Warning Bells
India has been grappling with the perils of air pollution since long. Industrialization and a rising population added on to the existing levels of toxic gases in the air we breathe. Combating air pollution has emerged as the topmost problem requiring immediate action.
A couple of years ago, Gardiner Harris had penned an article in ‘The New York Times’, which was titled, ‘Holding your breath in India’. Harris was the South Asia correspondent for New York Times and was stationed in Delhi. To his dismay, his stint in Delhi did not turn out to be a pleasant one. The prime reason being, the horrifying levels of air pollution in the city, which put his family’s health at stake. His eight-year-old son suffered from severe asthma and that made him contemplate his return from the city which could not provide a healthy environment to nurture his children.
It was not a mere rant by a foreigner but a wakeup call for us. The writer had painted a grim picture of a toxic city and it was extremely frightening. As winter dawned on us this year, ‘Delhi smog’ yet again thronged the headlines of all the newspapers.
Not just in Delhi, but in all large metropolitan cities, air pollution is rapidly becoming a menace posing severe health hazards to us.
What is Smog?
Smog refers to visible air pollution which consists of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ozone, smoke or particulates and also less visible pollutants like carbon monoxide and CFCs. Man-made smog is the outcome of coal emissions, vehicular emissions, industrial emissions, agricultural fires and photochemical reactions of these emissions. In cities like Delhi, the menace of smog is further accentuated by the mass burning of crop residue or stubble burning which is a low-cost alternative to mechanical tilling.
Climate scientist Krishna Achuta Rao wrote in one of her articles, “Like Los Angeles and Mexico City, Delhiites are cursed by geography to be prone to a meteorological phenomenon called inversion where warm air rests above the colder air closer to the ground, preventing it from mixing upwards, thereby trapping all that we put into it—almost like a lid.”
Is it that grave?
When we read about how air pollution is spreading its tentacles polluting the air and endangering our well being, the first thing that comes to our mind is ‘how grave is the problem’? Well, to our dismay the problem is indeed grave and needs our immediate attention. It is frightening to know that, in India, an estimated 1.5 million people died from the effects of air pollution in 2012, according to WHO data. Globally, air pollution – both indoor and outdoor – caused nearly 7 million deaths, or 11.6% of deaths in 2012, making it the world’s largest single environmental health risk, according to World health statistics 2016.
When we read about air pollution, a term which we often come across is ‘PM levels’.
PM level or Particulate Matter is the measure of a mixture of solids and liquid droplets floating in the air. Particles less than or equal to 10 micrometers in diameter are so small that they can get into the lungs, potentially causing serious health problems.
How can these be harmful?
The PM 2.5 pollutants which are the most harmful ones can penetrate the lungs and breach the blood-brain barrier. In cities like Delhi, the PM levels have surpassed 16 times the safe limit.
Indoor Air Pollution is equally harmful
It is distressing to know that our homes are not the safe havens we consider them to be. In fact, indoor air pollution can pose a threat to the health of us and our children as much as air pollution outside of our homes would do.
Steps to combat Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution
Say Yes to Public transportation and Carpools: Using public transportation and engaging in carpools would be a huge contribution towards combating air pollution. There are already enough vehicles emitting toxic air and you ought not to add on to the existing menace. Staggering the office timings can not only ease the peak time traffic but also incentivize the use of public transport.
Say Yes to Regular car checks: Ensure that your car is running smoothly and that it does not consume extra fuel.
Say No to Smoking: We all are aware of the harmful effects of smoking both to the smokers as well as others who fall prey to passive smoking. Also, Cigarette smoke is one of the most common indoor air pollutants. The residual smoke from cigarettes settles down easily in rooms which have carpets.
Say Yes to Air purifiers: An air purifier can keep your surroundings fresh and free from allergens and bacteria. These air purifiers have a layer of filters to purify the air in the surroundings. The HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Absorber) air filters can remove 99.97 percent of air allergens and are regarded as the most effective air purifiers. However, if you have asthma or allergies that are triggered by odor or chemical pollutants, then you should consider buying an asthma air purifier or an odor and chemical air purifier.
Use a humidifier/dehumidifier: A relative humidity of 30 to 50% is ideal to ensure good health. If the level of humidity is either above or below this level then it is advisable to use a humidifier or a dehumidifier. A humidifier adds moisture to the dry air while a dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air. Both humidifiers and dehumidifiers considerably help curb the negative consequences of indoor air pollution. They help eliminate mold, dust mites, mildew from the air, moisten dry skin and nasal passages and prevent other such ailments that spring from indoor air pollutants.
Be aware of various other indoor air pollutants: Odors from cleaning agents, varnish, paints, poor quality perfumes, and office supplies like glues, toners, and thinners augment indoor air pollution.
Indoor Plants: Several pieces of research have proved that indoor plants help cleanse pollutants from the air inside our houses. Indoor plants have the ability to absorb Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are potentially harmful air pollutants. This category of pollutants can emerge from paint, furniture, carpets, printers and even dry-cleaned clothes, resulting in several allergies like asthma, dizziness and so on. Indoor plants like Bromeliad, Dracaena, and Spider plant clean the air by absorbing as much as 80- 90 percent of VOCs. You can also keep a smaller variety of these plants in your car to keep the air fresh during a long commute.
Combating air pollution is not only the job of the government but of every conscientious citizen. Our small steps can go a long way in creating a healthier space both inside our homes as well as outside. We should make an earnest attempt not to contribute to the existing peril of air pollution and look for sustainable solutions so as to leave a greener earth for our posterity.