New Study: Extreme Air Pollution Causes 2-Year Reduction in Life Span

A new study conducted by the International Energy Agency has found a startling new figure in relation to the effect of extreme air pollution on life span. The research, which focused on populations in India and China, found that the extreme air pollution in those two countries could reduce the average life span of a citizen by as much as two years.

 

  Why Extreme Air Pollution Kills

 

Not all air pollution is created equal, and it is therefore impossible to make a single broad statement as to the reason that every form is harmful. In China and India, however, the general reality is that air pollution is created by industrial facilities, many of which utilize coal for power (a practice that was also common during the Industrial Revolution in Western countries). As a result, coal-derived chemical compounds, including some that are known to be carcinogenic, begin to flood the air in the most densely populated Chinese and Indian cities. The results, as the recent study showed, can be shocking.

 

The worst part, however, is that air pollution doesn’t have to go to such extremes in order to negatively impact human health. In fact, any industrial air pollution is bad for the upper respiratory system (and, in the cases of some forms of pollution, the heart and cardiovascular system). Though more moderate pollution does not carry with it the massive reduction in life span that we can currently see in the industrialized parts of China and India, it is nonetheless something that should be avoided and controlled as much as possible.

 

  What Can be Done?

 

Whether you live in one of China’s most heavily polluted cities or in an industrial town in the Midwestern United States, the preventative steps for air pollution exposure are basically the same. Unfortunately, there is little that any one person can do about pollution in outdoor air. When it comes to the air inside your home or office, however, you have much more control. Making use of a small to medium capacity residential air purifier in the home can help to keep you from being exposed to harmful chemicals and compounds in the air throughout your day. If possible, using a similar unit at work (for those who work inside and have some leeway to add such things to their office environment) can help to further limit exposure.

 

If you deal with only moderate air pollution, a HEPA air purifier will probably be sufficient to meet your needs. However, if you live in the vicinity of a heavy industrial facility or in a part of the world with fewer air pollution regulations than the US or Europe, it is best to use a combination HEPA/Vocarb unit. These purifiers will remove both particulate matter and gaseous compounds in the air, leaving it as clean as possible to allow you to breathe easily.

 

  Conclusion

 

If you have questions about using a high-quality indoor air purifier to limit your pollution exposure, please feel free to contact us for advice and the best air purifier recommendations based on your unique needs. If you do live in China, don”t forget that we can also ship many of our top-quality air purifiers to China in order to help you protect yourself and your family from dangerous and extreme air pollution.