The emergence of Covid-19 contributed to an overall awareness in the importance of healthcare. And when speaking on the topic of health, it is equally important for us to look at the most basic human need of all - air. This is especially true because, in today’s world, we are constantly exposed to poor air quality brought on by the technological strides we have made.
Because human beings are so reliant on air, it does not take a doctor to know that the air quality effects on health are undoubtedly many. We need to start taking a serious look at the air we’re constantly breathing, and to begin caring about what is going through our lungs. Here are five reasons you need to start caring about polluted air:
Poor air quality is killing you
It’s ironic that despite the fact we can’t live without air, poor air quality is actually sending us to early graves.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year. WHO data shows that 9/10 people are breathing air that exceeds WHO guideline limits containing high levels of pollutants. (1)
Even more unfortunate, the poor air quality effects on health aren’t just limited to those of us who are already living our lives, but it kills unborn babies too!
According to a study entitled “Ambient air pollution the risk of stillbirth: A prospective birth cohort study in Wuhan, China”, exposure to air pollution could lead to stillbirth with the risk being highest during the third trimester of pregnancy. (2)
Babies need air too
Poor air quality doesn’t just involve death. According to several studies, even if the unborn child does survive, the child may still suffer as air quality effects on health also involve preterm labour.
A study found a correlation between air pollution and preterm labour. (3) Preterm labour increases other health risks for the child such as low birth weight, underdeveloped lungs in the baby, and death of the baby during or shortly after birth.
Safer indoors? Probably not
Most think that air pollution is confined to the outside. In this age where people are spending more and more time indoors (almost 90%!), many then feel that air pollution will not affect them. They’re wrong.
Some of the common pollutants contributing to the air quality effects on health indoors include radon, smoke, lead dust, carbon monoxide, and mould from damp walls. Biological pollutants, such as pollen, mould, and even cockroaches can also trigger allergic symptoms or breathing problems.
Poor air quality is killing the earth
Polluted air doesn’t just mean dirty air. Polluted air is also the cause of a whole list of other environmental issues such as climate change, ozone depletion, and acid rain.
High levels of carbon dioxide and methane emissions have caused the earth’s atmosphere to be imbalanced. This imbalance is responsible for the greenhouse effect which basically means that the sun’s heat is trapped on our planet. This leads to global temperatures rising and this, in turn, leads to rising sea levels and mass extinction of various species.
Bad air is expensive
While air quality effects on health are obvious, not many realise the economic toll it takes. Because people get sick from poor air quality, they aren’t as productive as they can be and it costs money to get sick people well again. This is true both for our own pockets as well as the government’s at a larger scale.
In order to minimise the air quality effects on health, it is important for everyone to do their part. It is up to us to ensure that all enjoy the fundamental right to good air quality.
Knowing how to keep lungs healthy is important to ensure overall health. Read here to understand 5 things you can do to keep your lungs healthy.
Other than that, pulmonologist Dr Rachel Taliercio from the Cleveland Clinic says that air purifiers do indeed help you keep your lungs healthy.
“By filtering out fine particles, purifiers help clean the air you breathe and lessen the potential negative effects of pollution,” she says.
All you need is a well-functioning air purifier that filters pollutants, viruses, and contaminants. Better yet a portable one like #QuairPlasmaMini, one you can bring with you anywhere, anytime.
This smart air purifier comes with a bonus feature - Bipolar Ionization Technology that is able to emit charged ions into the air that latch onto airborne contaminants and pollutants, and remove them!
As a result, it will neutralize the air, and render out any contaminants and pollutants. Read more about it here.
Sources:
(1) https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1