How Does Your Lifestyle Affect Your Pollution Exposure?

According to official government figures, over 85% of Britons are exposed to dangerously high levels of air pollution over the course of a year. Moreover, an estimated 40,000 people are killed by poor air quality in the UK on an annual basis. Clearly, air pollution is a pressing issue requiring immediate attention.

But aside from the introduction of an Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and the phasing out of more polluting diesel engines, what can we do on an individual level to limit our exposure to harmful contaminants? Making small changes to our lifestyles can drastically alter the quality of the air we breathe – here are a few handy hints on how to minimise your own pollution exposure.

Outdoor pollution

Obviously, urban metropolises are prone to higher concentrations of harmful pollutants such as particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and other nitrogen oxides (NOx). While it may be impossible to move to a more tranquil part of town with cleaner air, there are things that can be done to avoid inhaling dangerous concentrations of these substances.

For example, the daily commute is an integral part of all our lives, but it can also be the most damaging in terms of air quality. You might think that walking or cycling would expose you to higher levels of contaminants than sitting inside your car, but such a supposition would actually be way off the mark.

“Travelling in a car is like being trapped in a pollution box. When you are sitting in traffic anywhere — not just in London — you’re likely to be sitting right behind the exhaust of the vehicle in front of you,” explains Dr Ben Barratt, who lectures on air quality at King’s College London. “The inlet for your air vent is right next to that belching exhaust pipe — and the fumes from other cars are literally being sucked into yours.”

What’s more, constantly decelerating and accelerating (when stopping at traffic lights or navigating speed bumps, for example) has been proven to double the amount of emissions a vehicle can produce. Therefore, it’s advisable to walk or cycle if at all possible – but if you really must drive, maintaining a steady speed is your best course of action.

Indoor pollution

While many of us may immediately associate poor air quality with outdoor emissions from industrial smokestacks and car exhausts, it might be a surprise that indoor air pollution can be up to three times more noxious than that on the streets. That’s because as a contained space, once pollution finds its way into the home’s interior, it’s very hard for it to escape.

The main sources of indoor air pollution include air fresheners, cleaning products, wood-burning stoves and gas cookers. Obviously, avoiding the use of heavy-duty chemicals wherever possible will minimise concentrations of contaminants in the home, while turning on extractor fans during cooking is also beneficial.

Moreover, opening windows is key to improving ventilation, especially during or after a period of rainfall as the moisture in the air can help to disperse harmful particles. Finally, there is a significant body of study that has shown that plants can combat air pollution and improve residents' health, as well.

Combining a mixture of these approaches can limit your exposure to pollution and thus reduce the risk of contracting any number of health complications, improving your quality of life in the long run.