Climate protests are ongoing and new books related to environmental issues continue to appear. One is CLEARING THE AIR by Tim Smedley which was shortlisted for the 2019 Royal Society Science Book Prize. In the prologue, Smedley notes his initial surprise when he started to learn more about "the most immediate environmental issue of all: the air we breathe." He certainly does cite disturbing statistics: "In late 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that outdoor air pollution caused over 3 million deaths worldwide; by 2018, the WHO revised this up to 4.2 million." Smedley's work tends to be rather UK-centric, although he adds graphic examples from around the world, like describing half-marathoners running in Delhi, India while wearing face masks or Beijing, China citizens complaining of persistent coughs. Smedley argues that air pollution is gradual, persistent and largely invisible so humans are less inclined to take drastic action. Hoping this will change, he notes that "modern science is starting to reveal what our eyes cannot see: an anonymous killer born from the cars in our driveway and the industrial processes used to make the products in our cupboards." Offering chapters split between Origins (e.g., The Dash for Diesel) and the Fightback (e.g., Electric Dreams), Smedley concludes with an epilogue containing a Clean Air Blueprint for cities and for his individual readers. CLEARING THE AIR includes an index and provides details for a limited set of references.

Smedley makes the science of air pollution both crystal clear and compelling. The chapter on the health effects of air pollution may shock you—it did me. But the overall tone of the book is optimistic and inspiring. Reading this book has changed the way I think about the air we all breathe, and it will certainly influence my decisions and choices as well.

Clearing the Air explores air pollution in England, the US, China, and India. Smedley talks about not only the causes of pollution but also potential solutions. Unlike many books on this topic, Smedly discusses the science in an easy-to-understand way. Clearing the Air also stands out because Smedly visited cities that are implementing climate change solutions, with varying degrees of success.

I lived in Shanghai during the tail end of the "Airpocalypse." Although it may sound like Smedly is exaggerating if you've never experienced that level of pollution. I assure you he is not. The smog was so thick we couldn't see our hands in front of our faces, and the filters in our masks were black after mere minutes outside. My school eventually canceled classes when the AQI reached 700. When I left China last year (2018), the air had improved dramatically. With "clean air" days far outnumbering smoggy days. Clean-air practices are effective, but is the world's population willing to change its behavior?

Smedley's thorough research leaves me confident that we still have the ability to "clear the air", as long as we act fast. Seeing as there are measurable negative health effects related to polluted air (affecting not only adult lungs, but also growing children's brains), I'm surprised more countries and companies aren't already implementing changes.

Like many people I am very concerned about the way this world is headed, and how us humans are negatively affecting the place that we should be protecting. This book goes into the problem of air pollution, how it has increased over the past century, and some of the ways that we are trying to fix the problem. While this book could have been incredibly dry, by using personal anecdotes and stories Tim is able to make it more interesting and I was able to come out the book a bit hopeful for what some people are doing to help the environment when most people are working at trying to end it as fast as possible.

This is a fantastic reference guide on a topic that is relevant to pretty much everybody that is alive today. I think it should be mandatory reading for anybody that has a pulse. Tim Smedley is able to take a somewhat complex topic and make it reasonable to read and understand. Some of the technical information in regards to nano particulates is still a little dense and can be overwhelming unless you work specifically in that field, but overall the info is presented in an easy to read format. Tim Smedley travels the world giving us insight into how pollution affects different populations and what governments are doing to fight it. A must read.

I found this book very informative regarding air pollution and the measures that are being done to lessen or eradicate it. The information was presented in a manner that was easily accessible to the average person. Air pollution is something that isn't always at the forefront of public consciousness but it should be. Our health as well as the health of our planet is at stake.

This is an extensively and exhaustively researched book by Tim Smedley outlining our air pollution addiction, success and failure stories in clearing out smog from cities, current pollution reduction policies and technologies, and future technologies. There is only so many ways you can say that human society is killing it self and Tim Smedley does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged.

In a topic that often revolves around climate change, a problem to many of us seems to distant in the future, Tim Smedley takes a closer and more immediate approach to air pollution. It is degrading our healthy everyday. If this book does not help to change the minds of humanity, I don't know what more the science can say.

A very good book on an increasingly important topic. Beware that it is largely a long set of facts, but it does help provide perspectives and context, as well as a few ideas. It is very well researched, and hopefully will help push us to some solutions.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

A very informative eye opening look at air pollution I live in California so see its effects almost daily the haze in the air at times its hard to breathe eyes tear up.This is a important book would make an excellent read in high school college classes.Everyone should learn as much as they can about the poison of air pollution and do our best to combat it. #netgalley #bloomsburybooks.

This was a really well researched look at air pollution. I learned a lot!

A few chapters I had a hard time getting through so I knocked a star off.

It’s something everyone should think about, especially if you live in a heavily polluted area. I’m glad this book was written and the author spent time researching this topic.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you are concerned or interested in the topic of air pollution, this is the book for you. If you are concerned about your health or the health of loved ones, you should read this book. Tim Smedley had done extensive research on this topic, based in London but traveling to Beijing, Delhi, Paris, and Copenhagen to investigate air pollution in other parts of the world. The author provides a detailed analysis of the causes of air pollution, along with the health effects of air pollution, particularly on children. He studies how other cities have worked to reduce air pollution and make significant infrastructure changes. Highly recommended.