Why Clean Air Is Becoming Harder To Come By

There are multiple reasons why clean air is harder to come by nowadays.

10:37 29 March 2020

We may not be able to notice it, however, there is a high chance that the air around us is polluted and may already be causing breathing difficulties and health problems for many people around us.  We may be actively polluting our atmosphere without knowing it. To avoid this, read the following guide to understand how air pollution works and how we can combat it.

Indoor Air Pollution

Keeping our houses warm is something we can’t sacrifice. So, we use fossil fuels, like gas, coal, and oil which can easily pollute the air. Since we’re burning fossil fuel close to where we live, the air is bound to be polluted. Even electricity, which we consider to be the cleanest source of energy around the house, is produced by an energy plant that also uses fossil fuels. Using fossil fuels can release many air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. 

Not Many Use Air Filters

Just as the water you ingest must be purified and filtered before you drink it, the same thing goes for the air you breathe; it needs to be cleaned and filtered. When we don’t use air filters, we increase the level of pollutants we inhale from the air around us. That’s why the professionals over at https://filterbuy.com/ advise consumers to use air filters, furnace filters, or AC filters in their homes and in the workplace. Also, make sure to use a pleated air filter instead of fiberglass to achieve optimum filtration, since these types of filters capture over 85% particles of air in your space.

Transportation Emissions

You probably already know that car emissions contribute to polluting the air we breathe. They may even be the primary reason for air pollution. Cars, planes, and ships burn fossil fuel to generate energy and large amounts of carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. While there is no way around using an alternative for car fuel, you can always try to avoid getting stuck in traffic jams or try using other means of transportation to lessen your contribution to polluting the air.

Pollen and Mold

Pollen and mold in the air come from trees, weed, and grass and wreak havoc on anyone who has pollen allergy. While not produced by human activity, they are exacerbated by climate change and cause serious danger to human health. This is why they are still considered one of the main pollutants. Humans can inadvertently cause mold to grow in schools, homes, or any workspace if there is water damage to the infrastructure; hence, producing allergenic airborne pollutants. It can even get worse, as some mold is capable of producing hazardous toxins.

 

Burning Waste

You’ve probably seen footage of people burning organic waste in landfills, which releases methane, dioxins, furans, and black carbon. Unfortunately, 40% of global waste is burned, especially in developing countries and urbanizing regions. So, unless people use the emissions of burned waste for industrial purposes, there are other methods that can be followed when dealing with waste. For example, they can improve the collection, separation, and disposal of waste, which will control the amount of waste that is burned or dumped in landfills. They can also separate organic waste and use it as a bioenergy source or a compost. 

Agriculture

 

When it comes to agriculture, the main sources producing pollutants are rice paddies, livestock, and burning agricultural waste. Methane and ammonia levels increase as a result, which increases the levels of ground-level ozone and causes asthma and respiratory illnesses. While agriculture is not the main reason why we don’t get enough clear air, it still produces around 24% of worldwide greenhouse gases. To decrease this percentage, people can go for a plant-based diet or improve their food waste management, while farmers can reduce methane by improving food digestibility for their livestock.

Mining

When large machinery is used to extract minerals below the earth, dust, and chemicals are going to be released into the air in large quantities, which is the main reason why workers' health in these areas can be greatly affected. Along with the fossil fuel these machinery burns to extract minerals; the mining process causes a great deal of pollution to the air.

There are many attempts on the industrial, agricultural, and national levels to lessen pollutants in the air, but one can never be too certain that the air around us is safe to breathe. So, doing the best we can to avoid this issue should be our primary concern. Simple steps like getting a new air filter and managing our waste will help us create breathable air where we live and work.