Protecting Yourself From Outdoor Air Pollution

Outdoor air pollution is a pressing issue, with 99% of the world's population living in areas where air quality does not meet WHO guidelines. The combined effects of outdoor and indoor air pollution are associated with 6.7 million premature deaths annually. To protect yourself and your family from the dangers of outdoor air pollution, you can take several measures. These include checking daily air pollution forecasts, limiting outdoor activities, reducing energy use, and advocating for cleaner air practices. It is also important to be aware of vulnerable individuals, such as those with chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases, children, and the elderly, who may be at higher risk from air pollution.

Check daily air pollution forecasts and limit outdoor time when levels are high

Checking daily air pollution forecasts and limiting outdoor time when levels are high is a crucial step in protecting yourself and your family from the dangers of outdoor air pollution. Here are some detailed and focused instructions to help you implement this protective measure effectively:

Check Daily Air Pollution Forecasts:

• Utilize the Air Quality Index (AQI): The AQI is a useful tool provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to communicate daily air quality. It offers color-coded categories that indicate the air quality in your area and provide suggestions for reducing exposure to air pollution. You can access the AQI on websites like AirNow.gov or state and local agency websites. Some agencies also report the AQI through local news media or telephone hotlines.
• Take Advantage of Interactive Maps: Websites like AirNow.gov provide interactive maps that show real-time air quality data. These maps use dots to represent cities or reporting areas, giving you a quick overview of the air quality in different locations.
• Understand the Forecast Timing: Air quality forecasts for the next day are typically issued in the afternoon. However, it's a good idea to check the forecast daily, as things can change. Some areas even provide forecasts for several days in advance, making it easier to plan your outdoor activities.

Limit Outdoor Time When Levels Are High:

• Adjust Your Outdoor Activities: When the air pollution forecast indicates high levels, reduce the amount of time spent outdoors, especially for children. Move indoor workouts like walking in a shopping mall or using a gym.
• Avoid High-Traffic Areas: Even if the air quality forecast looks favourable, it's best to avoid exercising or spending prolonged periods near busy highways or high-traffic areas. The vehicles on these roads can create high local pollution levels.
• Plan Your Outdoor Activities: Use the air quality forecasts to plan your outdoor activities. Just like checking the weather forecast to know whether to bring an umbrella, use the air quality information to decide when to change or adjust your outdoor plans.
• Be Aware of Ground-Level Ozone: Keep an eye out for ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant. Avoid prolonged physical activity during times of high ozone levels. If you must exercise outdoors on high-ozone days, consider doing so early in the morning or late in the evening when the levels tend to be lower.
• Protect Your Indoor Air Quality: While limiting outdoor time is essential, don't forget the importance of maintaining good indoor air quality. Learn how to ensure the air you breathe indoors is clean and take steps to reduce indoor air pollution sources, such as using less energy at home.

Avoid exercising outdoors when pollution levels are high

Air pollution can have adverse effects on anyone, but it is especially harmful to children and teens, people with asthma and other lung diseases, the elderly, people with diabetes or cardiovascular disease, and pregnant women. Even healthy adults who exercise or work outdoors are at risk. Therefore, it is important to avoid exercising outdoors when pollution levels are high.

You can check the daily air pollution forecasts in your area to determine when the pollution levels are unhealthy. Local radio and TV weather reports, newspapers, and websites like airnow.gov provide color-coded forecasts, with green indicating safe levels and purple or maroon indicating extremely high levels of pollution. On days with high pollution levels, opt for indoor exercises such as walking in a shopping mall or using a gym.

It is also important to limit the amount of time children spend playing outdoors when the air quality is poor. This includes reducing their exposure to school bus emissions by encouraging schools to use zero-emissions buses and reduce idling near school buildings. Additionally, be mindful of high-traffic areas and busy highways, as the vehicles on these roads can create high pollution levels nearby.

By avoiding outdoor exercise when pollution levels are high, you can minimize your exposure to harmful pollutants and protect your health. This is especially important for individuals who are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, such as those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

In addition to checking air quality forecasts, you can take proactive steps to reduce your exposure to air pollution. This includes reducing your energy consumption, opting for walking, biking, or using public transportation instead of driving, and avoiding the use of wood-burning stoves or fireplaces. By combining these strategies with avoiding outdoor exercise during high pollution levels, you can effectively reduce your risk of adverse health effects from air pollution.

Reduce energy use and use energy-efficient appliances

Energy efficiency is a powerful tool in the fight against outdoor air pollution. By reducing energy use, we can curb emissions of harmful pollutants, improve air quality, and drive economic and environmental benefits. Here are some ways to reduce energy use and adopt more energy-efficient solutions:

Reduce Energy Use

• Limit the use of energy-intensive appliances like air conditioners, setting them no lower than 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Defer or reduce the use of gasoline-powered lawn and gardening equipment.
• Minimize the use of fireplaces, wood stoves, and the burning of leaves, trash, and other materials.
• Avoid idling in vehicles, especially near schools and other sensitive areas.
• Opt for walking, biking, carpooling, or using public transportation whenever possible.

Adopt Energy-Efficient Appliances

• Look for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing appliances, buildings, or equipment. ENERGY STAR-certified products, such as heat pumps, air conditioners, and water heaters, can significantly reduce energy consumption and costs.
• Invest in energy-efficient windows that reduce heat exchange and air leaks, improving insulation and reducing the energy needed for heating or cooling.
• Support policies and initiatives that promote energy efficiency, such as mandatory building standards and retrofits that reduce energy consumption.
• Encourage the use of electric or hand-powered alternatives to gasoline-powered tools and equipment.
• Promote energy efficiency in industrial sites and transportation sectors to reduce emissions from fossil fuel-based power generation and vehicle exhausts.

Avoid burning wood, trash, or leaves

Burning wood, trash, leaves, and other materials is a major source of particle pollution. When these items are burned, they produce smoke and release toxic gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. These gases are harmful to both human health and the environment.

The smoke from burning wood contains vapors and particulate matter, which are solid compounds suspended in the air. The particulate matter, as well as the toxic gases released during burning, can irritate the eyes and nose, cause breathing difficulties, and lead to coughing and headaches. People with heart disease, asthma, emphysema, or other respiratory diseases are especially vulnerable to these air pollutants. The small particles in wood smoke can also worsen heart conditions by preventing oxygen from reaching tissues.

To avoid these negative impacts, it is important to find alternatives to burning wood, trash, or leaves. For heating your home or water, consider using natural gas stoves and heaters, which have lower particle pollution emissions than wood-burning devices. Solar panels, electric, or geothermal heat pumps are also becoming more popular as alternatives to wood-burning. If you must burn wood, look for the cleanest burning devices, such as newer wood stove models that produce less smoke and require less firewood. Burning only clean, dry wood with lots of oxygen can also help to reduce air pollution and smoke.

In addition to avoiding burning wood, trash, or leaves yourself, you can also encourage your local government to regulate leaf burning and other sources of air pollution. It is also important to properly dispose of trash and waste through composting, mulching, recycling, or other garbage disposal options. By taking these steps, we can help reduce air pollution and protect our health and the environment.

Use public transport, walk, or cycle instead of driving

One of the most effective ways to protect yourself from outdoor air pollution is to opt for public transportation, walking, or cycling instead of driving. Transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions, with vehicles releasing an average of one pound of CO2 per mile driven. By taking public transportation, you can reduce your carbon footprint and decrease pollutants in the atmosphere, improving the air quality for everyone.

Public transportation, such as buses, subways, commuter trains, and light rail systems, offers a more environmentally friendly alternative to driving your car. It reduces CO2 emissions by 45% compared to driving alone, and it is estimated that public transportation in the US saves 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

Walking and cycling are also excellent options for shorter distances. They not only reduce air pollution but also provide health benefits by addressing physical inactivity, which claims one million lives per year in the European Region. Active transport modes like walking and cycling can help reduce emissions of air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and noise, as well as traffic injuries. They also encourage the use of public spaces and promote a healthier lifestyle.

To facilitate a shift towards walking and cycling, it is essential to advocate for policies and infrastructure upgrades that prioritize the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. This includes the development of dedicated bike lanes, traffic calming measures, and improved road design to ensure the well-being of those choosing sustainable modes of transportation.

By choosing to use public transportation, walk, or cycle instead of driving, you can play a crucial role in reducing air pollution, mitigating climate change, and improving the overall health and well-being of your community.

Frequently asked questions