By Paola Velasco
Clean air is important for health and for our daily lives, and air pollution is the greatest environmental risk to human health. It is one of the leading causes of death and disease worldwide, yet it is largely preventable. Air pollution disproportionately affects women, children, and the elderly, and negatively affects ecosystems and all living things.
We all know that improving air quality can help reduce the consequences of climate change. Driven by the growing interest around the world in clean air, and to raise awareness of the need for greater efforts to improve air quality, including reducing air pollution, the United Nations General Assembly designated the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies in 2019. This year it falls on September 7.
Outdoor and indoor air pollution are responsible for an estimated 6.5 million premature deaths worldwide: indoors, from cooking and heating practices using wood, kerosene, and coal; and outdoors from cars and all means of transportation that run on gasoline or diesel with heavy pollutants, in addition to practices such as burning garbage, grasslands, plastics, and tires. Factories are another big contributor to pollution.
If not acted upon in a timely manner, the number of deaths from air pollution is set to increase by more 50 percent before 2050 over the current levels.
Air pollution in large cities is a global problem with far-reaching repercussions due to its rapid spread. Locally, San Miguel de Allende’s sky has become increasingly polluted due to the city’s significant growth in recent years.
What can we do to keep the air in our city clean? In our own homes, we can contribute to better air quality. The following are some recommendations:
1. Ventilate your living space; open doors and windows every day.
2. Have houseplants; they are our best allies to clean the air in our homes.
3. Control humidity and mold on walls, furniture, and so forth.
4. Do not use toxic cleaning products.
5. Do not burn garbage.
6. If you must smoke, do not smoke indoors or near children, pregnant women, or the elderly.
7. Plant and care for all the trees you can in your lifetime.
Reference: un.org
