SMOG: Saharan dust + air pollution = health warnings

There has been a lot over coverage in recent days about the smog caused by a mixture of air pollution and the arrival of dust from the Sahara Desert. This is an excellent news item to highlight links between several geographical themes, including human and physical topics. Pupils could use this material in AS/A2 essays relating to meteorology, health issues, urbanisation and sustainability. The maps below show the air quality index on 2nd and 3rd April and corresponding health advice to those "at risk" as well the general population.

This article from The Guardian explains the causes and effects of air pollution and Saharan dust, as well as highlighting the contrasting responses from the French and UK governments. Towards the end of the article we are told a startling facts:

"According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution has become the world's single biggest environmental health risk, linked to around seven million deaths a year – or nearly one in eight deaths in 2012".

The video below also contains some useful information and images (once you get past the advert).