Reduce Air Pollution (why it matters, and how to do it)
Air pollution is a huge issue worldwide, with Friends of the Earth attributing around 30,000 deaths a year in the UK alone, mostly caused by nitrogen dioxide (that enter the organs via the blood), particulate matter (can trigger lung disease, heart disease and stroke) and ground level ozone (irritates the lungs, eyes, and throat).
England actually has less air pollution than it used to, due to the end of coal mining, and stricter rules for car exhausts and sales of zero VOC paints.
But it’s still a big issue, with most air pollution now from road traffic (and aeroplane emissions if you live nearby). Over 1200 schools in England have neighbourhoods that have double WHO guidelines for nitrogen dioxide (due to parents leaving engines running, while picking up children).
Which Countries Have the Cleanest Air?
Finland has some of the cleanest air in the world (measured at a research station in a National Park) and along with Estonia, Iceland and Australia, is one of the few countries to meet WHO strict air quality guidelines. The reasons given are vast boreal forests, thousands of lakes and strict environmental policies.
Boreal forests are where trees are chopped down to make toilet paper for sale in the UK. Switch to forest-friendly bathroom tissue to save them from deforestation.
London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone
The city of London aims to make the city less polluted, by encouraging people to use more public transport, and charging fees for polluting vehicles.
This is following on from cities like Amsterdam, where the walking and cycling culture has greatly contributed to less air pollution. It also has one of the best public transport systems on earth (you can reach practically anywhere in western Europe within a few hours, from the main train station).
Cities with the Worst Air Pollution
Paradoxically, London is one of them, but it is making inroads with planting 9 million trees (which help to absorb pollutants). Beijing and Delhi also have high air pollution.
Another city with high air pollution is Los Angeles, known for its ‘smog’ at higher temperatures. This city is packed with traffic jams, and the Hollywood film industry promotes excessive consumption, rather than simple living.
Outside the wealthy areas, deforestation and pollution combined with high temperatures is causing wildfires, many people also dying of heatwaves. More needs to be done, to get people out of their cars.
Lessons from Naples (air pollution)
Naples is now so polluted, that living there is akin to smoking packs of cigarettes each day. To counter this, there are now car bans during certain hours and places (which is also safer for people trying to cross the road in this city which has crazy drivers – a reason why many locals pray the Rosary!)
Other measures include prosecuting polluters and even banning street wood-fired pizza ovens. The air pollution is so bad, it’s even affecting pollinators (like bees, who can no longer smell flowers in the city).
Officials are also cracking down on illegal dumping of cars (a fire recently broke out due to combustion of tires, car parts and electric appliances).
We have the same problems here with illegal fly-tipping – report any you see to Fix My Street, so complaints are sent to councils immediately (making them public online, gets them fixed quickly).
A Book to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution
Getting Healthy in Toxic Times is a book by a woman who worked as a junior doctor, then qualified with British Society for Ecological Medicine, which helps people get better, by avoiding environmental toxins.
If you visit a GP with asthma, few will look at traffic pollution or indoor toxic chemicals, but often they may be the cause. Learn about chemicals in soil to electro-magnetic energy, and learn how the constant use of mobile phones and laptops can create allergies, infertility, heart disease, cancer and neurological disorders. Then learn what to do to prevent risk.
Read more on no-dig gardening and humane slug/snail deterrents. If you live with animal friends, read up on pet-friendly gardens (some recommended flowers and fruit trees are not safe). Also avoid netting to protect food (just leave some for wildlife!)
Avoid facing indoor plants to outside gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
There is now evidence that many cases of Parkinson’s disease are due to pesticides from garden chemicals (one of concern is banned in the UK yet still exported to other countries that have not banned it – bringing profits for business, but sending a cause of an incurable disease elsewhere).
