Shanghai has many different urban problems, the most current and problematic being over population and pollution. The one child policy is a temporary escape from dangers of over population but the massive increase in migrant population means that the solution will be forced to be temporary. It is predicted that by 2050 the population of Shanghai alone will be over 50 million. This accelerated rate of population growth has caused the standard of living to drop and congestions to rise. Traffic congestion is becoming the norm to the residents of Shanghai. Because of the congestion and lack of efficient roads and road rules deaths and accidents are often caused. Unfortunately there were over 265,000 road accidents in one year recently with over 73,000 deaths. Scholars have previously predicted that Shanghai could hold a population of 16 million at the maximum, in some ways they were right. Shanghai is at threat due to overpopulation with a variety of problems including lack of infrastructure, strain on housing, medical care and social welfare resources, public transport, congestion, traffic and education. The city has had to keep with all these overpopulation problems, financially, while withstanding urban protection and environmental laws.
Another serious problem in Shanghai is pollution. In 2013 Shanghai saw record high amounts of pollution. PM2.5 levels being 9 times higher than the World Health Organisation recommended exposure levels. PM2.5 levels aka Particular Matter levels, is the term for how much matter is in the air. Sometimes they are visible in the form of smoke or soot etc. and sometimes they are invisible to the naked eye. PM10 is considered dangerous to your health because they can be inhaled into your lungs. Because of the size they usually don’t cause too much of a threat. But the most dangerous is PM2.5 because they are the finest particles and can lodge deep into your lungs. PM2.5 and PM10 are both extremely hazardous and exposure to it can cause a variety of problems including, premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, decreased lung function, aggravated heartbeat, aggravated asthma and the list goes on. Anyone can be affected by the particle pollution but most at risk are the elderly, people with lung or heart disease and children but even if you’re healthy you are still at risk of gaining the symptoms. Knew footage from NASA show that there is so much air pollution in China and Shanghai that you can see huge areas of white and grey smog in space. Shanghai is reporting PM2.5 levels of up to 480 micrograms per square meter of air, the World Health Organisation states that anywhere over 25 is considered unsafe to your health. Pollution is killing Shanghai and it has to be stopped.
Another serious problem in Shanghai is pollution. In 2013 Shanghai saw record high amounts of pollution. PM2.5 levels being 9 times higher than the World Health Organisation recommended exposure levels. PM2.5 levels aka Particular Matter levels, is the term for how much matter is in the air. Sometimes they are visible in the form of smoke or soot etc. and sometimes they are invisible to the naked eye. PM10 is considered dangerous to your health because they can be inhaled into your lungs. Because of the size they usually don’t cause too much of a threat. But the most dangerous is PM2.5 because they are the finest particles and can lodge deep into your lungs. PM2.5 and PM10 are both extremely hazardous and exposure to it can cause a variety of problems including, premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, decreased lung function, aggravated heartbeat, aggravated asthma and the list goes on. Anyone can be affected by the particle pollution but most at risk are the elderly, people with lung or heart disease and children but even if you’re healthy you are still at risk of gaining the symptoms. Knew footage from NASA show that there is so much air pollution in China and Shanghai that you can see huge areas of white and grey smog in space. Shanghai is reporting PM2.5 levels of up to 480 micrograms per square meter of air, the World Health Organisation states that anywhere over 25 is considered unsafe to your health. Pollution is killing Shanghai and it has to be stopped.