Air Pollution in Beijing

Air Pollution in Beijing

1. Causes

   • *The main cause of pollution is coal burning by cars and industries.
   • *The Beijing air quality index maintained by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing was last measured at 346 on the Environmental Protection Agency's scale. Anything above 100 is considered unsafe for sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly, or people with respiratory problems. (Everything above 100 is unsafe)
   • *Smog causes serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; serious risk of respiratory effects in general population.

2. Consequences

   • *Chinese authorities have responded with a number of strict measures to mitigate the toxic air from entering the mouth, throat, and lungs.
   • *Schools close at noon, motor vehicles can drive only on alternate days, government agencies will be required to keep a good fraction of their vehicles off the road, and outdoor cooking will be temporarily banned.
   • Solution
     • Smog-eating buildings
       • The Dutch architect Daan Roosegaarde created a 7-metre tower that will use ionic filters to charge and remove smog particles by blowing fresh air out of the tower's side vents. This will create a high-pressure zone – 'bubbles' of air, which will be 75% cleaner than the rest of the city.
         • The building is coated with titanium dioxide, a pigment that can act as a catalyst for chemical reactions when it’s activated by sunlight. When UV rays hit the tiles, a reaction occurs, converting mono-nitrogen oxides (the substances that makes smog smoggy) into less harmful substances such as calcium nitrate and water, along with carbon dioxide.
           • It is also highly energy efficient, using about 14,000 kilowatts of power, less than a kettle
       • The architects don’t claim to be solving a citywide problem, but their intentions are sincere, and they hope to inspire others to follow their lead.
         • Dutch designers are raising money to make the Smog Free Tower, so this project involves society.

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