CHOKING ON DUTY: AIR POLLUTION A THREAT TO NAIROBI TRAFFIC POLICE OFFICERS
Summary
TLDRThe video script highlights the severe air pollution in Nairobi, Kenya, where approximately 19,000 people die annually due to polluted air. It emphasizes the plight of traffic police officers who, while ensuring smooth traffic flow, are exposed to hazardous vehicular emissions. The script discusses the health implications of air pollution, including respiratory issues and increased risk of lung diseases and cancer. It also touches on measures like wearing masks and government regulations to mitigate the effects of emissions, underlining the urgent need for sustainable transport systems and better air quality management.
Takeaways
- 🚨 Air pollution in Kenya is a severe issue, with approximately 19,000 deaths annually attributed to it, as reported by the World Health Organization.
- 🏙 Nairobi is identified as one of the most polluted cities, with traffic police officers being particularly vulnerable due to their exposure to vehicle emissions.
- 🚗 Vehicle emissions are the primary contributor to air pollution, especially the fumes from combustion processes.
- 👮♂️ Traffic police officers face significant health risks from air pollution, with some experiencing respiratory issues and needing medical attention.
- 😷 Masks are suggested as a protective measure for traffic officers and the general public to reduce the inhalation of harmful pollutants.
- 🌫️ Particulate matter (PM2.5) is a significant component of air pollution, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause health problems.
- 🏥 The health impact of air pollution includes respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and an increased risk of lung cancer.
- 🌡️ Nairobi's air quality has been fluctuating, with periods of moderate to unhealthy levels, especially in areas with high traffic density.
- 🛣️ The government is implementing measures to mitigate air pollution, including vehicle emission testing and the enforcement of emission standards.
- 🚴♂️ Sustainable transport systems, such as electric trains and cycling lanes, are suggested as long-term solutions to reduce vehicular emissions.
- 📉 Despite efforts to regulate emissions, challenges remain in the enforcement of standards and the lack of comprehensive air quality monitoring.
Q & A
How many people die each year in Kenya due to air pollution according to the World Health Organization?
-Approximately 19,000 people die each year in Kenya due to air pollution, as reported by the World Health Organization.
Which city is mentioned as one of the polluted cities in the script?
-Nairobi is mentioned as one of the polluted cities, killing its citizens due to air pollution.
What is the biggest contributor to air pollution in Nairobi according to the script?
-Vehicle emissions are the biggest contributor to air pollution in Nairobi.
What is the impact of air pollution on the respiratory system as explained by Dr. Naid Marali?
-Air pollution impacts the respiratory system by causing harmful reactions in the airway, leading to excess inflammation, which is similar to the pathway of how cancer cells are formed, increasing the risk of airway diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, chest infections, and lung cancer.
What is the role of traffic police officers in relation to air pollution as described in the script?
-Traffic police officers are responsible for controlling the traffic that contributes to air pollution, and in doing so, they expose themselves to the dangers of air pollution, which can affect their health.
How long do traffic officers typically spend on the road in Nairobi?
-Traffic officers in Nairobi typically spend eight hours on the road, sometimes even more, which leads to more exposure to air pollution.
What measures are taken by traffic officers to protect themselves from the effects of pollution while on duty?
-Traffic officers are advised to wear masks to prevent toxic contaminants from entering their respiratory system.
What are the chemical components released during combustion in vehicle emissions that are considered toxic?
-The chemical components released during combustion in vehicle emissions include particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2), which are considered toxic to humans and the environment.
What is the estimated percentage of Nairobi's PM2.5 air pollution concentrations attributable to road transport?
-An estimated 40% of Nairobi's PM2.5 air pollution concentrations are attributable to road transport.
What is PM2.5 and why is it a concern for health?
-PM2.5 refers to particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or less in diameter. These tiny particles are inhalable into the lungs and can induce adverse health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
What measures are being taken by the government to mitigate the effects of vehicle emissions?
-The government is implementing measures such as vehicle emission testing, requiring private vehicles to be tested every two years and commercial vehicles annually. They will also be administering emission compliance stickers for vehicles that pass the tests and designating testing centers for this purpose.
What is the current state of air quality in Nairobi as per the script?
-The current state of air quality in Nairobi is rated as moderate, which is generally considered unhealthy, posing a risk to vulnerable groups such as asthmatics and people with chronic lung diseases.
Outlines
🚓 Air Pollution's Impact on Traffic Police in Nairobi
This paragraph highlights the alarming statistic that approximately 19,000 people die each year in Kenya due to air pollution, as reported by the World Health Organization. Nairobi is identified as one of the most polluted cities, with vehicle emissions being the primary contributor. The script focuses on the plight of traffic police officers who are exposed to these harmful fumes during their duty, putting their health at risk. The narrative describes the busy streets of Nairobi, the constant traffic, and the resulting vehicular emissions that pose a significant threat to both the environment and the respiratory health of the officers. It also mentions the rotational duty system, which exposes officers to pollution for extended periods, leading to health issues such as chest infections and chronic respiratory problems.
😷 Measures to Protect Against Vehicle Emissions
The second paragraph delves into the measures taken to mitigate the effects of air pollution, particularly for traffic police officers. It emphasizes the use of masks to prevent toxic contaminants from entering the respiratory system. The vulnerability of officers is underscored by the fact that prolonged exposure to harmful gases weakens the body's system, increasing the risk of developing chronic lung diseases. The paragraph also discusses the toxic nature of vehicle emissions due to the chemical components released during combustion, which are hazardous to both humans and the environment. The script mentions the presence of particulate matter and other harmful compounds in the air, which can lead to various health issues, including an increased risk of lung cancer. It also touches on the use of specialized masks and the importance of public awareness about the symptoms of air pollution exposure.
🌫️ The Rising Threat of PM2.5 in Nairobi
This paragraph discusses the specific dangers posed by PM2.5, fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, which is highly inhalable and linked to severe health conditions. It attributes approximately 40% of Nairobi's PM2.5 pollution to road transport and highlights the inadequate road network and poorly enforced vehicle emission standards as contributing factors. The script notes the recent adoption of vehicle emission standards by the East African Community and the amendments to air quality regulations, which are expected to operationalize vehicle testing and improve air quality. It also addresses the high concentration of vehicles in Nairobi, which, despite accounting for only 9% of the population, contributes significantly to the city's pollution levels and health risks.
🛣️ Addressing Air Pollution in Nairobi: Challenges and Solutions
The final paragraph examines the challenges in addressing air pollution in Nairobi, including the lack of proper regulatory standards and the absence of a central repository for air quality data. It calls for the implementation of sustainable transport systems, such as electric trains and dedicated cycling lanes, to reduce the production of noxious gases. The script also mentions the limited network monitoring and the need for improved air quality assessments. It concludes with a grim portrayal of traffic officers struggling with health issues due to air pollution, emphasizing the urgent need for action to protect both the environment and the people of Nairobi.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Air Pollution
💡World Health Organization
💡Vehicular Emission
💡Traffic Police Officers
💡Respiratory System
💡Free Radicals
💡Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
💡Ozone Layer
💡Masks
💡Sustainable Transport Systems
💡Air Quality Index (AQI)
Highlights
Approximately 19,000 people die each year in Kenya due to air pollution, as reported by the World Health Organization.
Nairobi is listed as one of the most polluted cities, with vehicle emissions being the primary contributor to air pollution.
Traffic police officers are at high risk due to prolonged exposure to traffic fumes, which are detrimental to their health.
Dr. Naida Mara explains that air pollution can cause inflammation and increase the risk of various respiratory diseases and lung cancer.
Chief Inspector Paul Sigilai shares his personal experience of health issues due to traffic-related air pollution.
Traffic officers face challenges such as chest congestion due to dust and fumes, with some requiring hospital visits.
Officers are rotated in shifts lasting up to eight hours, leading to prolonged exposure to harmful pollutants.
Measures taken by officers to protect themselves include wearing masks to prevent inhalation of toxic contaminants.
The lack of proper equipment increases vulnerability to health issues from long-term exposure to vehicle emissions.
Chemical components from combustion in vehicles are dangerous to both humans and the environment.
Ground level smoke from car exhaust and factories is composed of poisonous gases that can cause health issues.
Wearing masks is a simple yet effective solution to reduce the impact of air pollution on health.
Specialized masks called N95 can filter out harmful gases, but accessibility may be limited.
Symptoms of air pollution exposure include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, with a higher risk of lung cancer.
Nairobi's air quality index is rated as moderate, which is generally unhealthy, especially for vulnerable groups.
The government plans to implement measures such as vehicle emission testing and compliance stickers to mitigate air pollution.
Nairobi's air pollution is exacerbated by a high number of vehicles, poor road networks, and inadequate emission standards.
Sustainable transport systems like electric trains and cycling lanes can help reduce air pollution.
Monitoring of air quality in Nairobi is limited, with a need for more widespread and centralized data collection.
Traffic officers face the grim reality of deteriorating health due to air pollution, with their future appearing bleak.
Transcripts
thank you very much for staying with us
now approximately 19,000 people die each
year due to air poision in Kenya this is
according to a report by the World
Health Organization which places Nairobi
as one of the polluted cities that is
killing its citizens now vehicle imion
is the biggest contributor to air
pollution at the center of all is the
fumes in a special rather at the center
of all the fumes is a special group of
people that are mandated to control the
traffic at the EXP of their health Bram
brings you this special feature dubbed
checking on duty that highlights the
dangers that traffic police officers
face while ensuring that you travel in a
controlled manner to save
time
Nairobi the Green City Under the
Sun the streets of the capital are busy
all day traffic bumper to bumper with
individuals rushing against time to
either get to work or get
home thousands of vehicles drive in and
out of the CBD in a day and with each
engine turned
on one thing comes out vehicular
emission a threat to the very
environment we depend on for survival as
the rush to get to the destination is
Amplified by each acceleration the toxic
fumes become the new reality of
pedestrians using the roads however
there is a faction of people left out of
the question the traffic police officers
whose job is to control the very traffic
that is killing them one vehicle at a
time as they choke on
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duty when they are busy controlling
traffic in the city
and ensuring that everything is moving
they expose themselves to dangers that
do not need a gun exposure to air
pollution has great impact on the
respiratory system as Dr naid marali
explains air pollution itself has got a
very big problem in our
Airways the molecules or the chemicals
that are produced um by these gases are
what we call is free radicals these free
radicals cause harmful reactions in the
airway by leading to excess inflammation
this is a very similar Pathway to how
cancer cells are formed whereby there is
persistent damage or free radical
formation in cell tissue and this leads
to cell damage or chronic cellular
damage air air pollution then increases
the risk of Airway diseases some of
these diseases are what we know as
asthma they can lead to chronic
obstructive pulmonary diseases they can
lead to increased um incidence of chest
infections
and they can even lead to an increased
risk of lung cancer or other
malignancies as well Paul sigila is a
Chief Inspector and works with the
traffic department his work entails
being on the streets to control traffic
inspector sigilai says he has been
controlling traffic for over 3 years now
and attests to the fact that his health
has been affected as a result I've been
on the traffic department for about uh
almost 3 and a half years yes 3 and a
half years in the CBD yes there's uh
numerous challenges particularly the
fumes the fumes AR that good for uh
human health and uh on some occasion
I've also gone to the hospital for
medical checkup having uh you know the
chest congestions occasioned by dust and
fumes in the CBD and the challenges are
there indeed the challenges of exposure
putting in mind that uh uh the fumes
also affect the environment the O layer
so if you can imagine it is affecting
the O layer what about the human beings
the posting of officers is rotational
with each one of them lasting eight
hours on the road and at times even more
which leads to more exposure these are
the same officers who will be here for
the whole month and uh we keep on
rotating them sometimes they are here at
the railways round about sometimes they
are the highway huru highway now the
rotation happens on weekly basis their
health is on the line as they continue
to call for sick offs some ofic us do
report cases of inspection particularly
chest infection a lot of congestion the
officers that spend more time actually
standing and
walking and uh they rarely have time to
rest because the traffic duties is very
demanding uh we have the congestion the
traffic jam and you hardly get time to
go and rest you only have maybe 10 5
minutes you go and have a little uh you
know a cup of coffee in then back again
so what measures do officers take to
protect themselves from the effects of
pollution as they carry out the duty on
the part of emission from exhaust fumes
of Motor
Vehicles we actually tell them to put on
masks and most of them have masks in
town you see they have masks which will
which will actually prevent what we call
toxic contaminants which are emitted
from the smoke of Motor Vehicles from
getting into their respiratory system
without proper equipment while on the
road for hours and hours the
vulnerability is evident because the
more they take in the more their system
weakens the longer you are exposed or
the longer you're exposed to harmful
gases um the worse uh or the higher the
risk of your development of a
diseases and the higher your severity of
these diseases becomes if you're going
to be out in the street like a traffic
policeman um smack in the middle of uh a
busy highway whereby there's lots of
cars there's lots of exhaust exhaust
fumes you can pretty you you know you
can expect that such a person is at a
higher risk of developing chronic lung
disease vehicle emission have proven to
be toxic because of the compounds
released during combustion the chemical
components after combustion proving to
be dangerous not just to humans but also
to the environment yeah because you have
dust of course and like I said you have
also uh components that have not been
combusted you get to have particles in
the air and those particles in the air
which we refer to a particulate matter
MH will have will have um we'll have
your uh cos and noos and S SO2
SOS those uh components uh that have
been emitted from the engines being
absorbed that is stuck onto the
particulate matter which we call dust MH
and therefore you're
inhaling compounds or chemicals or
molecules uh that are attached to
dust and that is where our story starts
with our health while oone is an
invaluable compound in the upper
atmosphere for our continued existence
when it forms on the ground level a
smoke it has a vast array of health
issues that come along with it there is
also what we call is ground level smoke
ground level smoke is composed of
poisonous gases
that create a thick Vapor um that we end
up inhaling that is mainly as a result
of car exhaust gases diesel engines and
uh sometimes also from uh factories the
use of masks has been fronted as one of
the best ways in which one can protect
oneself from the effects of air
pollution there are two ways to look at
it the first is what can the everyday
mon inii do and one of the easiest
things to do is to wear a mask masks
even though sometimes they comfortable
reduce the amount of particulate matter
like suit that you inhale they may not
reduce the amount of um the regular mask
may not reduce the amount of gases that
you inhale but the amount of fine
particles um that will be reduced they
are specialized masks called G which
have got um uh devices that can convert
or um the harmful gases into less
harmful ones but I don't think that's
something everybody is going to have
access to or wear some of the things
that we do for somebody who has no
choice but to be in a polluted
environment wearing a mask is an easy
solution so what should people exposed
to pollution look out for after exposure
the most common respiratory symptom
generally is cuff and yes with pollution
the most common symptom will still
generally be cuff but it varies for
example an asmatic exposed to air
pollution may start wheezing a lot more
all right or for example an asmatic um
um somebody who's not asmatic exposed to
high amount of pollution May either
develop asthma like symptoms they can
develop cuffing they can develop
wheezing um some people can develop
shortness of breath but it depends
because uh air pollution is also linked
to
cancers and um there may be higher risk
of developing lung cancer as a result of
chronic exposure to pollution this state
of air quality in Nairobi still needs
some working for the month of May from
the 12th to the 22nd the air quality in
the city has been majorly moderate at
the beginning of the month most days
experience good air quality due to the
heavy rains witnessed in the country
during the month of May different areas
including Kio bangi North recorded
unhealthy air quality which was
unhealthy for sensitive groups other
affected areas include n road which
surpassed the unhealthy Mark registering
102 with other areas registering
moderate quality the areas include
dandora face 4 kangi Health Center
Nairobi National Park K bangi North
Health Center estate gate b n estate
gate D elk office stadium and the aakhan
academy an estimated 40% of nairobi's
pm2.5 air pollution concentrations
attributable to ro transport pm2.5 is f
particulate matter that is 2.5 microns
or less in diameter these tiny particles
are inhalable into the lungs and can
induce adverse health conditions the
rise in pm2.5 concentration in noobi is
primarily due to the presence of large
and aged vehicle flight inadequate Road
Network and poorly enforced vehicle
emission standards the regulations
require that
uh they make a requirement for testing
of
vehicles but that that requirement we
were not able to operationalize it
because we didn't have standards for the
vehicles uh recently um the standards
the vehicle emission standards were
adopted by the East African Community
member states that's in 2022 we adopted
the standards we have also amended the
the the regulations the the air quality
regulations 2020 2014 we are waiting for
the government of the air quality
regulations 2024 which have standards
for the vehicle because we could not
operationalize that without one
standards despite accounting for only 9%
of the population the city hosts over a
third of the country's 3 million
Vehicles Fleet
however only 12.8% of Nairobi residents
possess Vehicles their population in
Nairobi is very very high yeah and the
population of of of humans in naobi is
also very high given that every young
guy you me my young brother whenever
they get a job the first thing dream
they have is to own a car okay could be
operating from the same estate living
for the same job job place but everybody
would be happy driving on their their
own Beast pollution is among the lead in
causes of death in Kenya especially in
Nairobi the World Health Organization
estimates that 19,000 people die
annually in Kenya due to air pollution
the United Nations environment program
unep report shows that of the total
death in Kenya resulting from air
pollution Nairobi accounted for 70% of
those death indicating the high degrees
to which air pollution is prevalent in
Kenya's Capital as of May 2024 data from
iqa shows that 490 people have so far
died from air pollution in Nairobi
experts have warned that nairobi's air
quality is getting worse each day with
particulate matter PM 2.5 levels getting
higher than the recommended limit by wh
especially in our city of Nairobi where
you know there are hundreds and
thousands of cars on almost every major
road people are walking next to the cars
there's lots of exhaust fumes there's
lots of factories if you go to
Industrial Area you'll see there's lots
of smoke um you know you can even see
the air is not very clear and if we look
at nairobi's uh air quality index which
is what we use to assess how good our
air is nairobi's air quality index is
rated as moderate moderate is generally
unhealthy this puts vulnerable people
especially asmatics people with a
diseases people with chronic lung
diseases at risk of having increased
flareups increased admissions it really
just becomes a big problem the
government however has measures in place
to help mitigate the effects of emission
so so anytime these uh uh amended
regulations are gazetted we will roll
out uh vehicle emission testing it will
be requirement that when for for for
private Vehicles it will be uh once
after every two years uh commercial
vehicles it will be once annually okay
you'll also we will be administering uh
stickers yeah emission compliance
stickers for vehicles that have uh you
know uh complied with the requirements
upon testing we will designate testing
centers where people uh owners of
vehicles will be requireed once these
regulations are gazetted owners of
vehicles will have to take their
vehicles there for testing once they
they pass the test you you get a sticker
the biggest challenge to dealing with
unroadworthy vehicles has been the lack
of proper regulatory standards the voice
on what should be done is uniform across
the board with the threat on health very
evident so it is true uh when you have a
vehicle that is stationary uh the bus
stops or when uh
uh vehicles are picking passengers and
the exhaust are directed to the the bus
stop or to a shop next to the bus stop
or a kiosk then you have very high
concentrations of U of of the compounds
that that is being exhausted and are
inhaled and over time uh the individuals
get uh into more uh health issues if we
were to reduce the number of of uh Motor
Vehicles on the highway the amount of
air pollution would go down most
sustainable Transport Systems that uh
for example other countries have
implemented include like electric trains
or um having specialized roads that can
accommodate many cyclists tends to
reduce the amount of of noxious gases
produced currently naobi uh the the the
the the network monitoring is is is is
still very limited
CU most of the monitoring sites
are are concentrated in some few areas
but some areas have no monitoring
equipment secondly this data uh we don't
have a central repository where we can
access this data the sun sets in the
Green City Under the Sun pedestrians and
traffic officers who have been busy
working around the clock to fend for
their families Retreat home with
conditions that are slowly taking their
lives normally we deploy the officers
for 8 hours we've got uh the first and
the second Shi and uh the first one
begins at around 5: in the
morning and that one runs until
sometimes in the day around
two there about then the second ship
begins until uh almost uh 10: p.m.
traffic officers who have cleared the
roads are now forced to struggle to
breathe with lungs chocking on duty and
as the vehicles continue to flock to the
streets so does the smoke reducing the
quality of air Visions become blurry
indicating that for those exposed to
poor air quality their future is bleck
and an emission away from Death Brian am
lookup TV Nairobi
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