17 Facts About Air Pollution And Why It Matters For Your Health
“You should avoid exposure to air pollution.”
How often have you come across this lifestyle advice? We’re betting not that often…
Air pollution is universally considered “bad”, but many of you may not understand the gravity of its seriousness.
So what exactly is air pollution? How bad can it be for your health? And how can you put the lifestyle advice mentioned above to practice? Dr. YOU is here to break down these burning questions with 17 facts.
What’s air pollution?
#1: First, let’s understand pollution — it’s described as anything natural or human-made introduced in the environment that poses a threat to human health and the ecosystem.
#2: Air pollution happens when chemical, biological, or physical agents (pollutants) alter the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.
#3: Air pollution is of two types — outdoor and indoor.
#4: Outdoor air pollution is caused by the burning of fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil) and wildfires. These lead to the generation of smog, soot, and noxious gases in the air, making the air unsafe to breathe.
#5: The major culprits behind indoor air pollution are fireplaces and home cookstoves that use gas, coal, or biomass fuels. These also make the air inside homes harmful to breathe.
#6: Over the years, air pollution has dramatically worsened globally. Nine out of ten people worldwide breathe polluted air.
How does air pollution affect your health?
#7: Microscopic pollutants in the air are sneaky — they have no problems passing through your body’s protective mechanisms like your mucous membranes. They can then damage your lungs, heart, and brain.
#8: Get ready for this — it’s estimated that 10 million premature deaths globally are due to pollutants released during the burning of fossil fuels. And 25% of these deaths happen in India.
#9: Deaths related to air pollution happen due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases.
#10: Microscopic air pollutants can damage your blood vessels and lower your levels of “good” cholesterol.
#11: These microscopic pollutants also raise the risk of hospitalization if you have chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and COPD.
#12: Air pollution also has detrimental effects on children. Those who live in highly polluted areas are more likely to develop asthma, bronchitis, long-term lung damage, cancers, and even cognitive problems.
How can you lower the impacts of air pollution on your health?
#13: The air quality index (AQI) can help you track the pollution levels in your area. Many weather apps also provide you information about the AQI.
#14: If the AQI is poor in your area, avoid doing outdoor activities like exercising. When you’re indoors, keep the windows closed to prevent the entry of polluted air.
#15: You have another valid reason to wear masks when you go outside now. The N95 masks work best in filtering microscopic pollutants; surgical and cloth masks can help filter larger particles in the air.
#16: Consider getting an air purifier to improve the indoor air quality. Select an air purifier based on the size of your room.
#17: Be proactive about replacing the filters in your air conditioner and air purifier. This helps maintain a good indoor air quality and lowers energy use.
Remember, the only person who can keep YOU the healthiest is YOU!
DISCLAIMER: Dr. YOU aims to bring you the latest evidence-based science, and our content is for informational purposes only. The content is not medical advice or guarantee of an outcome. You should always consult a doctor or qualified healthcare professional if you need further clarification and before making any changes to your treatment plans and lifestyle, or that of others.
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