Every human inhales approximately ten thousand litres of air every day. The lungs, due to their continuity with the outside environment, are exposed to a plethora of pollutants and infecting organisms. But let’s face it, even if you know it’s a bad air day, you probably need to grab some sunshine, get in an outdoor run, or get to work.
Though regular exercise, healthy diet and avoidance of smoking are the most important measures for the general public to keep their lungs healthy, here’s more that you can do to breathe fresh air indoors and outdoors:
Wear a cycle mask
One of the best ways to avoid breathing in too much pollution while on your bike is to use a cycle mask. Make sure you use it according to the manufacturer’s instructions and that it fits properly. Unfortunately, they don’t work well with beards and can make the wearer’s face quite warm.
Stand back from the road
Even a distance of just a few feet can make a difference when it comes to how much pollution you breathe in. Walking on the other side of the pavement to the kerb and standing back from the road when you’re waiting to cross or waiting for the bus can have a beneficial effect.
This is particularly worth remembering when going out with children, as they’re closer to car exhaust level and tend to breathe deeper than adults.
Squeaky clean environment
As homes and offices are important places where in people spend their majority of time, keeping them clean is imperative to staying and breathing pure air. Staying ahead of dust and dust mites can dramatically improve the air quality you breathe on an everyday basis.
Buy an air purifier—and keep it clean
Air purifiers are a staple in many urban homes. Although it might seem counterintuitive, it’s a good idea to turn off your air purifiers regularly to air out your home. Choose a day of low pollution and then open the windows one room at a time for at least 10 minutes, before sealing them shut and switching those purifiers back on. Doing so will allow stale air from the previous day out and allow relatively clean air back in.
Plant trees outside your house
Research shows planting trees outside your house helps shield it from pollution. As well as helping the atmosphere by converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, trees absorb air pollution and, when planted outside your house, block some of the pollution. A test carried out by the BBC found trees reduced the level of particulate matter reaching homes by 50-60% over two weeks.