Woburn, Woodlands, and Grand Anse Valley for many years. Many say that the stench comes from a drainage pipe of the Clarke's Court Rum Distillery located nearby. Some also say that the stench comes from an accumulation of residue within the mangroves surrounding the area.

These stenches can be recognized several yards from the village and pose as disturbing to most. Many have complained that these stenches deplete the quality of fresh air in the area. Some also express difficulty breathing when they sleep at night as they battle with the intolerant stenches and heavy carbon monoxide levels from constant motor vehicle traffic.

Based on my observation, nothing is being done about this issue of air pollution; "nothing much can be done," says most community health workers from the area. However, i highly disagree and believe something needs to be done simply because "poor environmental quality has its greatest impact on people whose health status is already at risk" (Environmental health, n.d.). Poor air quality is often linked to cancer, premature death, and long-term damage to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Therefore, these societal and environmental factors that potentially increase the likelihood of exposure to diseases, and internal and external contaminants must be addressed.

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Pollution of Water Resources.
One of the major pollutants of The Bahamas' water resources is sewage. This is due to the use of individual residential septic tanks. Many of the septic tanks are not up to Building Code and therefore do not function properly.
My solution would be to do a mass inspection of septic tanks to ensure that all septic tanks are up to code. A sector from The Water & Sewage can be created to do these inspections and correct any faults, thus decreasing the amount of sewage pollution is our waters.

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Coal ash is a toxic byproduct from coal-fired power stations – leaks into water and land and contaminates them. Coal ash remains one of Australia’s major waste problems, accounting for almost one-fifth of the country’s waste stream (ABC News). Coal ash is associated to heart disease, respiratory diseases, etc.

What can be done to improve it.
-Stricter groundwater regulation so that regulators can manage and clean up ash dumps to avoid contamination in the groundwater
-Safely reuse and recycle coal ash waste to products such as concrete and others
-Government should implement effective national guidelines for ash dump management, rehabilitation to combat to reduce future threats of pollution
-Accessible information to public about ash dumps, management plans, fines, etc., to spread awareness about the effects of the community health issue

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Coal ash on the Central Coast - communities voice their concerns

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With the rapid increase of urbanization and the economic growth, air pollution is becoming one of the major challenges faced in Uganda. Over the years the negative effects of air pollution has started becoming prominent, resulting in higher health problems. Many doctors reported an influx of patients who suffer from chronic lung diseases such as, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructed lung diseases and even lung cancer.

To help reduce air pollution in the country:
- Reduce emissions from industries by cutting back on production of goods
-Reduce emissions from transportation by servicing vehicles frequently; getting older vehicles off the roads
-Reduce emissions from burning by implementing laws against burning of items that emits toxic chemicals.

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Mardigras, S. David Grenada In my village there is the issue of cutting down of trees for the construction of houses as well as for agricultural purposes. This has resulted in a significant reduction in rainfall. It is usually much warmer now than many years ago when it was so cold. natural habitats are being destroyed. One way to curb the problem is by instituting a land use policy. The government is yet to have and implement such a policy.

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During the Turkish offensive on Northeast Syria in October 2019, Turkey and Turkish-backed forces seized possession of the Allouk water station. The Allouk water station, near Ras al-Ain (Serekaniye), serves 460,000 residents in al-Hasakeh governorate, which includes al-Hasakeh city and three refugee camps.
Human Rights Watch said that Turkish authorities' inability to ensure proper water supply to Kurdish-held areas in Northeast Syria is jeopardizing humanitarian organizations' ability to plan for and secure vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Turkish authorities should do everything possible to restore water supply through the Allouk water pumping station as soon as possible.

The Syrian administration, Kurdish-led officials, UN aid organizations, and Turkey must collaborate to ensure that water and electricity are provided to civilians without prejudice or arbitrary restrictions.

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Mumbai Central, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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Nafeesah Bhaiyat
Air Pollution
Despite the geographic advantage of being a wind-swept coastal city and improvement in air quality due to an economic lockdown, Mumbai recorded 25,000 deaths in 2020 which can be attributed to air pollution.

Why is Mumbai so polluted?
It seems that, like other major cities throughout the world, most of the pollution is caused by traffic and construction. 29% of the airborne particulate matter comes from road and construction dust. This is followed by power plants which add 20% to the PM (particulate matter) levels. The main source of traffic contamination comes from the heavy duty vehicles which run on diesel.

Traffic congestion builds up due to delays caused by the construction and demolition of buildings within the city. As a direct result of these delays, the traffic often stands idle whilst waiting for the line to start moving again. All the while, engines are running and pumping exhaust gases into the atmosphere. As a result of roads that are in bad condition, traffic moves at a slower speed and therefore stays within the city limits for longer than necessary.

Can air pollution in Mumbai be reduced?
Primarily, people need to be made aware of the effects of breathing in polluted air because, only then can they start to take steps to alleviate the situation. The key factor in improving air quality is reducing emissions. In 2019 the Indian authorities launched the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) which aims to cut pollution in 102 of the most polluted cities by between 20 and 30% by 2024. Under the NCAP, plans are to cut industrial and vehicle emissions, reduce pollution from dust and other powder type materials and impose strict restrictions on the use of biofuels and biomass burning.

Individuals are being encouraged to make personal changes by choosing to carpool or use public transport instead of using their own private vehicle. Switching over to greener fuels would be environmentally beneficial too.

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According to OECD, South Korea has ranked 4th in the worst air quality in the world. It has a PM 2.5 level due to the coal used for power generation and vehicle emissions. It threatens people’s health, especially the cardiovascular system. U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that air pollution over PM 2.5 levels is linked to pneumonia, heart disease, cancer, and more.

The Korean government has implemented an Alternate No-Driving Day Policy since 2018. It is to encourage people to use public transportation and bicycle. (The government has provided bikes for public use, and there are many bicycle routes in Seoul.) The policy reduces the number of vehicles on the road to half by restricting people’s drive every other day. (Cars having an odd number as a license plate’s last digit can drive on odd-number days, and cars having an even number as the last digit are permitted to drive on even-number days.)

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OECD ranks South Korea's air pollution in top 5 worst in the world

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No Water Access in Households
Water Access i.e clean drinking water and access of water in most homes have always been a problem in the small community of Blaize, Grenada. There are currently 2 public standpipes within the community and because of no water access in most homes, you would occasionally find adults and children bathing or washing clothes at those standpipes. However, this problem is also currently been solved by our Constituency Minister in collaboration with Nawasa, by providing homes throughout the entire community with access to clean, drinkable flowing water in most homes. People are required to register and once registered and files are processed, installation of water can be done. Furthermore, they can also request bathroom/toilet building assistance in the event they do not have.

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Unsustainable Forestry Industry
In British Columbia, 1 in 5 jobs come from the forestry industry. Forestry is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in British Columbia. According to 2019 Sierra Club report, logging in B.C. is responsible for 42 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year. These carbon emissions contribute to climate change by trapping heat and air pollution. Cutting forests removes trees that would suck up a large portion of the carbon from the atmosphere. Logging large portions of forests also causes relationships between species that inhabit that are to be affected. Solutions include government funding for smaller operations that selectively log forests and small mills that process wood that larger operations would burn. There also needs to be development of the tree planting industry and as well as extending carbon tax to forestry companies that burn large amounts of wood that could be used in other forms.

https://cases.open.ubc.ca/w17t2con200-4/#:~:text=British%20Columbia%20forest%20ecosystems%20suffer,Thus%2C%20now%20a%20threatened%20species.

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Extreme use of alcohol

In Union, a small community in the Parish of St. Mark’s, there is a huge community health issue. There is a very high number of alcohol drinkers that consume liquor all day every day. Every bar and grocery shop you go to you will find it filled with men, sometimes elder women, in that place drinking. It is so bad that one of the rum distributors said to a shop owner that this is the area they distribute the most alcohol to weekly. Presently, any spot that sells an alcoholic beverage or rum in the area, is sure to make money because the people are constantly drinking and always looking to purchase a drink when passing by. This is not a good thing, it puts the community’s health at danger, people should not be drinking that much alcohol daily. To avoid, or cut back on, the amount of alcohol these individual consume, a limit can be placed in shops to minimize the amount of alcohol going out into that society, and also create jobs in and around the area to keep users busy (most are bored and have nothing to do, so they head to the shop to drink).

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Morne Jaloux, Morne Jaloux Ridge, Grenada

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Morne Jaloux, Morne Jaloux Ridge, Grenada

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Morne Jaloux, Morne Jaloux Ridge, Grenada

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Kelisher Thomas-John
Unauthorized burning of bush.
Very uncomfortable for persons with respiratory issues and just the overall comfort during the day. Especially for the elderly. loss of control of fire, engaging the fire department.
Citizens need to follow the guidelines given by the Ministry of agriculture and the RGPF:

apply for a temporary burn license.

inform the neighbors and surrounding areas of intent to burn.

ensure adequate water supply is available for distinguishing fire, if not inform the fire depart @ RGPF

burning in open areas are encouraged.

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Teenage Pregnancy
Teenage pregnancy is no foreign community health issue. It has plagued my community for years; its prevalence continuing to rocket.

What can be done?
I propose:
-Teenaged females can be encouraged, by community & family members, to
abstain from engaging in sexual activities.
- Community stores and nearby pharmacies should provide a wider range of birth control/ contraceptive options to teenagers.

-Sensitizing the community's teenage population (by implementing school/ community seminars)
about utilizing various contraceptive methods, and the potential repercussions
of teenage pregnancy.

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Air pollution
This city has the worst air quality as deemed by WHO. This attributes to the high number of deaths from respiratory disease in the city. This video talks about what is being done to combat it.
Katherine Venkatagiri

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In accordance with WHO's guidelines, Thailand is considered moderately unsafe. Thailand Pollution Control Department and other agencies have developed standards in reducing air pollution. The standards focus on shifting to lower emission vehicle engines & improving public transportation. Residents are urged to wear N95 or KN95 Protective dust masks. Factories and power plants are also required to reduce emissions.

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Is Thailand very polluted?

Thailand as a country can be counted as a place that has numerous polluted cities, some of which are famous for their levels of smoke and haze. Bangkok has always topped the list of polluted cities, and even Chiang Mai, once renowned and hailed as a cleaner and less densely populated version of Bangkok, has in recent years exploded in terms of the level of pollution, having overtaken Bangkok in 2019, with the readings of PM2.5 sitting at a yearly average of 32.3 μg/m ³, as opposed to Bangkok's 22.8 μg/m ³. Amongst all its major cities, these increases in dangerous particles and chemicals in the air push the AQI rating up to potentially hazardous levels.

The citizens of Thailand are definitively aware of this, but everyday life continues to go on, cars continue to get people back and forth from work, all the while emitting tons of toxic smoke and fumes, with many older vehicles such as buses and trucks, a great number of which are in various states of disrepair, sharing the road that give out their fair share of pollution and toxic fumes. Despite measures having been put into place by the government to remove such offending vehicles from the road, the preventative measures are not often fully enforced and the polluting trucks and buses continue to drive around the country, spreading their insidious PM2.5 content wherever they go.

It is for reasons such as this that Thailand could be considered as very polluted. In 2019, Thailand was ranked as the 28th most polluted country out of the 98 countries ranked in IQAir's 2019 World Air Quality Report, with a yearly PM2.5 rating of 24.3 μg/m ³, putting it at a rating of moderate risk to health according to the US Air Quality Index. Whilst this is not particularly terrible when compared to the world's biggest offenders, it is still 2 times over the WHO's exposure recommendation of PM2.5 and other dangerous chemicals such as nitrogen dioxide (NO ₂) sulfur dioxide (SO ₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) to name a few.

Whilst going from ground level experiences in cities such as Bangkok, one might be able to say that the pollution is extremely palpable and can cause a number of instant effects that leave a more profound imprint on a person's memory, as opposed to the hidden long-term effects that we tend to push under the rug and forget about. These instant effects can include sore throats, other respiratory ailments and headaches when caught in areas of heavy traffic and during rush hour, with mask usage being extremely prevalent amongst the population of Bangkok and other cities long before the arrival of the 2020 COVID era.

For the average citizen or tourist, they would hardly even need to look at an air quality index to be able to tell that the air that they are breathing is not clean, however when the numbers for 2019 statistics regarding PM2.5 are examined, you can see that the top two most polluted countries in the world, Bangladesh and Pakistan, have an average PM2.5 concentration more than double than that of Thailand's, with Bangladesh averaging 83.3 μg/m3, and Pakistan following closely behind with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 65.8 μg/m ³.

This can give some perspective that whilst Thailand most certainly has pollution problems as well as cities that have high concentrations of haze, smog and other contaminants in the air, it does not have air quality that is an immediate danger, unless you belong to the demographic of people who suffer from respiratory issues.

Many improvements could be made, and are currently being implemented that will surely bring its rating down over the coming years, but for now it could just simply be known as a moderately polluted city, where individuals with sensitivity towards certain chemicals found in the common pollutants should take preventative measures to keep themselves safe, and perhaps even resorting to using apps such as AirVisual by IQAir, which show constantly updating statistics of the levels of pollution in certain areas, so that these individuals who are at risk can take the appropriate action when levels of PM2.5 are detected as being higher.

What are some problems that Thailand faces with its air quality?

To put it simply, the main offending factors involving Thailand (that are not entirely unique to this country but rather something that many countries around the world and in the regions share or suffer from) are the exhaust fumes from traffic, in particular older buses and trucks that still flood the roads countrywide and permeate the atmosphere with their polluting and heavily outdated engines. The amount of PM2.5 that can be emitted from these defunct or old vehicles is extremely pertinent, with areas surrounding highways often caked in thick black soot, which is a collection of these fine particle matters that have become so concentrated that they start to visually change their surroundings.

On to the next offending phenomena, construction work is another culprit. Building sites use heavy machinery that runs on fossil fuels, emitting their own heavy amount of pollution and smoke, and the materials used in construction can produce a variety of different fine particulate matter with many that have toxic effects on our health, as well as industrial runoff that can find its way into the ecosystem via waterways or numerous other means. This includes microplastics, and a myriad of the previously mentioned chemicals plus more, such as volatile organic compounds (this is also a byproduct of farming and food industries) otherwise known as VOC's, as well as heavy metals such as lead and unburned hydrocarbons, which have the potential, on a microscopic level, to bind to each other and other naturally occurring or man-made chemicals in the air or environment to cause even more dangerous pollutants to appear and enter into the biosphere of the country.

Since Thailand is still experiencing considerable annual growth, this sector may continue to press the AQI numbers up, as the ever increasing need for more construction of housing, condominiums, shopping malls and other urban areas of interest shows no sign of slowing down, which in turn go on to produce their own forms of pollution and PM2.5, as well as providing an artificial shelter of sorts whereby the trapped pollution within the concrete jungle of a city has nowhere to go, coalescing within and above the area. As such, the domino effect of this urban expansion often causes the growing city to eat into forested or areas of nature surrounding it, compounding the situation.

Crop burning in rural areas, as well as the fires from other regions in southeast Asia, contribute heavily to the particles found floating in the air, super fine burnt carbon from organic matter can become part of the PM2.5 collective, with the super fine particles easily finding its way into people's lungs, and blood stream due to their small size, as well as ending up in the PM10 category as well, less serious due to its larger size but still with the potential to cause numerous health problems.

Lastly, factories and the industrial sector also contribute heavily to the levels of PM2.5, smoke and overall pollution. Thailand produces a huge amount of goods for the region of south east Asia, particularly food and household products. The processes involved in this industry produce a large amount of its own pollution, with the chemicals involved in the creation of plastics and other storage items being released into the atmosphere in microscopic forms, the factories themselves giving off large amounts of smoke and pushing PM2.5 into the atmosphere, and with this great demand comes the result that ever more pollution will be produced by the industry. The production of food on a large scale also pushes up the increase in farming demands, causing the opening of even more factories and fast production farms, furthermore all of this requires transport which leaves its own impact on overall levels of pollution. So, Thailand is so polluted because of a number of reasons related to the topical 'urban diseases' such as overcrowding and population boom, industry sector growth as well as less stringent rules being placed on companies or individuals that produce large amounts of noxious emissions.

What is Thailand doing about air pollution?

In recent years the particularly bad air quality of Bangkok as well as its other cities, has sent the government shuffling quickly to come up with some fast solutions to help ease the issue, as well as looking at long term goals that can be implemented to lessen the environmental crisis that their country and many major cities are undergoing.

It is important to note that Bangkok, typically known as one of the more polluted cities in Thailand, actually ranked in at number 48 out of 50 cities in Thailand, putting it at the lower end of the AQI spectrum, something that may come as a surprise to many, with its huge pollution and high concentrations of smoke and haze being something that residents and visitors alike have to stay concerned about.

In the minds of the Thai populous, the country may have somewhat of an innate structural inability to clean the quality of its air, with many of its root problems compounded by multifaceted issues that will take potentially years to reverse, let alone improve upon.

To give an example of why this is hard, in the beginning of 2019 another 180,000 vehicles were added and registered to the land transport department in Bangkok, and this was in the first two months alone. Local governments across Thailand are actively attempting to implement more stringent rules on the burning of materials outdoors, but even whilst these plans are being put into proposition (not action) another 320,000 hectares of corn crops came to life in the agricultural sector between late 2018 and early 2019. This is a large number that brings with it many more issues regarding the production of pollution, PM2.5 and further reduction in air quality, having visible effects on the registered AQI.

Regarding the automobile industry, attempts have been made to reduce the sulphur content put out by combustion in car and other vehicle engines, but the implementation of this was delayed by 13 years from its initial proposition date, and even by 2018 many oil refinery companies and supplies demanded a five year period of grace in which they can make the preparation for change, putting the date well past 2020 before such a change will happen.

On a more instantaneous but somewhat superficial level, when the levels of pollution and PM2.5 rise to particularly high levels, the government is known to implement measures such as the 'seeding' or creating artificial rainclouds in order to manifest a downpour to cleanse the air of fine particles, haze and other atmospheric smoke contaminants. Measures of reducing traffic, or at least the density of it in certain areas and certain times have also been implemented, along with the cleansing of roads with water via hoses in an attempt to drain away the thick accumulations of pollutions that line the underpasses and highways of Bangkok and other major cities. These implementations have had little impact, being transient or temporary at best and not addressing the root cause of the issue.

What is the most polluted city in Thailand?

According to the data obtained from the rankings on IQAir's website, in regards to the level of PM2.5 in a particular region, the most polluted city in Thailand over 2019 was Nakhon Ratchasima.

The average PM2.5 rating in Nakhon Ratchasima during 2019 was 42.2 μg/m ³, which is over double Bangkok's 22.8 μg/m ³. The first three months at the beginning of the year experienced the worst air quality, with January averaging 42.1 μg/m ³, and then a huge spike in February to 67.9 μg/m ³, and then 68 μg/m ³ in March.

The months of February and March would be counted as being in the unhealthy air quality range, according to the US AQI ratings. The numbers drop substantially after this down to moderate levels (between 32 and 17 on the AQI rating) with data missing from August through to November. However, the recorded months alone stand to put it as the most polluted city in the whole of Thailand.

The reasons for this may have several causes behind them. It is one of the largest provinces in Thailand, located a few hours away from Bangkok by car. Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, are both interchangeable names of the city and province. The inhabitants are mainly engaged in the agricultural trades, so the number of farms and related industries are high. The burning of crops, as well as the pollution and smoke output from factories are contributing factors to the high levels of PM2.5. There are in excess of seven thousand industrial factories, and since the farming trade there mainly deals in rice, sugar cane and various fruits, the organic waste produced by these products as they make their way from farm to factory is of a considerably high volume.

Organic matter would be burnt as a result, releasing large amounts of smoke and pollution into the air, not to mention the other processes involved in any industrial sector, the chemicals used would contribute to the pollutive effect, and with high concentrations of industrial factories, it is only natural to expect a high level of pollution, especially when proper guidelines are not followed, or at least enforced by a governing body.

Nakhon Ratchasima has for a long time been well known as a gateway to the northern section of Thailand. Due to this positioning, it is inevitable that it will have a large number of cars, trucks and buses passing through it, thus contributing further to the pollution levels in the area. An increase in traffic generally means an increase in the consumption of fossil fuels, which in turn leads to a subsequent increase in smoke and other air contaminants entering the atmosphere.

These are all reasons that could contribute towards Nakhon Ratchasima being so highly ranked on the PM2.5 index and its unusually high spikes of pollution during certain months of the year. Nakhon Ratchasima is followed closely by the city of Saraphi air quality at an PM2.5 average of 41.3 μg/m ³ during 2019, and then in third place the city of Pai air quality with an average of 38.9 μg/m ³. There are eight Thai cities in total that are classed as being in the 'unhealthy for sensitive group' range of the US Air Quality Index, with the other 42 cities following behind in the moderate bracket. Getting a few cities into the 'good' range of annual AQI rating would certainly be an achievable goal within the next few years with a few small adjustments and changes.

Should you wear a mask in Thailand?

Based on the statistics of the 2019 readings of Thailand's air quality index, on average the whole country has a yearly rating of being 'moderately' polluted. The PM2.5 concentration is two times above the WHO's recommended guideline for annual PM2.5 exposure (10 μg/m ³), coming in at a reading of 24.3 μg/m ³. Those with respiratory issues or sensitivity to pollution or the other chemicals found in common city smoke (such as CO, SO ₂, NO ₂) should take precautions to wear a mask, particularly in certain areas or times of the day, or months of the year.

January through to May seem to be months with the highest concentrations of PM2.5, with the remaining months being less polluted until December when the pollution level begins to climb again, making mask wearing a good choice to go with.

This data can be found on the air quality map with active real time updates, as well as on the AirVisual app that can be accessed with ease on the go. Special high-quality air pollution masks are also available via the IQAir online shop, that provide a higher standard of protection to those that may need them.

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Thailand Air Quality Index (AQI) and Air Pollution information | AirVisual

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Thailand as a country can be counted as a place that has numerous polluted cities, some of which are famous for their levels of smoke and haze.

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Consuming a large amount of alcohol is beginning to look like a competition in my community. So many young men spend all their time drinking at the bar for the entire day. They do not see the need to further their education, or even look for a steady job. They prefer to do several rounds of drinking until they become drunk!
To curb this problem, the youth organization took up the initiative to have regular cricket and football tournaments in the community park.  This activity has been proven to be effective, since it allows the youth to occupy their time doing something more meaningful than drinking their lives away!

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Tivoli St Andrew's Grenada, Tivoli, Grenada

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Tivoli St Andrew's Grenada, Tivoli, Grenada

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Tivoli St Andrew's Grenada, Tivoli, Grenada

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- Alisha Joseph

Excessive use of alcohol

Within the community of Tivoli St. Andrew, especially at the Tivoli junction, which appears to be a liming place for elderly, there has been an environmental health issue. Over the last few years, I've seen an environmental problem related to the inappropriate consumption of alcohol by elderly people in that specific area which cause a negative impact on the community. To implement a solution tot the problem with the excessive use of alcohol in that area, I believe that the shop should restrict the amount of alcohol sold to individuals daily or to not sell at all to those people who drink often in abundance . I also believe that surveillance cameras should be installed inside the area in case anything goes wrong or to monitor persons behaviour. Finally, I believe that posters informing the public of the risk of drinking alcohol should be noticeable inside the premises or environment.

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North Andros Barrier Reef Marine Park, The Bahamas

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North Andros Barrier Reef Marine Park, The Bahamas

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North Andros Barrier Reef Marine Park, The Bahamas

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The North Andros Barrier Reef makes up one half of the world's third-largest barrier reefs and lagoon systems. This reef is home to more than 164 species of fish and coral, making it one of the most popular locations in the country for divers and snorkelers. Over the years, many of the coral reefs that surrounded The Bahamas died due to coral bleaching caused by climate change, harsh chemicals being released into the ocean from ships, overfishing and marine debris.

Coral Reefs are important to The Bahamas because they provide protection to the coastlines and reduce the rate of coastal erosion. The reefs also help to break up waves during high tide and storm surges. They provide food and protection for fish, mollusks and many other organisms that are native to The Bahamas. Additionally, they make up an integral part of the food system because they provide Bahamians with many fish and other seafood items and they boost the economy of The Bahamas by being one of our main tourist attractions.

What is being done:
- National Parks: The Bahamas National Trust is a non-profit, non-government membership organization that takes care of and protects the natural resources of The Bahamas. As of 2016, there were about 32 national parks that protect the land and sea of The Bahamas.

-Encouraging eating more Lionfish: lionfish are a spiny, invasive species that can cause significant damage to The Bahamas’ delicate coral. Although they’re not native to Bahamian waters, they were recently introduced to the area and have the potential to become quite problematic if their population swells. Therefore, the Government of The Bahamas encourages its residents and tourists to enjoy some lionfish.

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Morne Jaloux, Morne Jaloux Ridge, Grenada

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Morne Jaloux, Morne Jaloux Ridge, Grenada

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Morne Jaloux, Morne Jaloux Ridge, Grenada

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Drug Abuse
There are a few placed in this community that are reserved as hot spots where young people would gather on particular evenings and nights spending their time smoking cigars or marijuana and drinking alcohol very often. It has pretty much become a social thing to do however, it is visible that it is destroying them. I think that there should be constant outreach program in the community get these youth to know that alcohol and drug use is not the best way to spend their time. Their time can be put into something more useful therefore  the community should find ways and means to get the youths more actively involved. Projects could include ways to develop the community and make it a neighborhood friendly environment to live in.

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Shaneice Alexander

Air Pollution
In my comunity (Beaulieu),There is a high rate of burning of agriculture lands,waste,bushes etc which affects the air quality and may affect those suffering from respirtatory illnesses .In my opinion there should be a zero tolerance approac when it comes to setting fires,to date the revised laws of Grenada states says that any person who sets fire on,or porcures, or aids or abets the setting of fire on any land without an appropriate permit can be both fined and imprisoned .

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La Sagesse ( The Project), Corinth, Grenada

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Destruction of Mangroves at La Sagesse Beach 

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Destruction of Mangroves at La Sagesse Beach 

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In 2020, the third most diverse mangrove was deforested by hotel developers to construct the Six Senses Resort. This mangrove was home to many species of migratory birds and other wildlife.
This is not an uncommon problem in Grenada. Many mangroves are being removed to build hotels. Some more examples include Silver Sands Hotel located in Grand Anse and  Levera Beach Resort located in Levera.

To help protect mangroves in Grenada we can:

1. Create protected areas and National reserves in coastal areas that contain mangroves around Grenada.

2. Replant mangrove trees in areas that have been destroyed and have been left bare.

3. Educate people on the importance of mangroves to the environment and their benefits to us.

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Alcohol abuse is trending in Chantimelle. It is mostly consumed by the young people. This is because it is affordable, peer pressure and high levels of unemployment in the country. To help eradicate this issue it is important to make persons aware of the negative effects of alcohol as early at the primary school level. Lets persons know the value of their hard earn money so that they spend it wisely. The Government needs to step up and create more jobs to get this young persons occupied in something positive

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Chantimelle Plying Field

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Chantimelle Playing Field