Air pollution: How does it affect you?

Air pollution affects everyone, no matter if you live in Kansas, Chicago, or China.  People can live days without water, weeks without food, but only a few short minutes without breathable air.  In other words, we could not be more dependent on oxygen than we are, and thus we MUST make a concerted effort, as individuals and as human beings, to do something about this problem before it is too late.

According to the EPA, every human being breathes around 3,000 gallons of air each and every day of our lives.  Breathing contaminated air can make us very sick.  "Breathing polluted air can make your eyes and nose burn. It can irritate your throat and make breathing difficult. In fact, pollutants like tiny airborne particles and groundlevel ozone can trigger respiratory problems, especially for people with asthma. Today, nearly 30 million adults and children in the United States have been diagnosed with asthma. Asthma sufferers can be severely affected by air pollution. Air pollution can also aggravate health problems for the elderly and others with heart or respiratory diseases."  ("Why Should You Be Concerned about Air Pollution?" EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013.)

Here is another great article about the Environmental Effects of Air Pollution: on humans, animals, and our environment, if you would like to check it out and learn more!

There are many simple things every single one of us can do to truly effect change and make a difference in cleaning our air up.

• Conserve energy by turning off lights and appliances when leaving the room or not in use.
• Recycle anything and everything you can!  It conserves energy and reduces production emissions, according to EPA.  Here is some info on what recycles and what doesn't.
• Plant deciduous trees around your home to provide shade in summer and allow light in winter. 
• Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees.
• Buy ENERGY STAR products.  They are environmentally friendly.  For more information, visit www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES.
• Choose efficient, low-polluting models of vehicles.  Visit this site for some ideas on green vehicles.
• Shop with a canvas bag instead of plastic.
• Plan your trips ahead of time to save gasoline.
• In the summertime, fill gas tank during cooler evening hours to cut down on evaporation. Avoid spilling gas and don't "top off" the tank. Replace gas tank cap tightly.
• Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, for example, at fast-food restaurants or banks. Park your car and go in.
• When possible, use public transportation, walk, or ride a bike.

For some more ideas on reducing pollution, check out this page and this page.  Also, do some of your own research!  There is no shortage of information out there on the worldwide web, for those who would like to learn. 

Most of all, keep thinking about ways you can improve your life and impact our environment in a positive way.  Let's make our world a beautiful place to live for our children and their children!



Until next time, think green and stay positive!

Love, Meagan