ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Air pollution in India

Air pollution is like the dirt and germs in our room that can make us sick. In India, there are a lot of things that make the air dirty and unhealthy to breathe. These things are called pollutants.

Sometimes, factories and vehicles release smoke and gases into the air like when your mommy cooks food and there is smoke coming out from the cooking pot. These gases mix in the air and make it harder for us to breathe, especially for people who have asthma or other health conditions.

Sometimes, people also throw garbage in the streets and rivers. When it rains, the garbage mixes with the water and makes the air stinky and smelly.

People can also burn things like wood, leaves, or trash to get rid of them. But burning anything releases harmful chemicals into the air that can be very dangerous to our health.

In India, lots of people live close to busy roads, where lots of cars, buses, and trucks drive by. These vehicles give off pollution, which can cause breathing problems, like coughing or wheezing.

Breathing bad air is dangerous and can cause long-term health problems, like heart diseases and lung diseases. That's why it's important to try to reduce air pollution, by recycling, using public transportation, walking or cycling to nearby places, using energy-efficient appliances, and planting more trees.