Why is the US Set to Monitor Air Quality in Other Countries?

The United States have been involved in air quality monitoring since 2008 when their controversial pollution monitor was first installed just outside of Beijing. Despite opposition from the Chinese Government, the project has been extremely successful. So much so that the US recently announced that they intend to set up similar monitoring stations in countries throughout the world.

The Beijing Project

The initial reason given by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for setting up a monitoring station in Beijing was to inform US citizens and visitors of the air pollution levels they could expect in the famously smog filled city. They then posted the results online in a daily update. The purpose of this was to allow visitors and residents of the city originally from the US to check the potential dangers and take appropriate action where necessary.

The dangers to human health which arise from poor quality air are well known. As well as affecting lung function, pollution in the air can also cause a negative effect to blood and muscular function as the oxygen required for these is unable to enter the blood stream.

The move was famously unpopular with the Chinese Government who said that having such a project could threaten social stability. However, when it became apparent that Chinese citizens as well as those from the United States were logging on to utilise the data, the Government were not only forced to back down and support the project, but also to make a commitment to bettering the air quality in the city.

Unfortunately, Beijing’s pollution problems are however still an issue, with air pollution complaints in the city doubling during the first five months of 2014, according to the city's environment authority. The increase in complaints regarding air quality in the city suggests that public anger within China, concerning the large cost of the nation's fast economic growth, is rising.

It is hoped that in rolling out similar projects throughout the world, countries where there is a similar threat will also make their own commitments to bettering their situation.

The new project

The announcement that the project would be expanded came from Secretary of State John F Kerry and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy who confirmed that in light of the success of the monitoring in Beijing, they would be setting up monitoring stations in India, Vietnam and Mongolia among others.

Although the main goal of the project is still to warn US Citizens, travellers and Ex-Pats of the potential dangers to their health caused by poor quality air in and around these cities and countries, the project does have other benefits.

As has been seen in Beijing, such was the public reaction to the levels recorded that the Government has had little choice but to make changes to policies and commit to measures which would improve air quality levels for the benefit and health of their own citizens.

In addition, environmental campaigners are constantly asking these countries to make changes to their own air quality in order to combat greenhouse gases, ozone destruction and climate change. Frank O’Donnell, the President of Clean Air Watch, an environmental awareness group based in Washington welcomed the introduction of a multi-country air quality awareness project, saying “putting the spotlight on this can only lead to improvements.”