Chapter 10: Urban Air Pollution Beyond Economic Growth: An Introduction to Sustainable Development By Tatyana P. Soubbotina

Overview of Chapter 10: Urban Air Pollution Urbanization People are rapidly moving to cities Particulate air pollution Smoke, soot, and dust from fuel combustion Airborne lead pollution Lead poisoning is very dangerous Inverted U-shaped relationship between income and pollution

Urbanization: Growth of cities in population and importance Urbanization follows from industrialization and post-industrialization as jobs and people move to cities Indicators: share of population and GDP Urban populations are increasing most rapidly in low-income countries (Fig. 10.1) High-income countries have the largest percentage of people living in cities (Fig 10.2) Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa have the smallest percentage of people living in cities (Fig 10.2) Indicators of urbanization: share of urban population, share of GDP from service & industry

Particulate air pollution Suspended particulate matter is smoke, soot, dust, and small particles from (fossil) fuel combustion Particulates cause respiratory diseases (bronchitis, asthma) and heart disease Particulates result from inefficient combustion of wood, coal, or oil (heat, electricity, cars, etc.) Natural gas is cleaner than coal or oil Renewable fuels (hydro, solar, geothermal, wind) are cleanest Nuclear doesn’t cause particulates, but has other problems Poorly maintained cars in developing countries are a big source of particulates

Airborne lead pollution Lead poisoning causes brain damage, behavioral problems, heart disease, etc. Airborne lead comes from leaded gasoline, industrial processes, and coal combustion Leaded gasoline phased-out in US by mid 1990’s. Currently being phased-out in entire world. As countries become richer, they moved to control lead pollution and other pollutants as well Inverted U-shaped relationship between pollution and income