How pollution affects your health and what can you do about it?

When we think of environmental issues, we think of it as something that will affect our descendants in the far future or is affecting some faraway place not inhabited by humans like the polar regions or the oceans. But pollution is affecting us all now at our very homes. According to WHO, about 1.7 million children die every year due to environmental pollution. Pollution is associated with several diseases like diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, asthma and even several forms of cancers.

Fortunately, the situation has not gone out of our hands. We can still take steps to reduce and repair done to the environment and avoid or reduce the damage done to our health due to pollution. It may take some time and effort but you can save both the environment and yourself by following these green habits:

Public Transport

Vehicles which run on fuels like petrol and diesel, release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which increase global warming. The smoke from these vehicles is also responsible for air pollution and contain hazardous gases which when inhaled by humans can cause heart diseases, lung diseases and even cancer.

By choosing public transport like buses and metro instead of your car, you reduce the number of vehicles on the road that are burning fuels. As an added bonus, buses run on CNG while the metro trains run on electricity. So by choosing public transport, you reduce the amount of smoke going up in air and the chances of bronchitis and tuberculosis.

You might have to stand if all the seats are filled which is good for you. Sitting or lying down for long hours of the day can lead to health issues and weakness in muscles and joint. By standing you lower chances of diseases like diabetes and increase your lifespan.

Walking

You might think you are saving time by driving to that restaurant which would otherwise be a twenty-minute walk, but you are actually reducing your lifespan thanks to the fuel you turned to smoke.

Other than saving your lungs from your smoke, walking has several health benefits. By walking you maintain body weight, strengthen your bones, muscles and joints, improve your body balance and coordination, and prevent or manage various diseases like diabetes. You can maximise the benefits you reap by walking during low traffic hours like in early morning to get some fresh air in your lungs.

If walking takes too much time for your tastes, you can also cycle over to your destination. If you don’t feel like exercising at all, you can take the rickshaw or e-rickshaw if there are any in your locality.

Ban Smoking

You probably know all the harms of smoking with how much moneyand effort the government puts into anti-smoking campaigns. At the very least, you’ve seen that very graphic warning signs on your cigarette pack. Smoking does not just harm the smoker, it also harms non-smokers standing near them who just happen to inhale some smoke.

As such, smoking can be considered an air pollutant and which you should consider banning from your home or round you to protect yourself and your family from several health problems. Also go for no-smoking zones when going out.

Go Organic

Most fruits, vegetables, beans, grains and other food items available in the market are grown using chemical fertilizers and pesticides which remain in the crops long after they have been harvested. When you eat these fruits, you also ingest the chemicals like ammonia and urea which can cause several health problems including several forms of cancer.

The obvious solution is to not eat food grown using chemicals but those grown using natural methods like using manure for fertilizer. Organic food also contains more nutrients than inorganic food, as the chemicals in them also damage the nutrient content.

By choosing organic food, you are investing in people who grow crops using methods which do not poison the soil, underground water or the natural food chain. Naturally as the demand for organic products will increase, more food manufacturers will turn towards organic farming to meet the increasing demand.

Reduce The Noise

Noise pollution is one of the least talked about but one of the most dangerous forms of pollution. Exposure to loud noises can cause stress, high blood pressure, irritation, deafness, sleeping disorders, loss of consciousness and if loud enough, even death.

The only solution here is to make less of it. The noise you make affects you and those around you negatively. You can do so by using the car horn only when needed, raising volume of TV or radio to the level it is audible but does not annoy neighbors, avoiding crackers and loudspeakers when partying and not doing anything else which would create noise.

You may find yourself in a situation where others are making noise, calm down and try to persuade them. If you can’t persuade them, try calling in authorities who can.

These are only some green steps you can take to prevent pollution and avoid health problems. While some of these steps require entire cities, states or nations to truly make a huge impact, one person is a good start.

You can make the start towards a greener and healthier future by following these tips and encouraging your family and friends to do the same. And who knows, may be the domino effect will make the difference we need and all because you chose to follow!