Delhi-NCR is covered under a thick layer of smog, leading to massive health hazard for everyone. However, elderly people and kids are at more risk due to this toxic air. Since air pollution is reaching alarming levels (severe air quality), we should try to reduce our exposure and increase protection to avoid ill effects of Air Pollution.
How to increase protection against pollution:
1. While riding a bike or walking outdoors, wear a good quality of N95/99 mask (Venus/3M masks) are really good; Try to cover your face with a mask or with a piece of cloth.
2. When you start the car, open your windows and recirculate indoor air to outdoor air for two minutes; it will help in dilution of CO concentrations. CO is more dangerous and can cause fatal consequences. Also, run your car's air conditioner for some time in indoor circulation. Each car has AC filters which reduce PM 2.5 substantially.
3. If possible use air purifiers at home (only with Hepa, carbon & pre Filter); especially in the kids' or elderlies room, or those who have respiratory problems and pregnant ladies.
4. Ventilate your house between 3 PM to 5 PM every day as this is the best time during the day where PM2.5 levels are lowest on a bright sunny day.
Check out the live updates on Smog in Delhi
5. Sprinkle water on your premises /on road to settle down the pollutants.
6. Increase intake of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene; it will help in increasing immunity.
7. Eat jaggery to flush out pollutants from lungs; simply replace your processed sugar with jaggery in all your preparation or consume jaggery as it is.
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Following are the ways to reduce your exposure to the toxic air:
1, Suspend all your outdoor activities during the early morning hours like running, jogging, cycling, gym and other sports. Yoga and other activities can be shifted to evening hours or can be practiced indoors.
2. Don’t send your kids (less than 7-year-old) to school if Air Quality Index (AQI) is higher than 350; ask schools to suspend all outdoor movement and allow kids to move out in afternoon hours only.
3. Avoid burning anything in open or if someone is doing please raise an alarm or inform CPCB on their website.
4. Do not sweep/mop in morning hours, it will re-suspend all settled particles in the air. It is better to use wet mopping with warm water and add a pinch of baking soda in it.
5. Walking directly on the main road will lead to higher exposure so better walk on side lanes/footpaths.
6. Try to avoid the use of incense sticks and swap its use with a ghee lamp.
Image Credit: Fantoosy.com
Contributed by
Sachin Panwar & Lea C Kehr
(Forum for Air Quality-INDIA)
(Indian Pollution Control Association)
(Society for Indoor Environment)
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