Air Pollution
Affects Everyone
It kills 7 million people worldwide each year. That’s more death caused by Aids and smoking combined, damaging our health and well-being.
The young and the elderlies are most vulnerable to air pollution. As their lungs and immune system are weaker. Air pollution also has high impact on pregnancy, possibly causing low birth weight, lowering infants’ IQ or even still born.
Exposure to polluted air will lead to various cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, nervous system damages, stroke and even Alzheimer.
Unsafe air contributes to over 2,500 premature deaths in Hong Kong and a range of illnesses. Annually, there are over 170,000 hospital stays and 4 million doctor visits.
The underprivileged has low resilience to air pollution.
Low income communities often do not have choice but to live in polluted area, i.e. near heavy traffic or factories.
Costly medical expense or taking sick leaves would incur significant economic burden to them. Medical expense or having a day off from work may incur significant economic impact to the underprivileged.