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Story Publication logo August 28, 2018

The Unseen Reality of Air Pollution

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United kingdom
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Warnings about air pollution are plastered across London in newspapers, billboards, and bus stops. Image by Rohan Naik. London, 2018.
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London Smog

The city of London is embroiled in a long-standing battle against air pollution. Are its latest...

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Campaigns such as 'Breathe Clean' in the U.K. emphasize the threat that air pollution poses to children. This poster, taped to the gate of a park, aims to bring awareness to both children and parents. Image by Rohan Naik. United Kingdom, 2018.
The London Eye, one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, rests on the bank of the River Thames. Despite popular belief that air pollution is always correlated with smog, even sunny days in London, like the one shown here, can pose toxic levels of air pollution. In fact, pollution levels often build up due to a lack of wind to disperse the pollution. Image by Rohan Naik. United Kingdom, 2018.
London's low-emission zone aims to reduce the exhaust gas emissions of diesel-powered commercial vehicles in the city. In placing high fees on the most polluting vehicles, such as large vans and minibuses, the city hopes to encourage its inhabitants to purchase eco-friendly vehicles. In June, the city's mayor, Sadiq Khan, unveiled plans to introduce an ultra-low emission zone, which will expand the zone to further areas of London. Image by Rohan Naik. United Kingdom, 2018.
The mayor's transportation strategy aims to provide alternative, environmentally friendly modes of transport in order to lessen reliance on motor vehicles. Referring to the increased use of Santander Bikes, Mayor Sadiq Khan said 'That's good for our health, our air quality and for tackling congestion.' Image by Rohan Naik. United Kingdom, 2018.
London is well-known across the world for its double-decker buses. The city announced an over £300 million plan to transform London’s bus fleet by retrofitting thousands of buses and committing to phase out pure diesel double-decker buses from 2018. All new double-deck buses will be hybrid, electric, or hydrogen to lower toxic emissions. Image by Rohan Naik. United Kingdom, 2018.
One of the outcomes of overflowing garbage is air pollution. In response to illegal dumping, The Westminster City Council announced a new Street Waste Action Team to subsantially reduce trash dumping on public streets and ensure that residents are aware of how and when to dispose of trash. Image by Rohan Naik. United Kingdom, 2018.
While the city has taken numerous steps to regulate cars and buses, it has not taken the same measures to control emissions from tour boats, container ships, and ferries. Critics have lambasted the city for allowing these vessels to continue to operate, and they argue that their presence counteracts the goal of the low-emission zone. Image by Rohan Naik. United Kingdom, 2018.
Providence Row, a charity dedicated to fighting homelessness, offers a range of services to those at risk of homelessness in East London. While the homeless are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution and often have little recourse to avoid it, public air campaigns fail to emphasize them as an at-risk group. Instead, charities like Providence Row are often forced to educate those at risk about the dangers and direct them to shelters. Image by Rohan Naik. United Kingdom, 2018.

This slideshow explores the response of the city of London towards air pollution. London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, has aptly named air pollution one of the city's biggest threats. Public campaigns that emphasize eco-friendly transportation and the effect of air pollution on children's health have gained steam. Local city councils have formed groups dedicated to fighting illegal trash dumping. Posters and signs adorn buses, parks, and the city's main tourist attractions. But are these measures enough, or are they too little too late?

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