Every year, June 5th is celebrated as World Environment day, a declaration by United Nations that highlights important environmental concerns internationally. In the year 2025, it puts emphasis on important link in between the health of the lungs and air pollution.
Breathing clean air is not a privilege, but a need. Still, millions of individuals all over the world breathe polluted air on daily basis that results in asthma, pulmonary disease and lung infections.
The shocking connection between lung illness and air pollution
Air pollution is a killer in silence. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ground-level ozone are only a few of the most lethal pollutants quietly killing us. Chronic exposure to polluted air can harm lung tissue, impair lung function, and initiate respiratory diseases like:
- Asthma: Allergens and air pollutants inflame the airways, thereby frequent asthma attacks in
children and elderly persons. - COPD: Exposure to filthy air for a long time leads to emphysema and chronic bronchitis,
COPD’s two most common diseases. - Lung infections: Filthy air weakens the immune barrier of the lung, thereby exposing one to
infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
The WHO documents 7 million annual premature deaths from air pollution, and the primary cause
is respiratory disease.
Healthy lungs: What can the individual and the community do?
Cut down on car use:
Cut down on car use wherever possible. Walk, cycle, or take a car pool. Travel in electric or hybrid vehicles with reduced emissions where available.
Take public transport
Buses and trains cut down the number of cars on the highway, though this cuts down on overall pollution as well as air pollution.
Less burning activity:
Avoid burning waste, leaves, or wood. They emit toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. Promote efficient disposal of trash in your neighborhood.
Green power:
Utilize power-saving devices and use them with renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. Conserve power that is derived from fossil fuels, though this minimizes site pollution.
Plant more trees:
Trees naturally purify the air by absorbing pollution and supplying oxygen. Organize community forestry projects and promote city parks.
Indoor air quality matters:
Keep your home environment clean. Use air purifiers, do not smoke, and provide ventilation at home.
Fight for cleaner policies:
Organize clean air government policy campaigns. Participate in clean air campaigns and make others participate.
Conclusion
On this world environment day, it is important for us to take pledge to protect our world and wellness. Clean air means healthy lung, healthy community and a long life. Our actions like how we travel, make use of energy and throw trash, will only decide what we will breathe. We can select to avoid pollution and protect out lungs individually and collectively.
So, let us honor this day not only with awareness but also our actions. Because a clean world means healthy lungs for all.