Everywhere you turn, there’s news on the coronavirus pandemic, but very little has been publicized about another potential threat to mankind — the air pollution pandemic.
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A new international study points out that air pollution has already shortened more people’s lives on a global scale than current wars, violence, malaria, AIDS and smoking combined, according to Study Finds.
Researchers at the University Medical Centre Mainz in Mainz, Germany, noted that air pollution is shortening millions of people’s lives all over the Earth by an average of almost three years, and called the smog situation a pandemic.
According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 deaths is related to living and working in a toxic environment, with air pollution being the greatest contributor to this risk.
The bad news is that air pollution is a major contributor to lung and respiratory infections, heart disease and cancer.
The good news is that proactive measures do pay off. When one Brazilian city made improvements in waste recycling, public transport and pedestrian walkways, it led to lower air pollution, and life expectancy increased by two years more than the national average.
More good news is that, thanks to improved sanitation, mosquito nets and access to safe water, communicable infectious diseases like malaria have decreased, although they still account for one-third of the global death toll each year.
While exposure to air pollution could increase your risk of a heart attack, preterm birth, diabetes, obesity or increased rates of depression and dementia, there are several dietary strategies that seem to counter the effects of air pollution by reducing toxins and lowering inflammation. They include eating broccoli, turmeric and ginger, and taking care to balance your omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Eating a high-fiber diet may reduce your risk of heart disease from the environmental pollutant polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
PCBs were once used in commercial applications, but were banned 40 years ago. There are 1,303 Superfund — polluted and contaminated areas containing hazardous materials —
sites in the U.S. The states with the most Superfund sites were New Jersey (113 sites), California (97 sites) and Pennsylvania (95 sites). The states with the fewest Superfund sites were North Dakota (no sites), Nevada (one site) and South Dakota (two sites).
Maybe you think the air is cleaner inside your home and workplace, but indoor air quality is often more polluted than the outdoor air, with some pollutants measuring 100 times greater than those found outside.
A combination of carpet, chemicals, air fresheners, plastics and furnishings contribute to the chemical soup you breathe indoors. Indoor air pollution can increase wheezing, cause headaches, disorientation and certain cancers, and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
The average person spends at least 10 hours each day inside their home and another eight hours at work, which comes to at least 75% of their time being spent indoors.
Making several small changes to your everyday routine, such as opening windows, decorating with plants and running exhaust fans, can make a significant difference in the quality of the indoor air you breathe.
Another change to consider is tossing out all toxic household cleaners, aerosols and air fresheners, including dryer sheets, and using natural cleaners like vinegar, baking soda and essential oils, instead.
Change is hard, but these changes are well worth the results of breathing fresher, cleaner air.