Air pollution is still a problem in urban areas. However, there are some simple steps you can take to reduce air pollution in cities. Not only protecting yourself, this method can also protect others from the dangers of air pollution.
For those of you who work or live in urban areas, air pollution is not a new thing to encounter. The emergence of air pollution or pollution in urban areas generally comes from vehicle fumes, cigarette smoke, factory waste, dust, and smoke haze from forest fires.
This unhealthy air quality should not be underestimated, because it can cause various health problems, ranging from respiratory problems, eye and skin irritation, lung cancer, to death.
How to Reduce Air Pollution in Cities
There are several ways you can do to reduce air pollution in cities, including:
1. Switch from private vehicles to public transportation
Smoke from private vehicles is one of the main contributors to congestion and air pollution in cities. By switching from private vehicles to public transportation, air pollution due to vehicle fumes can be reduced.
Meanwhile, if your trip does require a private vehicle, make sure the vehicle's engine is in good condition before using it. To find out the performance of the vehicle's engine, you can do an emission test at the nearest workshop.
2. Cycling and walking
Cycling or walking is an easy way to do when you want to travel a short distance. Besides not producing pollution, cycling and walking are also good for body health.
However, you are advised to avoid busy and congested highways or roads when walking or cycling to avoid exposure to vehicle smoke pollution.
3. Don't burn trash
Some people may think that burning garbage can reduce the problem of landfilling. In fact, this bad habit is one of the causes of air pollution.
The smoke from burning waste is harmful to the health of the body because it contains toxic substances.
Exposure to smoke from burning garbage or smog in the long term is known to increase the risk of various health problems, such as respiratory infections, heart and lung disorders, COPD, and cancer.
4. Quitting smoking habits
Cigarette smoke is a source of air pollution that should not be taken lightly. Similar to the smoke from burning garbage, cigarette smoke also contains various types of harmful chemicals that can cause air pollution.
Quitting smoking is not only beneficial for reducing pollution, but also good for protecting yourself and the people around you from various types of diseases caused by cigarette smoke, such as heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, and cancer.
5. Limiting electricity consumption
Most of the electricity in Indonesia is still obtained from power generating machines that use oil or coal, thus creating a lot of smoke and pollution.
Therefore, to reduce air pollution in cities, you can limit the use of electricity to reduce emissions from power plants that cause air pollution.
You can start limiting the use of electricity from small things, such as not using lights during the day and turning off electronic devices when not in use.
6. Keep more plants
If possible, you can also reduce pollution by increasing plants in the house or gardening around the house or doing urban farming. Plants will release oxygen and draw carbon dioxide from the air, so the air in the house and the surrounding environment becomes fresher.
You can try planting several types of ornamental plants that are known to reduce air pollution, such as mother-in-law's tongue, kebo rubber, bamboo palm, and spider plant.
In addition to the 6 ways above, there are many other ways you can reduce air pollution from inside your home, including:
- Limit the use of chemical-based air fresheners.
- Clean the floor regularly using a broom, mop, or vacuum cleaner.
- Clean all furniture and furniture in the house regularly using a damp cloth.
- Avoid using household cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals.
- Use an air filter, such as water purifier or humidifier.
If the simple ways above are done consistently, air pollution in the city will gradually decrease. Thus, the air will come back clean and fresh to breathe.
If you are exposed to air pollution in the city too often and often experience certain complaints, such as a cough that does not go away, headaches, shortness of breath, and runny nose, you should immediately consult a doctor.