By Emma Sturgis
City lifeis a popular choice for many people, due to most urban locations’ proximity to work opportunities and recreational venues. However, urban environments are often the most polluted areas on Earth and, as a result, can be severely damaging to human health. Though most people are faced the dangers of air and water pollution in urban areas, there are several ways to stay healthy and combat these toxins.
Surround Yourself with Plants
Plants release oxygen and take in carbon monoxide, providing those around them with significant amounts of clean oxygen. There are several types of house plants that absorb additional toxins in the air—these are often labeled in nurseries at “air purifying” plants. Planting a variety of these in your home or apartment can greatly improve your indoor air quality. A few particularly effective houseplantsthat can combat city pollution are palm trees, rubber plants, and Boston ferns. These are all hardy, aesthetically pleasing plants that will provide both their decorative form and healthy function to your home:
Filter it Out
Pollution comes in a variety of health-deteriorating forms. An urban environment may require additional means of filtering out the following toxins, due to the compact space of the area:
Water toxins
City water is usually treated with various chemicals to ensure purity by the time it reaches homes and apartments. Unfortunately, some of these chemicals can negatively affect your long-term health. Installing a carbon-based water filter will remove most levels of chlorine and other toxins. A reverse osmosis filter will filter all chemicals from the water source, including fluoride.
Noise pollution
Interestingly, noise pollution is almost as damaging as other forms of pollution in the city. Heavy traffic and outdoor noise from construction has been known to reach over 85 decibels. Long-term exposure to this heavy noise can cause ear damage. Urban dwellers will benefit from using noise-canceling earphones outdoors during rush hour and using noise-blocking material at night, such as heavy thermal lined curtain fabric, will serve to muffle at least some of the noise.
Air toxins
Air pollution is the most common urban toxin to affect the overall health of city residents. Car exhaust and industrial waste are to blame for much of this, with smog typically thickest in densely-populated urban areas. Installing an air filter in your home or apartment will reduce airborne pollutants considerably. Jenny Bates, an environmental researcher with a sustainable development degree, advises that city residents run a small ozone generator once a month to neutralize the effects of toxins which build up in the air. This, she says, can remove many of the airborne particles which cause lung problems, including common allergens.
Plan Exercise Carefully
Urban residents may benefit from planning outdoor exercise around pollution levels. The local paper or real-time online pollution tracking sites can provide daily information. High levels of outdoor pollution is toxic to the lungs and lead to an increase in asthma and cardiovascular disease.
Maintaining a good quality of life is simple in an urban environment, with the right steps. Addressing the situation of ongoing pollution by including natural plants and clean air in the home can provide a healthy retreat at the end of the day. Using these key tips will reduce the chance of lung disease, hearing loss and other health issues dramatically over time.
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