On average, humans breathe at an estimate, 22 times a minute. In through the nose or mouth, into your throat, down the windpipe, then divided into either the left or right lung.  Within the lungs there are tiny balloon shaped air sacs called alveoli, which are covered in tiny little blood vessels called capillaries which passes oxygen into the bloodstream. That oxygen streams to the heart and absorbed into every organ and every piece of tissue on your body.

Along with cilia, the tiny hairs in our noses that aid in the filtration of large particles in the air (dust), but harmful substances like cigarette smoke, rendering them useless: it takes two weeks for the cilia to start working properly. In addition to those tiny hairs, our bodies produce an insane amount of mucus in order to filter out the tiniest air particles!

In a study called, Air pollution causes 200,000 early deaths each year in the U.S. by Jennifer Chu, MIT News Office, Jennifer concludes that, “The group tracked ground-level emissions from sources such as industrial smokestacks, vehicle tailpipes, marine and rail operations, and commercial and residential heating throughout the United States, and found that such air pollution causes about 200,000 early deaths each year. Emissions from road transportation are the most significant contributor, causing 53,000 premature deaths, followed closely by power generation, with 52,000... finding the highest emissions-related mortality rate in Baltimore, where 130 out of every 100,000 residents likely die in a given year due to long-term exposure to air pollution.” Yearly, the number of deaths are amount to 200,000 and In Maryland alone, that the death total is 7,768.  This number doesn’t include the ones still suffering (acute asthma).

It is true that the smoggy air is hazardous and gross, It is the particals invisible to the human eye that should be concerning us. PM 2.5 is a partical soo tiny that it can get into our bloodstream ust by breathing it in. According to Wikipedia, “Particulates are the deadliest form of air pollution due to their ability to penetrate deep into the lungs and blood streams unfiltered, causing permanent DNA mutations, heart attacks, and premature death.[4] In 2013, a study involving 312,944 people in nine European countries revealed that there was no safe level of particulates and that for every increase of 10 μg/m3 in PM10, the lung cancer rate rose 22%. The smaller PM2.5 were particularly deadly, with a 36% increase in lung cancer per 10 μg/m3 as it can penetrate deeper into the lungs.[5]” this deadly partical is not safe, even in the smallest amounts.

In China, the manufacturing industries have been working hard to cause on the biggest (air) pollution concern this world has every seen. An article titled, LOST LIFE EXPECTANCY DUE TO AIR POLLUTION IN CHINA, the author explains that, “In December 2012, the Global Burden of Disease analyses were published in The Lancet [5]. As part of that effort, average 2005 fine particle (PM2.5) air pollution was estimated across the world (Figure 3).[6]  Outdoor air pollution in China was estimated to contribute to 1.2 million premature deaths and 25 million healthy years of life lost.[7] Outdoor air pollution was ranked as the fourth leading risk for loss of life expectancy in China; and indoor air pollution from burning solid fuels for heating and cooking as the fifth leading cause.” This means that in China, the air pollution is on of the leading cause of death.

When a countries air quality is so bad that respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and lung cancer, are everyday issues, what can we stop this?  What can a Country do?

"Human Respiratory System and Lungs; How They Work." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.webmd.com/lung/how-we-breathe>.

Chu, Jennifer. "Study: Air Pollution Causes 200,000 Early Deaths Each Year in the U.S." MIT News. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2013/study-air-pollution-causes-200000-early-deaths-each-year-in-the-us-0829>.

"Particulates." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulates>.

Arden Pope III, Douglas Dockery, C. "Lost Life Expectancy Due to Air Pollution in China." Lost Life Expectancy Due to Air Pollution in China. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://cgd.swissre.com/risk_dialogue_magazine/Cardiovascular_risks_in_HGM/Lost_life_expectancy_due_to_air_pollution_in_China.html>

Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.cfr.org/china/chinas-environmental-crisis/p12608>.