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s seen in the previous entry, air pollution is of paramount significance and so remains the topic of exploration and discussion in this entry. Air pollution has many origins and the previous blog focused on emissions from vehicular exhaust and the development of an urban heat island. This blog zooms in on another serious and very pressing issue affecting cities, which is smog.

            Smog by definition is a form of air pollution originally named for the mixture of fog and smoke in the air, usually found in and around cities. It takes the appearance of a dark smoke like cloud hovering over. It is a problem in a number of cities because it is harmful to human health as it can cause eye and nose irritation. The presence of smog can also inflame breathing passages, decreasing the lungs working capacity, making coughing and wheezing more prevalent.

            In Trinidad, the landfill lies right on the outskirts of Port of Spain, and a large portion of the country’s waste is brought here for disposal. There was an incidence of fires being set inside of the landfill which were ablaze and uncontrollable for days, so much so that it had to be closed. This fire triggered a catastrophic chain of events where clouds of thick smog blew into Port of Spain, enveloping the area. Schools and business were forced to close on advice given from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA). EMA test conducted revealed that toxicity levels were 13 times higher than what was considered safe.

             This was the extent of pollution and health hazard present and persons were being exposed to in a small nation. Smog affects many of the world’s cities and is highly encouraged by factories spewing out harmful gases into the atmosphere and vehicular emissions. Smog cans stay for extended periods over densely populated areas and geologic basins encircled by hills or mountains. I wasn’t able to take an actual picture of the smog or the fire that raged through the landfill but, I was able to source a picture from online http://www.newsday.co.tt/day/1,39074.html, and the article published in the Trinidad and Tobago Express newspaper: http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,189928.html.

This image shows a contributor to the Port of Spain smog, the
cloudy look represents the fumes being spewed by vehicles that
contribute to smog.