Breathe Easy: Reducing Particulate Matter For Healthier Air

Particulate matter is a serious issue, with researchers linking it to heightened risks of premature death and lung cancer. It is made up of tiny pieces of dust, dirt, soot, smoke, droplets of liquid, and other pollutants. These particles can be inhaled and have detrimental effects on human health, especially for children and older adults. As such, it is important to take steps to reduce particulate matter and improve air quality. This can be done through a combination of individual actions and stricter regulations for industries and vehicles.

Stop smoking, especially indoors

Smoking is a major source of indoor particulate matter. To reduce particulate matter, it is important to avoid smoking indoors. Here are some tips to stop smoking, especially indoors:

• Avoid smoking indoors: If you smoke, make sure to do it outdoors. Designate a smoking area outside your home and avoid smoking in enclosed spaces. This will help reduce the amount of particulate matter that accumulates indoors.
• Quit smoking: Quitting smoking is one of the best ways to reduce particulate matter. If you smoke, consider quitting. There are many resources available to help you quit, such as counselling, support groups, and nicotine replacement therapies.
• Create a smoke-free environment: Establish a smoke-free policy in your home and encourage family members or roommates to respect it. This will help reduce second-hand smoke exposure and improve indoor air quality.
• Use alternative stress-reduction techniques: If you smoke to relieve stress, try alternative techniques such as meditation, yoga, or exercise. These activities can help reduce cravings and improve your overall health.
• Seek support: Quitting smoking can be challenging, so it is important to have a support system in place. Join a support group or talk to a counsellor to help you through the process.
• Avoid triggers: Identify and avoid situations or places that trigger your urge to smoke. For example, if you usually smoke after meals, try doing something else instead, like taking a walk or calling a friend.
• Practice self-care: Take care of yourself during the quitting process. Eat healthy meals, get enough sleep, and find healthy ways to cope with stress and cravings.
• Educate yourself: Learn about the harmful effects of smoking and second-hand smoke. Understanding the risks can help motivate you to quit and stay smoke-free.
• Create a plan: Develop a personalised plan to quit smoking. Set a quit date, remove smoking paraphernalia from your home, and plan distractions or rewards for when cravings strike.
• Get professional help: If you are struggling to quit on your own, consider seeking professional help. A healthcare provider can provide guidance, support, and medications to help you through the process.

Avoid open burning

Open burning is a significant source of particulate matter (PM) and is harmful to both the environment and human health. It involves the combustion of landscaping debris, household trash, demolition debris, and land-clearing debris. To reduce particulate matter, it is essential to avoid open burning and adopt alternative practices. Here are some detailed suggestions to avoid open burning:

Use Composting and Grasscycling

Yard trimmings and garden scraps can be recycled through composting and grasscycling. These processes improve and beautify gardens and landscapes while reducing the need for open burning. By returning organic matter to the soil, composting helps nourish plants and improve soil structure. Grasscycling, which involves leaving grass clippings on the lawn after mowing, adds essential nutrients to the soil and reduces the need for water and fertiliser.

Follow Local Regulations and Only Burn Approved Materials

It is important to follow state and local regulations regarding open burning. In some places, it is illegal to burn household garbage and trash. Burning only approved materials and following proper procedures can minimise the negative impacts on the environment and human health. Check with your local authorities to understand what materials are allowed to be burned and any restrictions or permits required.

Adopt Alternative Disposal Methods

Instead of open burning, explore alternative disposal methods for waste materials. This can include recycling, reusing, or utilising waste-to-energy technologies. Recycling and reusing help conserve resources and reduce the need for open burning. Waste-to-energy technologies can convert waste into electricity, fuel, or other useful products, providing an alternative to simply burning waste.

Explore Alternative Land-Clearing Methods

If land clearing is necessary, consider alternative methods that do not involve open burning. Mechanical methods, such as mulching or shredding, can be used to clear vegetation without releasing harmful pollutants into the air. Additionally, chemical methods, such as herbicides, can be applied to remove unwanted plants without burning. Always follow safety guidelines when using chemicals.

Practise Fire Safety and Wildfire Prevention

Open burning can easily get out of control and lead to wildfires, which have devastating consequences for the environment and communities. To avoid this, practise fire safety measures such as creating a firebreak, having a water source nearby, and never leaving a fire unattended. Be mindful of weather conditions, as dry and windy conditions can increase the risk of wildfires. Report any uncontrolled fires immediately to emergency services.

By following these suggestions, individuals and communities can significantly reduce particulate matter emissions from open burning, improving air quality and protecting the environment and public health.

Improve indoor ventilation

Improving indoor ventilation is an important step in reducing exposure to particulate matter. Here are some ways to do this:

Increase Ventilation

Open doors and windows for at least 15 minutes each day to increase the amount of outdoor air coming inside. This is a simple yet effective way to improve indoor air quality. If opening windows and doors is not possible or safe, consider other methods to increase ventilation, such as using fans.

Use Exhaust Fans

Install and use exhaust fans, especially when cooking. These fans should vent to the outdoors to effectively remove contaminants and increase the outdoor air ventilation rate. Local bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors are particularly useful as they remove contaminants directly from the room and increase overall ventilation.

Upgrade Furnace Filters

Upgrade the furnace filter to a higher MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values) rating, preferably 13 or higher. MERV ratings indicate how effective filters are at removing particulate matter from the air, with higher numbers indicating greater effectiveness. Remember to change these filters regularly, approximately every 30 days or as recommended by the manufacturer.

Portable Air Cleaners

Consider using a portable air cleaner or air purifier to clean the air in a single room. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaners are the most efficient filters for trapping particles, such as those exhaled by people when breathing, talking, or coughing. Choose a HEPA cleaner with a suitable Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) for the size of the room.

Ventilation Systems

If possible, invest in a whole-house ventilation system. Advanced designs include energy-efficient heat recovery ventilators, also known as air-to-air heat exchangers, which help mitigate the cost of heating and cooling. These systems bring fresh outdoor air into the home while exhausting stale indoor air, improving overall indoor air quality.

Upgrade HVAC filters

Upgrading your HVAC filters can be a cost-effective way to clean up indoor air or contaminated outdoor air. Here are the steps you can take to upgrade your HVAC filters:

Step 1: Assess your current filtration equipment and maintenance programs

Before upgrading to higher-efficiency filters, it is essential to evaluate your existing equipment and operations. Consider whether your goals can be achieved by simply revising protocols and procedures. The existing equipment and filter grades may be adequate, and complementary strategies can be employed. These strategies include altering control options for longer occupied fan run times, including occupied pre- and post-purge building air flushes, increasing the frequency of filter changes, and ensuring proper sealing to prevent bypass.

Step 2: Determine if higher-grade filters can be used with existing equipment

The next step is to assess whether your installed equipment can handle higher-grade filters without modification. All filters cause airflow restriction, and higher-efficiency filters of the same type will add more restriction as the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating increases. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully evaluate the potential increase in static pressure to avoid damaging air handling equipment and degrading heating and cooling performance. A change in filter type, such as switching from a flat panel filter to a pleated filter, may allow for a higher MERV rating without a significant increase in static pressure.

Step 3: Explore options for upgrading existing equipment

If your existing equipment presents airflow limitations, there may be relatively inexpensive modifications that can be made. For example, increasing fan speeds can help overcome higher static pressures and maintain airflow, provided the fan motor can handle the extra electrical load. Consult with equipment manufacturers or manuals to determine if this is a viable option. Filter racks can also be altered or replaced to accept lower pressure drop formats, such as upgrading to a deeper pleated filter, which can provide a higher MERV rating without a substantial pressure drop penalty.

Step 4: Consider adding stand-alone air scrubber devices

If your existing equipment cannot adequately address indoor air quality (IAQ) problems, you may need to add equipment. Stand-alone "air scrubber" devices have been developed to provide air cleaning solutions for individual rooms or central systems. These devices typically use high-efficiency filters, such as MERV 13 or HEPA filters, and integral fans. While operating noise can be an issue, high-quality units intended for classroom or office use will be equipped with acoustic linings and quiet fans.

Step 5: Explore new equipment options

In some cases, equipment replacement or system redesign may be necessary. Commercial air handling units are highly customizable and can be ordered with enhanced filtration options, such as bigger filter racks, prefilters, and variable-speed fans. Consulting with a team of professionals, including a mechanical engineer, IAQ professional, and filtration specialist, can help identify effective solutions that fit within your budget.

Walk, cycle or use public transport

Walking, cycling, and using public transport are three great ways to reduce particulate matter and improve air quality.

Walking

Walking is a simple and effective way to reduce your exposure to particulate matter. When walking, try to avoid busy roads or freeways, as these areas tend to have higher levels of particle pollution. If possible, opt for walking instead of driving for short distances, such as when running errands or commuting to work. Walking can also be combined with public transport, such as walking to and from bus or train stations.

Cycling

Like walking, cycling is an active form of transportation that can help reduce particulate matter and improve air quality. It offers the same benefits as walking, including reduced exposure to particle pollution and less traffic congestion. Cycling is a great option for longer commutes or when running errands, as it can often be faster than walking.

Public Transport

Using public transport, such as buses, trains, or subways, is an excellent way to reduce particulate matter. By choosing public transport over driving, you can help take cars off the road, reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality. Public transport is particularly effective in highly populated urban areas, where a large number of people opting for public transport can significantly decrease traffic congestion and vehicle emissions.

Benefits of Walking, Cycling, and Using Public Transport

These three options not only reduce particulate matter but also offer health benefits. Research shows that walking for 30 minutes or cycling for 20 minutes on most days can reduce the risk of mortality by at least 10%. Active commuting is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, cancer-related mortality is lower among those who commute by bicycle.

Policy Support

To encourage more people to walk, cycle, or use public transport, policy support is crucial. This includes redesigning urban spaces to meet daily needs within accessible distances, improving infrastructure for safe walking and cycling, and developing national plans for walking and cycling promotion.

Frequently asked questions