What is air pollution?

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2 What is air pollution? An air pollutant is any substance in the air that could harm people. The main pollutants to affect us are carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ground level ozone, particulates, sulphur dioxide, hydrocarbons and lead. Some are more harmful than others. Each has different health effects which is why it is important to try and control the amount of air pollution we produce. Air pollution causes long-term health issues and debilitating diseases. The amount of pollution depends on the weather, location, time of day, season, etc. For example, it s harder for pollution to disperse during still, sunny weather in summer and still, foggy weather in winter. This means the pollution becomes more concentrated causing a high pollution episode. Different areas of the UK have different levels of air pollution. High concentrations can be found in most UK towns and cities where the main source of air pollution is road transport. Other sources include burning fuel in houses for heating or cooking, agriculture and emissions from power generation. In the UK as a whole, air pollution nationally has been generally dropping (except from ammonia from farming). But despite the overall fall, many big UK cities exceed the safe limits.

3 When are you most likely to be affected by air pollution? The morning rush hour is often one of the worst times for traffic pollution. There s often a second, but smaller peak in the afternoon and evening. Traffic pollution is lower on Saturdays and Sundays compared to weekdays. Who is most affected? Although everyone is impacted by air pollution, it has a particular impact on young children, the elderly, asthmatics and those with existing lung or heart conditions. The health problems resulting from exposure to air pollution have a high cost to people who suffer from illness, to our health services and to businesses. In the UK these costs add up to more than 20 billion every year. How do I find out about air pollution levels? The UK-air website produces a daily air pollution forecast with a postcode finder service to monitor air pollution levels in your area. You can also get air pollution updates on Twitter feed

4 What type of things can be done to lower your exposure to air pollution? In general, everyone who is able to should try to reduce their contribution to air pollution by walking or cycling rather than taking a car, particularly for short trips. This will reduce emissions and keep you active too. Avoid main roads and take lower traffic routes when on foot or riding a bike Using quieter streets can reduce exposure to pollution by 20%! You could also consider using public transport or sharing a car. You can make it safer for yourself by avoiding busy main roads when walking. Be physically active. The benefits of exercise outweigh the harm from air pollution you may be exposed to. If you know pollution is high, try to avoid energetic outdoor activities especially if you have a lung or heart condition. High pollution days typically occur only 10 to 20 days a year. If you suffer from asthma always ensure you have medication to hand. Blocking out pollution helps such as closing windows in buildings that face busy roads to prevent indoor pollution.

5 What can car drivers do? Diesel and petrol vehicles create pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. The friction of brakes and tyres on the road also creates particulate matter. Most diesel vehicles create much higher levels of these pollutants than petrol vehicles. Idling cars (stationary, but with the engine still running) are a major cause of air pollution near schools. Switching the engine off when parked or waiting can reduce air pollution between 20 and 30%. Many cars have a stop/start function these days. When driving in heavy traffic, use the recycled-air setting on your fan so your car doesn t suck in harmful fumes. Try to avoid sitting in a vehicle in heavy traffic as air pollution can build up inside vehicles. An experiment found that a car driver was exposed to twice as much pollution as a pedestrian and nine times as much pollution as a cyclist travelling the same journey at the same time of day. Two thirds of all UK car journeys are under 5 miles - by leaving your car at home, you are helping reduce air pollution for everyone. If you re considering buying a car, look at its nitrogen dioxide emissions and check the real-world emissions for that car. Avoid buying diesel cars. Buying a hybrid or electric vehicle will also help to cut down your emissions. In the past 4 years, the number of registered electric cars in the UK rose from 3,500 in 2013 to almost 95,000 by the end of March 2017.

6 More things YOU can do Walk to school Walk on the inside of the pavement and avoid walking near the kerb. Stay as far away from exhaust fumes as you can. The best time to exercise is first thing in the morning, before the day s traffic affects air quality. Try to exercise in green leafy spaces like parks. It will make a big difference joggers inhale more pollution than those walking the same distance. When stuck in traffic, close car windows and turn on the recirculation button to stop some pollution entering the vehicle. Travel outside rush hour to avoid peaks in pollution caused by traffic jams. Eating a healthy diet reduces the risk of developing health problems (e.g. heart disease) that are made worse by air pollution. Numerous studies have also shown how vitamins and omega 3 can reduce the damage pollution particles cause in our bodies. Sources: