Clean Air

By Diane Forrest 

I recently had to take a trip by airplane.  It was not a planned trip, and I was very nervous, not one who has flown before.  As I sat in my seat thinking about crashing and ducks flying into the engine, the biggest thought I had was the air that was blowing down on me from the blowhole.  I thought about the air recirculating around the plane, and all the passengers on board, and what conditions they had that they were breathing into the air too.  Well, I don't know about the filtration system on an airplane, I do know that by the time I got home I was suffering from a cold.  Something I didn't have when I left home, and something I have been fighting with using Vitamin C since I got home.

Having clean air to breathe is just a basic necessity of life.  In nursing school we learned about Maslow, and his hierarchy of needs.  Top on the list is Air, food and water.  If you don't have these things, nothing else matters.

June has been designated 'Clean Air Month' by the American Lung Association. The aim this month is to raise awareness on how low quality air can affect our health and the way we live our lives.  While we spend a major portion of our time inside, we also need to think about the pollution outside as well.  There are many states that regulate fumes from your car, Emission tests and such; also Congress regulates pollution caused by factories and what they are putting in our air.  In our homes we can use air filters to help remove pollutants, and many cities are promoting no smoking in public areas.  This month is Clean Air Month.  For more ways on how to improve your air visit the American Lung Association for more ideas.   http://www.lung.org/healthy-air/

(Images from Google) 

Clean Air Month

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

When I first moved to Natchez, there was a terrible smell in the air.  It smelled like rotten eggs.  I came to find out that the smell was coming from the Paper Mill.  You could smell it from miles around, and every time a visitor would ask "What's that smell?” the home folks would reply, "That's the smell of money!"  While it was true the paper mill supplied many jobs to the area, and filtered alot of money through the community, the pollution it put out was damaging too many people's health.  The paper mill shut down several years ago, but people here still remember that awful smell.

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A friend of mine has very bad allergies.  They cause him to sneeze uncontrollably, and his nose stays red from blowing.  He thinks the solution to his problem is to empty out his room, clean, paint and install an air cleaner.  Start over all fresh and new.  I'm not sure if that will help his allergies, but once his job is complete I will see how effective it is.  My husband had a very sensitive nose, could smell anything from a mile away.  I guess that's why I have 4 air cleaners in my home.  2 in one room!

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This is clean air month.  Clean air, is air which has a natural balance of gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Clean air does not contain pollutants or allergens. Clean air does not harm the environment, nor is it a cause or trigger of health problems.

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Poor quality air can harm the environment and can affect us all. Toxic air pollution is linked to serious conditions such as cancer and chronic bronchitis. Air pollution can exacerbate pre-existing conditions such as asthma.  Air pollution can also harm the environment. The burning of fossil fuels (often for transport or electricity generation) releases high levels of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere. These gases react with other gases and water to create rain which is acidic.

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Ways you can participate include using your car less, and walking or riding a bike more.  Not only is it good for the air, but also good for your body too.  Limit use of aerosol spray cans and don't douse yourself in cologne or perfume.   I know a couple who have worn their perfume for so long, they can no longer smell it, so they put more and more on.  When I worked in the hospital we were encouraged not to apply perfume as it may be irritating to some patients.  One of my personal biggest causes of air pollution is my cooking.  My husband used to say he knew when supper was ready when the smoke detector went off.  So I have decided to do my part this month and cook as little as possible!

What things can you do to cut down on air pollution and help clean the air?