India’s air pollution crisis risks becoming humanitarian catastrophe

Before heading off on a foreign assignment, journalists take a course about working in hostile environments — learning about things like trauma first aid, weapons effects, and how to survive earthquakes, floods and civil unrest.

ABC's Siobhan Heanue wears the face mask
she had to buy in order to breathe properly.

It's all pretty useful training. And heading off to live and work in India, I was more than aware of the everyday dangers I'd be facing.

For instance, India has one of the world's highest road tolls and Delhi is one of the worst places in the world for sexual violence against women.

Read the ABC News story by Siobhan Heanue - "India’s air pollution crisis risks becoming humanitarian catastrophe.”

Human impacts of global air quality 'aren't random': NASA

How have humans impacted on global air quality? Changes in patterns over the last decade "aren't random", NASA says.

This NASA map tells the unsettling story.

Air pollution patterns around the world from 2005 to 2014 have been tracked in a new study, using global satellite maps of air quality indicators to help "quantify energy usage, environmental policy and civil unrest".

NASA looked at levels of nitrogen dioxide — a common emission from cars, power plants and industrial activity that can quickly transform into ground-level ozone, a major respiratory pollutant in urban smog.

Read the ABC story - “NASA maps human impact on global air quality, says changes 'not random'.”