Air Pollution Talk

It is true that if each of us does something, it’ll make a difference in reducing outdoor air pollution. But what are the tangible and concrete things we can do? We all know that motor vehicles and power plants that burn fossil fuels are major sources of air pollution. They also release greenhouse gases that lead to climate change. However, there are things we can do every hour to use less energy and reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases. Besides, many of these steps can also save you money. First of all, replace all your lights bulbs at home to energy saving bulbs.

Number 2 is to turn off lights, computers, TVs, and appliances when they’re not in use. Number 3, get the whole family to reuse and recycle to conserve raw materials and energy. Number 6, next time when you need to replace your appliances, buy ENERGY STAR appliances. Or buy them now if you can afford to replacing them. Number 7, buy a vehicle with good fuel economy and low emissions.

Last, but not least, drive less. Walk, walk, and walk. Get the whole family to walk if you can. Carpool, walk, bike, or use public transportation if you can. Combine errands together.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health

Other than ground-level ozone, particle pollution is another health threat on the air quality. Particle pollution are tiny solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. This is also called particle matter or PM. You won’t be able to see them. These particles come from dust, fires, motor vehicles, power plants, and factories. Most types of particle pollution are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Particle pollution causes haze. That’s why people tend to see more haze in heavy polluted areas and large cities.

Like the way you would to avoid exposure to other air pollution, you should stay indoors to protect yourself from particle pollution. When the air is hazy, avoid going out or staying outdoors for long period of time if you have asthma or other related problems. Avoid bringing young children out. Stay indoors and plan fun activities at home. The advantage of living in smaller cities and rural areas is that you can enjoy outdoors more often. But the irony is that big cities dwellers tend to go out much more often than rural residents.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health

Ozone is a gas that is naturally found in earth’s upper atmosphere, where it forms the ozone layer. The ozone layer blocks some of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

While Ozone layer protects us from getting all the UV rays, ground-level ozone is a pollutant that can harm the environment, crops, and human health. It is ozone in the lower atmosphere, close to the Earth’s surface. This is one of the main components of smog. Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and heat cause chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds .

Volatile organic compounds are pollutants released by motor vehicles, factories and power plants, and chemicals such as paints and cleaners. Since we live in a modern world and we are exposed to all these wherever we go.

Source: Department of Health and Human Services.

If you wonder what kind of health effects of outdoor air pollution can have on your health, first of all, it can cause your eyes and nose to burn, your throat to itch, and even breathing problems.

In extreme cases, exposure to air pollutants at high levels over a long period of time may lead to cancer, birth defects, brain and nerve damage. It can cause long-term injury to the lungs and breathing passages.

Air pollution doesn’t just affect women, children, and elderly, it affects everyone. Children are especially susceptible to the effects of air pollution because their lungs are developing. Outdoor air pollution also adds more harms to people who have lung and heart diseases because they are more sensitive.

In the U.S., ground-level ozone and particle pollution are two of the most common pollutants and threat to people’s health.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

If you ever wonder whether the outdoor pollution come from, there are many sources and you can be exposed to them without noticing. It is very difficult to void them living in today’s society. These outdoor air pollutions sources include emissions from cars and trucks, power plants that burn fossil fuels, and factories and forest fires, to name a few. Unless you lock yourself up in the house 24/7, it’s inevitable that you can expose yourself to outdoor pollutions.

The best way to void these pollutants is to limit your outdoor physical activities. If you live in a heavily polluted area, try not to run, jog, or walk with small children outdoors. Because physical activity in polluted areas can cause you and your children to inhale more pollutants into your lungs, particularly if you have asthma. Check the weather station often, don’t go out if it’s windy.

What is outdoor air pollution and how can I be exposed to it?

There are many sources of pollution outdoors, such as:

• Emissions from cars and trucks
• Power plants that burn fossil fuels
• Factories and forest fires

Source: Department of Health and Human Services.

Many types of environmental exposures are more harmful for children than for adults. There are many reasons for this:

• Relative to their body weight, children eat, breathe, and drink more than adults do. So children take in higher concentrations of any toxins in their food, water, or air.
• As organs develop, they are more likely to be damaged by exposure to toxins.
• The ways that toxins are removed from the body are not fully developed in children.
• Children spend more time outdoors, where they may be exposed to outdoor air pollution and ultraviolet radiation.
• Children do more intense physical activity, causing them to breathe air pollutants more deeply into their lungs.
• Young children tend to put their hands, dirt, or objects into their mouths.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.