The haze over parts of the Northeast and Midwest on Wednesday morning was uncommon for the United States, but it is a common occurrence for cities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. For example, air-quality readings like the ones expected in parts of New York State on Wednesday would not be a particular cause for alarm in Bangkok, where residents like taxi driver Paiboon Kaewklangrong describe the air as “polluted, hot, dusty” and just a normal part of daily life. Prior to the pandemic, the World Health Organization found that 99% of the world’s population lived in places that did not meet healthy air quality guidelines.
Breathing in bad air can be dangerous, causing short-term effects such as coughing and congestion, and long-term exposure can damage the liver and brain, as well as increase the risk of blood clots that can cause heart attacks, according to studies. When smoke from wildfires combines with emissions from cars and factories in urban areas, it can create more toxic particulate matter that is especially hazardous to people with respiratory problems. The World Bank recently reported that South Asia has nine of the world’s ten cities with the worst air quality, causing an estimated two million premature deaths annually, mostly among low and middle-income households. Additionally, air pollution has become a significant political issue in some countries, with several leaders run campaigns targeting air pollution issues and implementing reforms to reduce the problem.
In East Asia, bad air has become so prevalent that wearing face masks was common long before the COVID-19 pandemic, and school children are kept indoors on bad air days. Air pollution has also become a major political issue in some countries, and campaigns to reduce it have resulted in tangible reforms. Although the pandemic temporarily reduced air pollution in some cities, it has since returned to normal levels.
