Breathing Easy: Understanding Air Pollution 💨, Its Health Impacts, and How You Can Make a Difference"

Topic: air pollution and health (how it impacts health, where comes from, what you can do in your home/environmentally to help).

Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto (Tampa Bay mostly in the clear in air pollution report | wtsp.com

Author: Jennilee Mirtil

Air pollution is always being talked about, most commonly it’s usually outdoor pollution. This is caused by construction, factories, busy roads, and wildfires. But the less known is indoor pollution. This can be caused by poor home conditions, such as mold, dust, and not well-ventilated areas. You’ve probably heard words like Ozone (O3), Particulate Matter (PM2.5), or Carbon Monoxide (CO) which can be harmful to our health. That’s why it’s important to be aware of both indoor and outdoor air pollution, to protect yourself from the impacts.

So, what exactly is air pollution? According to the CDC, it’s when air quality is compromised due to factors like climate change, which can extend pollen season or cause pollutants or particles to be released into the air, which can be harmful to us - especially if you are a young child, have asthma or allergies, or already have a compromised immune system, that also includes if you are an older adult.

Climate change or global warming can impact air pollution in a negative way which is why it’s important to know your facts and stay updated about our environment around us. Because, with air quality, things can change! If air quality is poor where you live, this can be known by the AQI number. AQI, stands for Air Quality Index, it’s an indicator to help us understand if the air quality is safe and if it could cause health concerns. This number is usually on weather apps or can be easily googled based on your location. Here is a point of reference: if your AQI is under 50 (green), air quality is safe with no need to take precautions; however, if your AQI is over 100 (yellow to dark red), air quality could be unhealthy and precautionary measures should be taken.

Credit: https://storymd.com/journal/vwd72qof4w-air-pollution/page/pq5l29ur765-what-is-air-pollution-and-how-it-affects-health

Okay, so why is air pollution or low air quality so bad? What can it do to our health? According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, air pollution caused about 6.7 million deaths. Notably, 85% was due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which when exposed to high levels of air pollution can cause NCDs – referenced as heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or lung cancer. That’s why it’s important for us to take precautions and spreadawareness about air pollution. It may seem harmless, but it can have serious consequences.

So, what can we do? What should we do in our home or environment to help reduce the risk of air pollution? Well, definitely starting small can help! We can begin with minor changes inside the home such as:

• Ventilating the home, having open windows.

• Changing air filters frequently, don’t wait until six months to change them.

• Considering having indoor house plants, plants go through photosynthesis in which they can produce oxygen and take in carbon dioxide (one of the major air pollutants).

• Check the AQI level before going outside, this extra step can help prevent pollution exposure.

Starting small can help bring these habits into practice, taking precautions is important especially regarding things we cannot see. Stay up to date with your local health department and be aware of any changes in your air quality.

Discover more ways to contribute to combating air pollution in your community by exploring the programs offered by Youth Environmental Alliance here https://www.youthenvironmentalalliance.com . Get informed and make a difference today!

References:

American Lung Association. (2020, September 11). 10 Tips to Protect Yourself from Unhealthy Air | American Lung Association. Retrieved from www.lung.org website: https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/10-tips-to-protect-yourself

Armand, W. (2021, August 13). Air pollution: How to reduce harm to your health. Retrieved from Harvard Health website: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/air-pollution-how-to-reduce-harm-to-your-health-202108132567

CDC. (2019). Air Pollution. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un4ZgxT-cHM

Mackenzie, J., & Turrentine, J. (2023, October 31). Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know. Retrieved from NRDC website: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/air-pollution-everything-you-need-know#whatis

Neira, M., Prüss-Ustün, A., & Mudu, P. (2018). Reduce air pollution to beat NCDs: from recognition to action. The Lancet, 392(10154), 1178–1179. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32391-2

OAR US EPA. (2015, December 10). Managing Air Quality - Air Pollutant Types. Retrieved from US EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/air-quality-management-process/managing-air-quality-air-pollutant-types

WHO. (2024, June 25). Health consequences of air pollution. Retrieved from www.who.int website: https://www.who.int/news/item/25-06-2024-what-are-health-consequences-of-air-pollution-on-populations