How to Prevent Pollution

A significant portion of air pollution occurs in our day-to-day life at home. The vehicles we use, the personal care products we purchase, and the chemicals we use for our lawns and gardens—all of these things contribute to air pollutants and environmental health concerns. By understanding how to prevent air pollution and staying informed about air quality, we can decrease our contribution to pollution and protect public health.

Consumers play a major role when it comes to air pollution levels. In fact, many experts believe that household consumption is one of the top contributors to global air pollution. By being conscious of your water usage, the things you throw away, the vehicles you operate, and your energy consumption at home, you can significantly improve the air quality.  

While many people believe pollution is a widespread issue tied to climate change, taking measures to reduce air pollution exposure in your own home can directly enhance the environmental health of your community.

How to Prevent Air Pollution

A 2015 study showed that consumers are responsible for 60 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, a major contributor to polluted air and climate change.

“If we change our consumption habits, this would have a drastic effect on our environmental footprint as well,” said Diana Ivanova, one of the study’s researchers in an interview with Science Daily. 

How to prevent air pollution often hinges on consumer choices. Even seemingly similar products can vary greatly in their impact on the environment. The way you use products—from your car to lawn and garden chemicals—plays a pivotal role in the levels of pollutants and air pollution exposure in the atmosphere.

Household Products

According to a 2018 study in the journal Science, consumer items— from kitchen cleaners to shampoos—now contribute to urban air pollution as much as all forms of transportation combined. 

While air pollution from vehicles has decreased due to stricter emission standards set by countries around the world, including the United States, there hasn’t been a similar emphasis on regulating pollutants from household items. 

These products contain volatile organic compounds, commonly known as VOCs. When released into the atmosphere, they can lead to the formation of pollutants like ozone, impacting outdoor and indoor air quality.

Comparatively, when you use fossil fuels in your vehicle, a fraction of the VOCs in your gasoline or diesel is emitted into the environment. However, products such as cleaners, paints, hair sprays, and fragrances release a more significant percentage of chemical pollutants. These chemicals also play a role in indoor air pollution within the home.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: When shopping, seek out products labeled as “Low VOC” and make sure they are properly sealed to minimize evaporation. Purchase items with the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Safer Choice” designation. These products, as per the agency’s recommendation, are equivalent to their traditional counterparts, but are more considerate of human health and environmental health. 

Fact: Air pollution levels from industrial items, including paint, and household goods, may be two to three times greater than the official estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Cars and Automobiles

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), highway vehicles released 18.9 million tons of carbon monoxide in 2017. 

These emissions contribute to the formation of greenhouse gasses, including carbon dioxide and ozone, which impact air quality and drive climate change. Moreover, elevated levels of carbon monoxide reduce the oxygen supplied to human organs and tissues. For people with health problems—particularly heart conditions—the health effects can create the need for urgent medical attention.

Vehicles also emit hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter, intensifying outdoor air pollution.

However, the way you operate your vehicle and the type of vehicle you choose to drive can significantly reduce emissions and fuel expenses. 

Consider this: If you drive 15,000 miles annually, and the average price of gas stands is $2.83 per gallon, buying a vehicle that gets 30 miles per gallon over one that gets 20 miles per gallon could save you about $700 per year.

Furthermore, limiting aggressive driving behaviors, like speeding, abrupt acceleration, and sudden braking, can boost your gas mileage by an estimated 10 percent.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Adopting a more efficient driving style or simply driving less can lower the air pollutants you contribute to the environment. Consolidating your home deliveries to arrive on a single day can minimize pollution from delivery vehicles. Keeping your vehicle well-maintained and maintaining proper tire pressure not only improves its efficiency, but also reduces its emission of pollutants, promoting better air quality.

Fact: Cars with better fuel efficiency not only contribute to reducing air pollution levels but can also save you significant amounts annually in fossil fuel expenses.

Lawn Care

Engines in lawn and garden tools are often less efficient than your car’s engine. Despite their compact size, they can significantly contribute to air pollution levels. Even the act of refilling their tanks with gasoline can intensify outdoor air pollution.

While gasoline spills might appear negligible, their cumulative impact can be significant, contributing daily to problems like smog and other forms of air pollution.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Opting for electric lawn mowers and using portable gas containers equipped with automatic sealing and shut-off mechanisms can be effective steps towards ensuring cleaner air and environmentally-conscious lawn maintenance.

Fact: Using a gasoline-powered lawn mower for one hour results in air pollution levels equivalent to driving a vehicle for 300 miles.

Energy 

Your household energy consumption could result in greenhouse gas emissions that are potentially double those produced by your vehicle each year. According to data from the U.S. Department of Energy, 63% of electricity in the United States is generated by burning fossil fuels, directly impacting air pollution and climate change. Enhancing the energy efficiency of your home is an effective way to counteract poor air quality.

One practical approach to curbing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency is by purchasing Energy Star certified appliances. The Energy Star initiative is a collaboration between the EPA, manufacturers, and local governments to certify energy-efficient products. The initiative includes everything from light fixtures to home electronics to advanced industrial machinery.

On average, U.S. households spend $2,000 annually on electric utilities. Purchasing Energy Star products can save consumers roughly 30 percent, translating to a savings of about $575. This prevents the emission of an additional 5,500 pounds of greenhouse gases into our atmosphere.

WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO: Even simple things, like making sure lights are turned off when exiting a room, can have a monumental impact on energy conservation and pollution prevention. One research study from 2014 published in the International Journal of Science and Research estimated that unnecessary lighting consumes two million barrels of oil daily.

Fact: Since 1992, Energy Star and its collaborators have contributed to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by three billion metric tons. This achievement is equivalent to removing 600 million vehicles from the roads, making significant strides in improving air quality and addressing climate change.

How to Reduce Landfill Waste

In 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency revealed that Americans disposed of more than 260 million tons of solid waste, which averages to 4.48 pounds of waste per person daily. Surprisingly, more than half of this waste found its way into landfills.

That same year, a notable 91 million tons of waste was recycled or composted, and an additional 33 million tons were burned for energy production.

Food, paper, and yard clippings accounted for more than 54% of all solid waste in urban areas. A significant portion of this waste could have either been recycled or composted.

Landfills are not just storage for waste; they are a source of air pollution. As organic material decomposes in landfills, it emits landfill gas. This gas is primarily carbon dioxide and methane, with the latter being a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. It’s worth noting that landfills are ranked third in methane production related to human activities in the United States, accounting for roughly 14% of methane emissions in 2016.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Compost organic materials, like food remnants and yard debris. This not only diverts waste from landfills, but also benefits your garden or lawn. Prioritize recycling—don’t just put paper and cans in the recycling bin; purchase products crafted from recycled materials. Opting for reusable items over one-time-use products can also make a difference.

Fact: The Environmental Protection Agency offers guidelines on converting your home’s organic waste into eco-friendly fertilizer.

How to Reduce Water Pollution

Polluted runoff, coupled with storm water, is a significant threat to clean water in the United States. In urbanized areas, the rainwater and melting snow face don’t sink into the ground easily. This water then flows into storm drains, carrying pollutants like oil, dirt, chemicals, and lawn fertilizers directly affecting our lakes, streams, and rivers.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Implementing straightforward measures at home can substantially decrease water pollution. Make sure you pick up pet waste, stop yard waste from entering storm drains, and fix vehicle leaks promptly. This way, you can prevent oil and other contaminants from entering the local water sources during rainstorms. 

Fact: Due to surfaces like pavements and rooftops, one urban block can produce up to five times more stormwater runoff compared to a forested area of equivalent size, leading to challenges in maintaining clean air and water quality in urban environments.

Fertilizer and Pesticide Alternatives

Buying non-toxic alternatives instead of conventional pesticides can reduce water pollution. These pesticides include Roundup and other chemical-based insect repellents. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Plant native plants and flowers. They are naturally resistant to pests, and can attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. Setting up bird and bat houses in your neighborhood can also act as a natural deterrent to harmful insects. One 2018 research estimated that birds eat a half trillion tons of insects annually.

Similar environment-friendly methods can be applied to fertilizers. Nutrients like nitrates and phosphates in these fertilizers can excessively nurture water plants and algae. Phosphorus is often termed the “junk food for algae,” leading to excessive algae growth, which harms fish and other aquatic organisms.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Hire a certified lawn maintenance expert or carefully follow product instructions. Over-fertilization can not only harm plants, but also degrade the quality of groundwater. Leaving grass clippings in the lawn after mowing can act as an organic, sustainable fertilizer. The Peace Corps also offers guidelines on making your own pesticide alternatives using natural ingredients.

Fact: One pound of phosphorus has the potential to create 10,000 pounds of aquatic plants and algae, contributing to water pollution and impacting air quality.

25 Ways to Reduce Environmental Pollution 

Everyday activities can lead to poor air quality, water contamination, and landfill waste, often without our awareness. Consider these steps to improve air quality, protect water sources, and minimize landfill contributions.

Transportation and Car Maintenance

1. Opt for carpooling, public transport, biking, or walking.
2. Combine errands to reduce the number of trips.
3. Plan routes using traffic apps.
4. Avoid idling your car.
5. Maintain regular car check-ups.
6. Ensure tires are properly inflated.
7. Wash cars on the lawn to prevent runoff.
8. Minimize gas spills while refueling.
9. Check gas cans for airtight seals to prevent spills. 

Home Energy and Maintenance

10. Opt for LED lights for energy conservation.
11. Look for appliances with the Energy Star label.
12. Use water-based or solvent-free paints.
13. When painting, prefer brushes and rollers over sprays.
14. Avoid aerosol products.
15. Minimize laundry and dish detergent use to prevent chemical runoff.
16. Use energy-efficient lawn equipment.
17. Choose eco-friendly cleaning products.

Waste Management and Recycling

18. Embrace reusable items: cloth diapers and bags
19. Avoid single-use products.
20. Transition to rechargeable batteries.
21. Think carefully about waste disposal.
22. Never dump motor oil down the drain; recycle it.
23. Purchase a rain barrel to collect and conserve water.
24. Handle spills promptly, especially hazardous ones.
25. Always clean up after your pets.

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