Contemporary Urban Environments

• Urban heat islands are caused by high levels of energy consumption, low vegetation cover, and large amounts of impermeable surfaces such as concrete.
• The urban heat island effect is the difference between temperatures in rural areas compared to those in cities
• Air pollution can be caused by industrial processes or transport emissions
• The urban heat island effect is most pronounced at night when the temperature difference between rural areas and cities can be up to 10 degrees Celsius.
• Air pollution has been linked to respiratory diseases like asthma and lung cancer.
• Pollution from cars contributes to air pollution, with nitrogen oxides being particularly damaging to human health.
• Particulate matter (PM) refers to tiny particles that enter the air from various sources including industry, agriculture, construction sites, and vehicles
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are produced when fossil fuels burn at high temperatures, particularly during combustion in cars and trucks
• Particulate matter (PM) refers to tiny particles suspended in the air that can cause respiratory problems
• Water scarcity refers to the lack of access to clean water resources due to overuse, drought, or other factors.
• Increased demand for freshwater from agriculture, industry, and domestic use exacerbates water scarcity issues.
• Ozone is formed through chemical reactions involving sunlight and pollutants emitted by vehicles and industry.