KUALA LUMPUR: Most people in South and Southeast Asia do not know about the diverse causes and long-term health risks of air pollution, a problem that kills 1.5 million people in those regions each year, researchers warned on Thursday.
A study by Vital Strategies, a public health advisory group, analyzed more than half a million news articles and social media posts on air pollution in 11 countries across southern Asia between 2015 and 2018.
“We see a lot of air pollution content in relation to the environment, climate change or deforestation, but not a lot that links it to health,” said Aanchal Mehta, the report’s lead author.
Air pollution kills about 7 million people prematurely each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with 1.5 million of those deaths in South and Southeast Asia.
Nine out of 10 people breathe polluted air, according to the WHO, a problem that affects more cities in Asia than anywhere else in the world.
The health impact of air pollution is linked to strokes, lung cancer and heart disease — and is now equal to the effects of smoking tobacco, health experts say.
As well as news articles, the Vital Strategies researchers analyzed social media posts, blogs and online forums.
The study found that the public debate on air pollution largely focused on vehicle emissions, which resulted in policymakers looking only at one cause of the problem.
But in much of South and Southeast Asia, those emissions are not the biggest or only source of air pollution, said Mehta.
Other major causes, which vary from country to country, include coal power plants, construction, festival fireworks, forest clearing, and burning of crops, firewood and waste.
Most of the news and social media posts highlighted the more immediate effects of air pollution, like itchy eyes and coughing, rather than the risks from chronic exposure.
“This points to the fact that people don’t attribute or understand that air pollution has longer-term health impacts,” Singapore-based Mehta told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Emotionally-charged content, such as on children’s health, gained the most engagement, which could help in the development of strategies to tackle air pollution, researchers noted.
More government awareness campaigns were needed on the chronic risks linked to air pollution, Mehta said.
“There is a dire need to look at long-term, practical and effective solutions to the issue of air pollution,” Oswar Mungkasa, Jakarta’s deputy governor for spatial planning and environment, said in a statement on the report.
Southern Asians unaware of deadly health risks from polluted air
Southern Asians unaware of deadly health risks from polluted air
- Air pollution kills about 7 million people prematurely each year, according to the World Health Organization
- About 1.5 million of those deaths are in South and Southeast Asia
Where We Are Going Today: Agio in Riyadh
RIYADH: If you are looking for high-end Italian food in Riyadh with an ambience as great as the menu, Agio is the place to go. Tucked into The Canopy in central Riyadh in the Hittin neighborhood, Agio is a great location for those looking for Italian that is farther away from heavy traffic on the weekends.
The restaurant draws inspiration from the Amalfi Coast of Italy, with the flavors, colors and aroma of Capri making its way into the Agio experience. Agio describes itself as “the celebration of food of the Capri coast” as its menu blends traditional dishes with new flavors and innovative twists.
When entering, you can choose to either sit on the upstairs outdoor terrace or at the indoor tables downstairs. If you are going when the weather is pleasant, I would certainly recommend sitting upstairs, as the scenery, view and decor is unbeatable.
For the menu, I would opt for appetizers like the bresaola, which costs SR112 ($30) — it is a great starter for a classic Italian dinner as it blends flavors of Spanish beef with parmesan. If you are looking for a carb and creamy starter instead, Agio’s sformato di patate is a delicious option.
Priced at SR38, the appetizer brings together baked potatoes with a warm creamy cheese sauce. The menu offers other appetizers with many including soup, calamari and salad.
Their baby calamari (SR132) and Flamengo tomato soup (SR45) are both worth trying if you are looking for more appetizers for the table.
Moving onto mains, the pasta and ravioli menus are excitingly diverse. With a vast array of options to choose from, I would order multiple options to share for the table as you do not want to limit yourself to one dish.
A favorite of mine would be the rigatoni piccanti (SR95), which blends creamy pink sauce with spicy aromas from the chili sauce. For truffle lovers, Agio offers both a ravioli and risotto option. Risotto al tartufo (SR275) is a classic creamy risotto shaved black truffle. For those who favor a good ravioli, the truffle & pecorino ravioli (SR115) is a creamier option due to the soft ricotta filling.
Agio offers a vast menu for mains which ranges from the pastas listed above to many more, as well pizza, meat, fish and chicken selections. The veal Milanese (SR210) and branzino di sofia (SR185) are great protein-based dishes to pair alongside your selected pastas and pizzas.
Be sure to save some space for dessert because Agio’s dessert menu truly brings a taste of Capri to the table.
If you are looking to dive into the zesty lemon flavors of the Amalfi Coast, I recommend either the torta della nonna (SR70) or the limoncello tiramisu (SR105). The torta della nonna is a nutty and lemony pastry dessert option, whereas the limoncello tiramisu is a soft mascarpone cream dish. For those looking to try more traditional dessert options, I would opt for the classic tiramisu.
While Agio is a delicious option for anyone looking to try a Capri-style restaurant in Riyadh, the restaurant is certainly on the higher-end price wise; but if you are willing to spend a little extra, Agio’s menu is worth the visit.
