Cutting air pollution can add years to your life

Reducing air pollution really is a matter of life and death, says Midlands green energy expert Ron Fox.

He was commenting on a worldwide air quality study which showed improving our environment could add years to our lives.

The Chinese government launched a war on pollution to clean up its smog-ridden skies in 2014 after environmental protests in the country.

They improved the environment, restricted car use in the capital, Beijing, and ordered coal power stations to switch to natural gas.

“The Chinese figures are very impressive in those ten years,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science and Innovation Park.

“These policies cut air pollution by 41 per cent and extended the life expectancy of China’s 1.4 billion people by an average of two years and the residents of Beijing by 3.9 years, according to researchers at the University of Chicago in the USA.”

Last year air pollution levels worldwide fell by 9 per cent in South Asia, the world’s most polluted region, but this was mainly due to the wetter weather.

However, researchers point out that if countries reduced their air pollution to the level recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) it would add 1.9 years to life expectancy worldwide.

Researchers said in a small number of countries air pollution is cutting people’s lives by around six years.

Even in Britain meeting the WHO’s recommended limit would add 0.3 years to everyone’s life expectancy. In the UK people are exposed to about 8.3 micrograms of air pollutants per cubic metre of air, far lower than the global average of 24.2 micrograms, but higher than the WHO recommended level of 5 micograms.

Ron pointed out that big problems still remain with the biggest threat to human health coming from the particles being pumped into the atmosphere every day by car exhausts and power stations.

These increase the risk of respiratory infections, strokes, heart disease and lung cancer which can knock many years off a person’s life expectancy.

He said there were many simple things people could do to reduce air pollution in the home and the office, such as buying an air purifier, changing the bedding regularly, vacuuming often, and avoiding smoking inside, lighting candles and burning wood. Also, people should open the windows when cooking or using green or eco-friendly cleaning products. Good ventilation and using exhaust fans or dehumidifiers will also help the stop the build-up of mould and damp in kitchens and bathrooms.

Even certain indoor plants such as chrysanthemums, spider plants, snake plants, and aloe vera have been shown to act as air fresheners.

For a more long-term plan, call in an expert firm to carry out a complete indoor air quality testing. Also, look at green heating solutions to provide a perfect temperature control and to purify the air in the buildings and with technology today there are even pollution eating roof tiles.

For more details about how to test the air quality of your home and to invest in green energy call Ron on 0845 474 6641 or go to www.noreus.co.uk

Caption: To help add years to their lives people should cut the pollution in their home which should include opening the windows when cooking or using green or eco-friendly cleaning products.