Strategies To Combat Outdoor Air Pollution

Outdoor air pollution is a pressing issue that affects people worldwide, causing an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths per year. While some sources of pollution are beyond individual control, there are still many ways we can improve the air quality around us. This includes reducing our reliance on cars, using public transport, walking or cycling, and carpooling. We can also limit our energy consumption by using energy-efficient appliances, turning off electrical items when not in use, and opting for natural substitutes to toxic chemicals. Additionally, we can avoid burning garbage and limit backyard fires, especially during poor air quality conditions. These small changes can collectively make a significant impact on reducing outdoor air pollution and improving public health.

Reduce car usage

One of the most effective ways to reduce outdoor air pollution is to cut down on car usage. Car emissions have a significant impact on air quality, and reducing the number of cars on the road can make a big difference. Here are some ways to reduce car usage and lower air pollution:

Opt for Walking or Cycling

Whenever possible, choose to walk or cycle to your destination instead of driving. This is a simple way to reduce car emissions and improve air quality. Walking and cycling are great forms of exercise, and they also help reduce traffic congestion. If your destination is too far to walk or cycle, consider using public transportation or carpooling with others.

Utilize Public Transportation

Public transportation, including buses, subways, commuter trains, and light rail systems, can help reduce car usage and air pollution. By choosing public transportation, you can lower your carbon footprint and contribute to a healthier environment. Public transportation also offers convenience and comfort, especially in congested urban areas.

Embrace Carpooling

Carpooling is a fantastic way to reduce the number of cars on the road and decrease air pollution. Sharing rides with friends, colleagues, or neighbours can lessen traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. Carpooling can also lead to cost savings, as it reduces fuel expenses for everyone involved.

Work Remotely

If your job allows it, consider working from home periodically. Telecommuting reduces the need for commuting by car and helps lower air pollution. Working remotely can also bring benefits such as increased flexibility and improved productivity for some individuals.

Plan Efficient Trips

Plan your trips efficiently by combining multiple errands into one journey. This approach minimizes the number of individual car trips and reduces overall mileage. Efficient trip planning can be achieved by grouping tasks based on proximity and optimizing your route.

Encourage Policy Changes

Support and advocate for policy changes that promote reduced car usage. This can include writing to local representatives, participating in clean air campaigns, and voting for initiatives that prioritize sustainable transportation options. Policy changes can lead to systemic reductions in car usage and air pollution.

Switch to cleaner energy sources

Burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, gasoline, and diesel is a significant contributor to toxic air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, which drive climate change. Transitioning to cleaner energy sources is therefore critical to protect the health of the public and the environment.

Solar Energy

Solar energy systems use solar cells, or photovoltaic (PV) cells, to convert sunlight into electricity. Solar energy is a clean, renewable energy source that does not produce air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions. There have been significant improvements in harnessing solar energy, making it more efficient and cost-effective. Over 200 cities have adopted 100% clean power targets, with solar energy supplying nearly two percent of U.S. electricity generation.

Wind Energy

Wind energy is created using wind turbines, which can be placed anywhere with high-speed winds, from hilltops to open water for offshore wind. Wind energy has fewer environmental impacts than many other energy sources as it does not produce direct air pollution emissions and does not require water for cooling. Wind energy now accounts for more than seven percent of U.S. energy generation, and technological advances have made it a more cost-effective option.

Low-Emissions Fuels

In addition to renewable energy sources, low-emissions fuels can also help reduce air pollution. This includes fuels with reduced sulfur content, which can be used in both heavy-duty diesel vehicles and passenger cars.

Energy Efficiency

Improving energy efficiency in buildings and homes is another way to reduce the demand for energy and thus lower emissions. This can be achieved through the use of efficient appliances and heating systems, and energy-efficient building design.

Avoid burning wood, trash, and leaves

Burning wood, trash, and leaves is a major source of particle pollution. The smoke released during burning contains vapours and particulate matter (solid compounds suspended in the air). The particulate matter and toxic gases released during burning can be very irritating to people's health.

People exposed to these air pollutants can experience eye and nose irritation, breathing difficulties, coughing, and headaches. People with heart disease, asthma, emphysema, or other respiratory diseases are especially vulnerable to air pollutants. The risk of adverse health effects increases if people are very close to the source of smoke or if the smoke is not diluted enough with clean air.

The toxic chemicals released during the burning of wood, trash, and leaves include nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), and polycyclic organic matter (POMs). Burning plastic and treated wood also releases heavy metals and toxic chemicals such as dioxin. Dioxins are persistent, bioaccumulative toxins that remain in the environment for extended periods and increase in concentration as they move up the food chain. They can cause immune system suppression, disruption of hormonal systems, and cancer.

Particle pollution, released as small bits of ash during the burning of leaves and trash, can lodge deep in the lungs and cause respiratory problems, cardiac arrhythmia, and heart attacks. It can also impact the young, the elderly, and people with existing conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma.

To reduce air pollution and protect public health, it is essential to avoid burning wood, trash, and leaves. Instead, consider alternative methods for disposing of waste, such as recycling, composting, or using trash hauling services. For those who rely on burning wood for residential heating, it is important to use only clean, dry, untreated wood and to ensure proper installation and regular maintenance of wood stoves to minimise air pollution and smoke.

Improve energy efficiency

Improving energy efficiency is a crucial step towards reducing outdoor air pollution. Here are some detailed and instructive tips to help you achieve this:

Reduce Energy Consumption

Minimise your energy use at home and work. Turn off electrical appliances and lights when not in use. Opt for fans instead of air conditioning, and use programmable thermostats to set temperatures. When leaving a room, turn off the lights and, if possible, open windows to let in natural light.

Choose Efficient Appliances

Look for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers. These appliances are designed to use less energy and reduce power consumption, which helps lower emissions and improve air quality.

Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Lighting

Replace traditional incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs or LED lights. These alternatives consume significantly less energy, reducing the demand for power generation, which often relies on fossil fuels.

Improve Home Insulation

Add insulation to your home, especially in areas like attics, crawl spaces, and basements. Proper insulation helps retain heat during winters and keep your home cool in summers, reducing the need for excessive heating or air conditioning.

Utilise Solar Power

Consider installing solar panels on your roof to harness the power of the sun. Solar energy is a clean and renewable source of electricity that can significantly reduce your reliance on fossil fuels for energy generation, helping to decrease air pollution.

Maintain and Upgrade Vehicles

If you own a car, ensure it is well-maintained and tuned. Keep your tires properly inflated, as under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage. When upgrading your car, opt for the most efficient, lowest-polluting vehicle available, including hybrid or electric cars, which produce fewer emissions.

Embrace Public Transportation

Whenever possible, opt for public transportation, such as buses, subways, or trains. Using public transportation reduces the number of cars on the road, which helps lower vehicle emissions and improves outdoor air quality.

Combine and Reduce Trips

Plan your errands and combine multiple tasks into a single trip. This reduces the overall distance travelled and the number of trips made, lowering your carbon footprint and contributing to cleaner air.

Promote Clean Energy Policies

Support and advocate for policies that promote clean energy and energy efficiency. Encourage your local and national governments to implement initiatives that support renewable energy sources, provide incentives for energy-efficient technologies, and prioritise a transition to a cleaner energy economy.

Plant and care for trees

Trees are a powerful tool in the fight against air pollution. They can improve air quality in several ways, and one of the most important is their ability to directly remove pollutants from the air. Trees act as natural air filters, trapping particulate matter on their leaves, stems, and branches. This process is called interception, and it helps to reduce the amount of harmful particles floating in the air. These particles, known as PM2.5, are a major cause of haze and can lead to serious health issues when inhaled.

Trees also absorb gaseous molecules, including toxic pollutants, through tiny pores on their leaf surfaces called stomata. Once inside the leaf, the gases diffuse and react with the inner-leaf surfaces, breaking down into non-toxic compounds. This process helps to reduce the concentration of harmful gases in the atmosphere, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ground-level ozone. These gases can have detrimental effects on both human health and the environment, so the role of trees in absorbing and neutralizing them is vital.

In addition to their direct impact on air pollution, trees also play an important role in reducing air temperatures. This, in turn, helps to alter pollution concentrations. Lower temperatures mean lower energy consumption, particularly for temperature control in buildings. This leads to a reduction in energy consumption from polluting sources, such as fossil fuels. According to the US National Park Service, this is one of the key ways that planting trees helps to improve air quality.

Trees also provide clean oxygen for us to breathe. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen as a byproduct. It is estimated that one large tree can provide a day's supply of oxygen for up to four people.

To maximize the benefits of trees for air quality, it is important to plant and care for them properly. This includes ensuring they have adequate water, nutrients, and space to grow. Protecting trees from pests, diseases, and other environmental threats is also crucial. By planting and caring for trees, we can harness their power to improve air quality and create healthier, more sustainable communities.

Frequently asked questions