For over a year, the entire country has been victim to Covid-19. It’s taken jobs, millions of lives, and the ability to socialize. It’s been rough but, the end is getting closer and closer. Apart from the dangers of fake news, this global pandemic has taught us a thing or two. For one, we’ve seen governments take charge, schools step up to the plate, and medical staff worked tirelessly. Second of all, we’ve seen what we are all capable of, forced to maintain distance and contact from those we love. These lessons are sure to come in handy as we get ready to fight a more dangerous pandemic than any we’ve ever seen.
This Is No New Pandemic
Covid-19 hit newsstands at the beginning of 2020, as it affected China and spread rapidly. Instead of halting there, it started popping up in Europe, United Kingdom and eventually made its way to the United States. As it made its rounds over the last 15 months, it took with it over 2.8 million lives. Of course, a virus that infects and kills at this rate gets all the attention, makes headline news, and causes heated debate among individuals.
But what if we told you there is a widespread pandemic that is taking three times the number of lives than Covid-19, and it’s been around for decades? According to a recent study, pollution-related deaths came in at 8.7 million last year and caught zero attention. When scientists began the search for the rise in pollution, it wasn’t hard to conclude. With increased consumption by world powerhouses like the United States, China, and the United Kingdom, the skies have become tinged and dirty, resulting in a growing number of illnesses and deaths.
What’s In the Air?
When looking at the areas with the most deaths due to pollution, there are a few things in common. First of all, most of them are densely populated, with crowds everywhere day and night. Secondly, the use of vehicles and public transport is high, with few people choosing to take a boke to work. Thirdly, they are home to power plants or areas of new fossil fuel extractions, which can cause thick, black clouds of carbon to fill the air. In other words, we are breathing a toxic mix of carbon dioxide and sulfur oxide without even noticing, causing stress on our lungs and other vital organs.
We Need Change
While there are efforts to clean the air, it could take hundreds to thousands of years to achieve if we keep going at this rate. It’s going to take a lot of effort from corporations down to individuals. As the population increases, consumption increases. And, if consumption is unhealthy, we’ve got an issue on our hands much more dangerous than a pandemic like Covid-19. Just when we thought it would be over, another graver pandemic is happening before our eyes, and no one is talking about it.