According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 7 million premature deaths a year are linked to air pollution.
Air pollution can have long-term effects on our bodies, including respiratory diseases such as emphysema, lung cancer, and heart diseases. Air pollution can also can long-term damage people’s livers, kidneys, brain, nerves, and other organs.
Even though a big chunk of the pollution may come from companies and industries that are outside of our control, there are still a lot of things that we can do as individuals to make a difference in the quality of air.
In this article, we are going to identify how to reduce air pollution and improve health through the most practical and successful actions.
1. Walk or Cycle
Walking or cycling to school or work is a great way to start the day. Make sure that you teach your kids healthy habits early and include physical activity in their daily lives. Besides the fact that walking and cycling have a lot of benefits for your health, you will also be reducing air pollution.
2. Cut Down on Car Usage
Going car-free is a fantastic way to start your journey to lower air pollution. We understand that if you live further away from amenities, this isn’t always the most practical solution, but there are a few things you can do the lower the impact of your actions.
The first thing you should do when you’re stationary in traffic is to turn off your car. Your car can release many harmful pollutants into the air around you when you leave the engine running when the car is not moving.
You can consider switching to a cleaner car to lower your emissions, such as a hybrid or electric one. If your car uses diesel, service it regularly, and make sure that the particulate filer is emptied frequently.
If you’re often going to a similar location, such as school or work, ask someone who lives near you to consider car-sharing. It is also worth taking a look at car-sharing schemes. Not only will you save money on fuel, but you will also help make a difference in the environment by having one less car on the road.
3. Use Public Transport
A sure shot way of contributing to reducing air pollution is to use public transport since it gets you from A to B with less gas and energy. Let’s not even talk about how much you’ll save on parking fees!
4. Avoid Burning at Home
One of the biggest contributors to particulate matter emissions is domestic burning. Burning solid fuels, such as wood-burning stoves and open fires, have a substantial influence on air pollution. In addition, avoid burning rubbish and leaves in your garden as well.
5. Plant More Greenery
Starting your own initiative or supporting local green initiatives can help improve the long-term air quality in the place you live.
Trees help absorb pollutants through their pores, or stomata, which effectively filter these chemicals from the air. Trees also reduce greenhouse gases and trap heat in the atmosphere.
6. Say No to Plastic Bags
Plastic bags take a very long time to decompose due to the fact their material is made up of oil, so plastic products can be very harmful to the environment. To be more precise, plastic bags take 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill.
We suggest using a better alternative, such as paper bags, since they are recyclable and they decompose easily, or even a cool tote cloth bag that you can take shopping every time!
7. Reuse And Recycle
Recycling reduces the amount of waste that is sent to incinerators. Emissions are produced by incineration that contains harmful dioxins and heavy metals that are responsible for global warming and acid rain. Manufacturing with recycled materials saves water and energy and produces less water and air pollution.
Final Thoughts
Reducing air pollution is important for both the environment and human health. Poor air quality can damage buildings and plants, and haze or smoke can reduce visibility. Moreover, pollutants have harmful effects on human health, particularly the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Air pollution is a grave risk that affects everyone, which is why all of us need to act on it!
Do you want to know the quality of the air you breathe? Download AirCare – our free mobile app that tracks air pollution from your pocket, and check out the AirCare blog!
