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Air pollution is an epidemic that is growing all over the world. The quality of the air we breathe is getting worse every day. A study conducted by WHO says that 9 out of 10 people inhale contaminated air daily, and somewhere around 7 million people die annually because of health complications caused by air pollution.
In India, a report published by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) revealed that 12,40,000 people died in the year of 2017, because of ill effects of air pollution. The quality of air is decreasing day-by-day, and if we don’t act now, the day of airpocalypse is not far from us. Every human soul on earth can make a change; you only need to realize your real value, which is far above your paycheque. You can be a difference that might save our environment and make the world a better place.
Ways To Reduce Air Pollution
There are many things that you do in your day-to-day life that might affect our environment in a good or in a bad way. A small change can make a significant difference in reducing air pollution in our country. Start with the following changes:
1. Carpooling
It will not only reduce air pollution caused by fumes emitted by your vehicles but will also reduce traffic. It would help if you took the initiative and carpool with friends, family, and colleagues.
2. Stop Burning Waste
One of the primary causes of rising air pollution in our country, especially in the Delhi NCR region, is because of the burning of garbage, old leaves, and tires. It should be made a punishable offense to burn waste material. The government should generate helpline numbers and emails so that people can report such incidents.
3. Solar Power
Solar panels should be installed in every household, multi-story buildings, and offices. This will reduce the production of electricity via coal-based thermal power plants, which is adversely affecting our environment.
4. CNG Is Your Friend
Encourage CNG in motor vehicles as it is much cleaner fuel than petrol and diesel.
5. Recycle, Reuse, And Reduce
Avoid using plastic bags and try to reuse paper bags.
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The things mentioned above will surely reduce air pollution in a region, but we are dealing with a severe form of air pollution that have been pilled over the years. So, for sure, it will take some time. So, what to do? You can’t inhale such impure air as it will harm your body.
An air pollution mask will help you to breathe clean and fresh air. However, there are many masks, so what to choose from? No worries the following list will help you select the perfect mask for yourself:
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N95 Mask
N95 is a primary type of air pollution mask that filters 95% of air pollutants. This type of mask filters out mostly PM2.5 and other oil-based contaminants. While shopping for an N95 air mask, you should buy a mask that has a separate air valve or passage for the air to pass through while you exhale. Buying such an N95 mask will prevent moisture and excessive fogging near the eyes and nose-bridge.
Price range: Rs. 90 – Rs. 150
Reusability: Can be used 2 – 3 times
Cambridge Mask
Comes with a military-grade filtration technology; Cambridge Masks are respirators that filter out gases (benzene and formaldehyde), particulate pollution (PM 2.5), as well as bacteria and viruses. It is a fashionable mask, which is suitable for the whole family. It is best suited for cyclists and people living in urban areas with high air pollution, such as India.
Price range: Rs. 1,700 – Rs. 2,300
Reusability: 90 – 340 hours
N99 And N100 Pollution Masks
N99 and N100 pollution masks have the capability of filtering particles such as PM2.5 upto99% and 99.7% efficiency. However, these masks will not provide you resistance against oil-based pollutants. Finding N100 masks is much harder, and if you want one, you may have to go to an industrial supplier.
Price range: Rs. 1,800 – Rs. 2,800
Reusability: washable, can be used for 4 – 5 months
Totobobo Mask
Totobobo masks are unique because of their heat molding solution. It’s a high-tech anti-pollution mask that is hard to find. It fits you best because of its elastic strap; it takes the shape of your face.
Price range: Rs. 2,000 – Rs. 2,500
Reusability: Can be reused
You can protect yourself with the help of masks, but these masks will cover you to an extent only. That’s why it is advisable to buy a health insurance policy to ensure all-round protection.
Source
1. https://www.who.int/airpollution/data/cities/en/
2. https://www.icmr.nic.in
3. https://gadgets.ndtv.com/others/features/n95-n99-best-air-pollution-masks-in-india-1622269
ARN:- 17102019/KC25
