Air Pollution and Life Expectancy

The very air you breathe could be lowering your life expectancy. According to a study by the U.K. government, air pollution can lower life expectancy by seven to eight months in the general population. In people who are exposed to the worst pollution and are especially sensitive, that reduction could jump up to 9 years. That's a huge amount -- almost as much as the life expectancy reduction from smoking cigarettes daily. Just think, if the average life expectancy is around 78 years, then a nine-year loss due to air pollution represents an 11.5% reduction.

The American Lung Association estimates that 164 million U.S. citizens breathe air that is unhealthy. But when you really start to think about it, most of the air you breathe, you breathe indoors. By taking action to avoid the outdoors on low air quality days and by taking steps in your home to improve the air, you can be breathing healthier air in no time.

Protect Yourself from Air Pollution

When I read articles about protecting yourself from air pollution, they often start out with some quite useless advice, such as, "Don't live in an urban area." I don't know about you, but I really can't just move my whole family right now in order to get some cleaner air. I'm going to assume that you are in the same boat. So here are some more practical things to do to avoid loss of life expectancy due to air pollution:

• Crack a Window: Air pollution isn't just about the air outside your home. The air inside can become filled with dangerous gases, such as radon. Airing out your home (especially your bedroom, where you spend the most time) can keep those chemicals from building up.


• Maintain Your Filters and Air Conditioner/Heater: Be sure to have annual maintenance performed on your air conditioner and/or heater, and change the filters in your house at least every quarter to assure that you are removing as many particles from the air in your house as possible.


• Test for Radon: A simple test can tell you if there is a build-up of this dangerous gas in your house. Order a test kit today.


• Use Houseplants: Houseplants are nature's air filter. Have them all over your house, especially in the bedroom.


• Monitor Outdoor Air Quality: Time your outdoor activities to periods when the air quality is at it's best.

_Sources:

_{American Lung Association. Indoor Air Quality. http://www.alaw.org/air_quality/indoor_air_quality/}

_{U.K. Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2010}