Impact of air pollution on human health
Although they remain mostly imperceptible to our eyesight, they have a negative impact on health, quality of life, as well as climate, soil or water. The issue is, of course, air pollution, which we deal with every day. Their global nature directly affects everyone. However, the strongest effects are felt by children and the elderly - especially those living in large cities. You have probably heard about the emission of harmful substances into the air more than once. Do you know where they come from and what effect air pollutants have on human health?
Air pollutants - what are they and how are they created?
They used to come from natural sources - today they are mainly the result of human activity. Air pollutants have accompanied our planet since time immemorial. Initially, they were caused by substances released during volcanic eruptions, forest fires or the decomposition of organic materials. The development of industry and motorization, and the resulting increase in the demand for energy generated from fossil fuels, has contributed to a global increase in emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere.
Domestic hearths and local boiler plants are also finding their share in generating harmful emissions. During the winter season, these are some of the main sources of pollution, especially due to the use of low-quality heating fuels, leading to the formation of smog. Nevertheless, it is important to consciously and responsibly choose the transportation we use every day. That is why it is becoming so important to use public transportation, or to choose a bicycle instead of an internal combustion car.
However, did you know that plastics that accumulate in the environment, gradually breaking down into smaller elements, lead to degradation of soil, water and air pollution, which also has a significant impact on our health?
The 600 ml I-water ionizing and mineralizing bottle is an ideal alternative to water sold in plastic and disposable bottles that emit microplastics into the soil and air. Made entirely of environmentally friendly materials - it also has carbon present in the filter to purify the water from impurities and chemical compounds.
How does air pollution affect your health?
Air pollution is an invisible enemy of both our planet and ourselves. It becomes especially troublesome in winter, but this does not mean that it leaves us in summer, as its presence accompanies us with varying degrees of severity throughout the year. The most dangerous effects are, first of all , dust in the air and smog hovering over the city, posing a particular threat to children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people struggling with chronic respiratory and circulatory diseases.
The impact of air pollution on human health is most often manifested precisely by changes in the respiratory system. Wheezing and heavy breathing, coughing attacks, asthma, as well as bronchitis and pneumonia are the first of the signs that appear during daily contact with harmful emissions. However, the effects can be as invisible at first glance as the presence of pollutants in the environment. The accumulation of toxic substances in the body can also damage organs, lower resistance to infection or contribute to a problem with oxygen absorption in the blood.
Diseases caused by air pollution
Smog negatively affects many aspects of the human body's daily functioning, and diseases caused by air pollution are affecting an increasing number of people. Among the most serious ailments appear such conditions as:
- heart disease - myocardial infarction, hypertension, arrhythmias, myocardial failure and ischemic heart disease;
- respiratory diseases - airways, exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
- cancer diseases;
- problems with memory, attention, chronic fatigue and mental deterioration.
Smog - how can you protect yourself from it?
Knowing how air pollution affects human health, you are probably wondering if there is a way to minimize its impact on your body and that of your loved ones. The global scale of emissions of harmful particles does not allow us to completely cut ourselves off from their presence in the environment, but fortunately there are ways to reduce the impact of air pollution on health.
The simplest solution to reduce the negative effects of polluted air on the body is to avoid places where dangerous substances are emitted. The center is the most polluted area of the city, due to the large number of internal combustion vehicles, factories and coal-fired stoves. It's a good idea to monitor through apps and websites for alerts warning of poor air quality, and if you have the option - stay home for that time. When going out to work, shopping or to fulfill obligations that force us to leave the apartment, you can use appropriate masks with filters, and use air purifiers at home. It is also worth supporting your body with diets rich in spinach, kale or lettuce, which have chlorophyll that removes heavy metals from the body.
A reusable protective mask made of two layers of 100% cotton protects very well against the entry into our body of urban dust, dust or other fine, but extremely harmful substances.
Countering air pollution - what can you do to minimize the negative impact on the environment?
As individuals, do we have the power to reduce emissions of harmful substances into the air? Protecting our bodies from smog is as important as addressing the sources of pollution-related diseases themselves. Caring for the environment is a global issue, so each of us should make our own contribution to caring for the planet. However, responsible and sustainable actions can only happen if we are aware of them. So what can you do for the planet to reduce harmful emissions and the impact of air pollution on human health?
Everyday actions matter most. Choosing public transportation, walking short distances and reaching for a bicycle instead of a car more often are the first steps toward a greener lifestyle. Avoiding burning garbage in the stove, lowering the temperature in your home by one degree and replacing traditional light bulbs with energy-efficient ones will also help you reduce emissions. And don't forget to turn off unused electrical appliances and choose the most energy-efficient appliances! By acting in this way, we can contribute to protecting not only nature and our planet, but also to reducing the impact of environmental pollution on the health and lives of future generations.
Biodegradable alternatives for environmental protection
Make consciously responsible decisions! The choice of products we use today in our daily lives has a huge impact on the state of our planet decades from now. Choosing an assortment of products created from natural materials, whose biodegradation does not negatively affect the environment and people, is possible thanks to ecological wholesaler SlowPack.
Restaurant and bar owners, but also every single person who cares about a sustainable approach to shopping, can comprehensively stock eco-friendly items there, give up plastic products and positively influence the environment and the common future.
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of both ecology and health-oriented solutions. Plastic and disposable utensils, as well as packaging made from oil or gas, contain numerous harmful chemicals that seep into both our food and beverages, as well as soil and groundwater. Green solutions are therefore also a positive image for the company - by demonstrating social responsibility, we build trust among customers.
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Ecological fashion for everyone, or three eco trends worth knowing