Thursday, March 28, 2024

Common Outdoor Polluting Factors and How to Protect Yourself

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If you find yourself spending too much time outdoors, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the top outdoor polluting factors and how to protect yourself from them.

These pollutants may not be as harmful to your health as air pollution indoors or in your car, but they’re still potential threats that you need to be aware of and prepare yourself against.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the top three outdoor polluting factors and how you can prevent their negative effects on your health and well-being.

Particulate Matter

Along with lung-irritating ozone, particulate matter is a common outdoor pollutant. And that’s a problem. When breathed in, these minuscule particles can get lodged deep in your lungs and cause long-term health issues like asthma and heart disease.

The size of PM particles also matters—bigger particles are easier to inhale than tiny ones, so it’s important to avoid getting any PM into your system.

So how can you protect yourself against these pollutants? First and foremost, try to limit your exposure to them.

Avoid traveling during rush hour, stay indoors when pollution levels are at their highest and close your windows on particularly bad days. If you have a respiratory condition or any other sort of health condition that’s aggravated by PM, it’s also a good idea to invest in an air purifier for your home—not only will it improve your indoor air quality, but it may also help with allergy symptoms or cold-like illnesses.

Carbon Monoxide

This deadly gas can be produced by combustion engines, such as vehicles, construction equipment, and certain industrial processes. It is odorless and colorless. Because it’s odorless, carbon monoxide can be dangerous to your health if you breathe it in.

Carbon monoxide also combines with hemoglobin (in red blood cells) more easily than oxygen does, so it crowds out oxygen from your body tissues when you breathe in carbon monoxide. It reduces your blood’s ability to deliver life-giving oxygen to your organs, tissues, and cells.

Additionally, high levels of carbon monoxide may have an even worse effect on unborn babies and young children than adults because their bodies are still developing. Protect yourself against carbon monoxide by avoiding unnecessary car idling, using generators outside, and keeping your vehicle’s exhaust system in good condition.

Nitrogen Dioxide

While nitrogen dioxide is present in vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions, it’s most prominent as a pollutant in cities.

Often described as smelling like sulfur or burnt matches, NO2 becomes very dangerous at high concentrations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that adults do not spend more than 15 minutes per day breathing air with high levels of NO2, while children should not be exposed at all.

If you find yourself living near a major roadway or industrial zone, don’t make it a habit to hang out outside. Taking frequent breaks inside and opening windows if you can are also good ways to avoid prolonged exposure when possible.

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