The statistics compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) concern 4,300 cities around the world. The research is based on the annual average level of particulate matter dust that trads us, leading to diseases such as asthma, lung cancer or heart disease. Nine out of ten people around the world breathe poisoned air.
Watch out for cancer!
Benzo(a)pyrene, for which maximum levels are listed, is used as a marker for the occurrence and effect of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It causes cancer and cardiovascular disease, and may be responsible even for lowering the intelligence quotient in children. Benzo (a) pyrene is a component of car exhaust, cigarette smoke, but most of all its huge amounts are in smoke from heating furnaces. This substance is released when burning wood, coal, especially of inferior quality, and rubbish, especially PET plastics.
“An effective way to reduce emissions? Do not smoke using rubbish. This is relatively simple, because people who smoke with poor quality fuel are the main culprits. People burn everything: varnished boards, plastic bottles, wellington boots…” – says Maciek Ryś, a well-known Polish activist fighting against SMOG
