How pollution can be reduced

Care For Your Air – 10 Ways To Reduce Pollution

The solution to air pollution is in everyone’s hands. Learn how to protect the environment from pollution in 10 easy steps.

Updated November 17, 2021

Air pollution is an increasing threat to our wellbeing, especially in cities. However, there are things we can all do to limit the amount of pollution we produce and minimise our carbon footprint. If you’re looking for ways to protect the environment from pollution, then there are lots of different things you can try, including our 10 ways to reduce pollution ahead.

Stain guide

Walking a part of your commute to work each day is one of the many great ways to protect the environment from pollution.

What is air pollution?

If you want to prevent air pollution, then it’s important to be clear before you start on what it actually is. Air pollution is generally defined as the presence in the atmosphere of substances which are (potentially) harmful to health.

What causes air pollution?

The following can all be causes of air pollution:

Factories and industrial outputs.

Transport emissions – buses, cars, trucks, planes etc.

Individual smoking – this also includes vaping and shisha pipes.

Agricultural activities – farming can release ammonia from insecticides, pesticides and fertilisers.

Mining operations – when minerals are extracted from the earth, dust and chemicals are released into the air.

Domestic pollutions – due to paints, cleaning products, building resources and similar.

What are the effects of air pollution?

Is eco-friendly cleaning important to you?

Air pollution can have impacts both on our environment and on our health.

Health impacts

The two main health impacts of air pollution are respiratory disorders and heart diseases. In fact, theВ World Health OrganisationВ claims an estimated 4.2 million deaths occurring prematurely each year are linked to air pollution via conditions such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and respiratory infections.

Environmental impacts

Climate change can be impacted by air pollution, as carbon dioxide is a common output of pollutants. This pollution can also lead to an unpleasant atmospheric effect known as acid rain, where the pH of rainwater is turned acidic by the pollutants. The combination of these factors can then have a negative impact on wildlife.

How to protect the environment from pollution: 10 ways to reduce pollution

Once you know the effects, you’ll be much more motivated to find out how to save our environment from pollution. Here are 10 straightforward ways to protect the environment from pollution:

Don’t smoke indoors – or quit altogether if you can.

Keep lots of plants around the house – particularly those know for cleaning the air.

Monitor pollutants in your own home and tackle them with an air filter.

Avoid using lots of harsh chemicals when cleaning.

Walk or use public transport instead of driving.

Use a suction fan to remove cooking fumes from your kitchen.

Avoid paving over your garden – keep things green as much as possible.

Conserve energy – turn off lights and electric appliances when not in use.

Eat locally-sourced food to prevent your meals travelling miles to get to you.

Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when full to save energy and water.

Now that you know how to save the environment from pollution, you can start making these differences in your own life. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do everything at once! Remember: this is about taking small sustainable steps to help you do your bit and keep the air cleaner for everyone.

Eat locally produced food that’s in season to reduce the distance your food has to travel.

Walk, cycle or use public transport whenever possible.

Fill your house with plants and conserve energy in the home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for air pollution?

Every single person in the world is responsible in some way for air pollution, which means we can be equally responsible for reducing it. Large Scale manufacturing and farming, of course, have a much larger impact on air pollution than one man at home, but we can all play our part in reducing our air pollution footprint.

How can your family help reduce air pollution?

There are a few easy to follow things you and your family can do to reduce air pollution in your immediate environment:

Don’t smoke inside – in fact, quit altogether!

Walk or cycle as much as possible to get where you need to go

Keep green plants in the home as they help to clean the air

Conserve energy in your home by turning off lights and appliances when you don’t need them

Don’t pave too much of your garden, rather keep it as green as possible

Eat locally-sourced food

Only run dishwashers and washing machines when they are full

How does choosing sustainable products reduce air pollution?

When you choose sustainable products and locally sourced items and food, you are impacting air pollution in huge ways. Your food or clothing does not have to travel for miles to get to you – think about ordering items from China or India and how far they have to travel to get to South Africa? You are contributing to lower fossil fuels needed for ships, planes and trucks to transport goods over long-distances.

Are there different types of air pollution?

There are many different types of air pollution from smoke caused by cigarettes to carbon emissions from cars or planes.

Which disease is caused by air pollution?

Many diseases can be attributed to air pollution especially for people living in large cities and overcrowded areas. Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases like asthma and cancer as well as heart disease.

How to Reduce Water Pollution

This article was co-authored by Kathryn Kellogg. Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. She’s the author of 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic.

There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 888,582 times.

Water is one of the world’s most important resources, and we can all do our part to stop it from getting polluted. Simple changes like using natural cleaning products instead of toxic ones in your home and planting more trees and flowers in your yard can make an important impact. On a larger scale, consider speaking up against industries that dump waste into local streams, rivers, and beach fronts to reduce water pollution in your community. Every action you take makes a difference.

10 Best Ways to Reduce Air Pollution

Lets’s discuss these 10 best ways to reduce air pollution.

1. Using public transports

Using public transport is a sure short way of contributing to less air pollution as it provides with less gas and energy, even carpools contribute to it. In addition to less release of fuels and gas, using a public transport can also help in saving money.

2. Turn off the lights when not in use

The energy that the lights take also contribute to air pollution, thus less consumption of electricity can save energy. Use energy saving fluorescent lights to help the environment.

3. Recycle and Reuse

The concept of recycle and reuse is not just conserve resources and use them judicially but also is helpful for air pollution as it helps in reducing pollution emissions. The recycled products also take less power to make other products.

4. No to plastic bags

The use of plastic products could be very harmful to the environment as they take a very long time to decompose, due to their material made up of oil. The use of paper bags instead is a better alternative as they decompose easily and are recyclable.

5. Reduction of forest fires and smoking

The collecting of garbage and getting it on fire in dry seasons or dry leaves catching fires is a huge factor for causing air pollution, moreover smoking also causes air pollution and causes the air quality to worsen along with obviously damaging one’s health.

6. Use of fans instead of Air Conditioner

The usage of AC’s takes a lot of energy and emits a lot of heat which is bad for the environment. AC’s also take a lot of power and energy to work as compared to fans.

7. Use filters for chimneys

The gas that is emitted from fireplaces in homes and factories are extremely dangerous for air pollution and harms the air quality severely. The use of filters should be used at least if the consumption couldn’t be lessened, this will help to reduce the effect of harmful gases absorbing in the air.

8. Avoid usage of crackers

The use of crackers during festivals and weddings is sadly one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, leading to a layer of smog which is extremely harmful for health. So, practice of no crackers should be implemented.

9. Avoid using of products with chemicals

Products that use the chemicals in their usage or smell strongly, like paints or perfumes should be used less or outside the house. There can also be an alternative to use products with low chemical content and organic properties.

10. Implement Afforestation

Last but not the least, plant and grow as many trees as possible. The practice of planting trees provides a lot of benefits to the environment and helps with the release of oxygen.

Wear a good N95 mask while you are in outside enviroment to protect from the pollution

20 Ways to Prevent Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution

Since the Industrial Revolution, people have been polluting the Earth like never before. There is rarely a place today that has not been subjected to pollutants in one form or another.

Some pollution comes in a visible form, like pieces of plastic washed up on our beaches or illegal dumpsites in groves nearby large cities, other pollution comes in a hidden and perhaps even more dangerous form, in the air we breathe daily.

Our continuous existence depends on the clean air and yet our activities are constantly releasing extremely toxic particles that contaminate our atmosphere.

Polluted air is costing us lives

To imagine the severity of the global pollution even better, there is an animal in the remote Arctic whose body contains one of the highest level of pollutants of any organism on this planet. The word is about a polar bear who is due to the global distillation effect exposed to anthropologically created pollution even in the most remote corner of the planet.

Although increasing number of countries enforce stricter regulations to prevent further emissions of air pollutants, there is still a lot to do on an individual level.

The key to have a healthier life is to adopt measures that do not pollute air so much because we all have a role to play when it comes to creating healthy environment for living.

Simple ways to reduce outdoor air pollution

Being aware and changing our habits is the only way to reversing negative actions we have adopted in our modern lifestyles. Even though some initiative needs to be taken by authorities, individual habits still can make a big impact. If not globally, they will make impact locally – directly in the environment where you live.

The following list will help you get started with the transition to improving the quality of your life by addressing the problem of air pollution and learning about ways of reducing it.

#1 Minimize air pollution from cars

Road transportation is one of the biggest emitters of nitrogen oxides. Oxides of nitrogen are closely monitored air pollutants with an adverse effect on the healthy lung development and the overall lifetime expectancy.

The problem of harmful emissions from cars can be felt especially in cities with heavy traffic. Personal diesel cars and smaller vans top the list of the dirtiest polluters in such instances.

As a driver you can help reduce the pollution from your car by sticking to a few of simple rules.

By following this advice you will definitely help reducing air pollution caused by cars, but you should still be aware that any car with an exhaust pipe will emit some amounts of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the air. Therefore, the most effective strategy to keep the air clean is to avoid driving your car when possible.

#2 Walk, bike or use public transportation to reduce air pollution

When you have the option, take public transportation to get to work. Many cities have already invested in a good public transportation network and by choosing public transportation (even just one or two days a week) you are helping to reduce the number of cars on the road.

Many municipalities also offer great benefits to encourage people to use their public transportation. Some commonly applied advantages are cheap long-term fares, shorter times to reach your destination, short waiting times, punctuality, and fares for free at certain hours, weekends or for seniors and students.

For example, the city of Vienna, Austrian capital, offers a yearly ticket to their extensive public transportation network for only 1 Euro a day (that is USD 1.14). This means that as a holder of the yearly card you can travel as much as you want in one day for just 1 Euro. Isn’t that wonderful?

*And a little insider tip: Your pup can travel with you for free when you have this card… 😉

Or German city Stuttgart lets students travel for free on weekends and after 6 pm every day.

Walking or riding a bike to get to work comes with numerous benefits for your wellbeing. You can take less frequent roads and backstreets to arrive to work sooner and less stressed than you would be if stuck in traffic. Both of these activities also contribute to maintaining active lifestyle and improving your self-confidence and health.

However, when biking or walking you should take into consideration the level of already existent air pollution along your route. If you cannot avoid too busy roads, it’s better to stick with public transportation because on bike you would directly breathe all the emissions produced by the heavy traffic.

#3 Save energy and make sure you use energy efficiently

In 2016, the International Energy Agency released a report with the key statement that “air pollution is an energy problem.”

Similar concept repeats in other scientific papers. For example, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health published a study that lists a myriad of health problems arising from the air contamination due to the combustion of fossil fuels.

Burning of fossil fuels for energy production releases potent pollutants such as:

All of these substances are known to have negative impacts on human health and the environment.

That is why being mindful about your energy consumption matters. Decreasing your energy need will not only save you money on utility bills but more importantly will benefit your health in the long-term.

When you save energy, whether it is at home, at work, or while you are traveling, you are reducing production of many polluting substances as well as carbon emissions that make the air dirty and cause global warming.

Some effective strategies to lower your energy consumption to set you on the right track are:

#4 Take a good care of your wood stove or fireplace

If you own a wood burning stove or a fireplace, be sure to keep it well-maintained. When burning fire-wood in wood stoves, incomplete combustion often releases particulate matter of a very small size (less than 2.5 micrometer). These tiny particles are the most harmful to our respiratory tracts because they can easily get deep into our lungs, and for their small size may even enter our bloodstream.

Other noxious gases released from fireplaces and wood stoves are:

What amount of emissions your stove produces depends on:

You should also preferably have the stove (fireplace) installed by a professional with a necessary certification. This ensures that your stove will perform with the best efficiency and at the lowest risk of unwanted accidents.

Dry firewood burns better than humid wood. It will thus emit less air pollutants. Also make sure you don’t burn wood with paint, glue or other coating because it could release additional toxins into the air.

Pellets made of compacted sawdust and wood waste are a less polluting and more heat-producing alternative to wood.

#5 Recycle and buy recycled products

Imagine all complex processes needed to create new items from scratch. You need to begin with mining for raw materials. Mined materials then need to be transported, cleaned from impurities, processed and treated until they can finally be transformed into desired products.

Each stage of the manufacture from raw materials is accompanied by emissions of polluting particles, heavy metals, chemicals and greenhouse gases.

It also takes more energy to make new items from raw materials, increasing the environmental footprint (including the air pollution that is produced) of those products, compared with those products that are made from recycled materials.

Since recycled products have already been extracted and processed once, manufacturing the same products the second time is much less-energy intensive and polluting.

This table briefly summarizes energy saved by creating products from recycled materials as well as resources and pollutants omitted in the process.

#6 Consume less and choose sustainable products

Higher levels of environmental pollution in these regions are often due to weak or lacking emission restrictions in place (which is also why these goods can be produced at a lower cost), but the air they are polluting is still part of the same air you are and will be breathing for as long as you are on this planet.

So, our consumption patterns affect pollution levels globally. Even if you haven’t ever traveled to China, your choice of products in your local supermarket will decide whether you encourage polluting businesses abroad.

Consuming less and thinking twice before buying new item is the best you can do for the environment and the air quality. If you need to buy new products, whatever they are, support local companies that are committed to sustainable manufacturing practices and reducing pollution in the air.

#7 Eat local and organic produce & eat less meat

In countries with intensively farmed lands, agriculture is the main emitter of ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds like nitrous oxide or nitric oxide. Livestock farming also emits high concentrations of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and non-methane volatile organic compounds.

Organic agriculture is not entirely emission-free as well, but the amounts of many pollutants are lower.

This is due to a number of reasons:

If possible, consider buying organically-grown produce over the conventional one, and look for local products because this way you cut down emissions from transportation and energy needed to get the food on your plate.

A very important step to take in regard to your consumption pattern is to eat less meat. You may have heard already about the significant greenhouse gas footprint of the modern livestock industry. By going meatless some days a week or eating maximum 90 grams of meat a day, you will lower air pollution and will even benefit your health (and wallet – since plant-based diet is cheaper).

#8 Grow your own food and eat seasonal products

It is easy to get produce from all over the world these days. Just a quick trip to supermarket opens up a world of a great variety of exotic fruits, vegetables and spices. Although, having such a great diversity is wonderful, it always comes with a cost – in this case the cost of polluting the air we breathe by long-distance transportation.

Just think about it. Bananas imported from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras or other exotic destinations. Kiwis from Italy, Chile, New Zealand… Mangoes brought from Thailand, Philippines, India or Pakistan. These favorite fruits have to travel really long distances to make it to your supermarket.

One easy and fun way to make sure you have a nutrient-rich diet, which even helps offset some of the harmful emissions of the food industry, is to grow your own food. This way you will have direct access to fresh produce of your preference, and you will even be sure that what you eat is chemical-free.

If you are unable to grow fruits and vegetables due to time and/or space limitations, stick to the rule of eating mostly seasonal products that are native to your area. The reason for this is very simple – when in season, products will be more likely sourced from regional farmers.

#9 Plant trees

Except of removing the particulate matter, trees also decrease levels of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and monoxide, ozone, benzene and dioxin.

Trees planted alongside roads or on the boundaries of your property also slow down polluted air from being carried far by wind. You can think of it as a protective shield formed by tree canopy. This way trees prevent spreading of air pollution over large distances. Then, they gradually filter the pollution at the spot without giving it much chances of contaminating neighboring areas.

Additionally, cooler temperatures are more comfortable for our wellbeing, which makes trees a great substitute for energy demanding air conditioners.

#10 Raise awareness and become interested in local matters

Awareness-raising can be the first step to increase the knowledge of people around you and start the change in their attitudes towards mitigating the problem of poor air quality in affected areas.

As you can see most of these ways on dealing with air pollution are rooted in the consumer behavior. Often, all it takes is just being a little bit more aware of the impact of your personal decisions as a consumer on the air quality–even so far from you as on a different continent.

By making conscious consumer choices, your initiative can serve as a good example to your friends, family and community. This way you can become one of the initiators of a bigger change in your area.

Equally important is to express your support to public policies and representative politicians who work to protect the air and the environment. If you care about the quality of life in the place you call home, it is necessary to stay informed and take supportive actions for good causes.

Preventive measures of indoor air pollution: How to clean the air in your home?

When we think of air pollution, most of us think of poor outdoor air quality. However, did you know that indoor air is on average two to five times more polluted than outdoor air? This happens because the air circulation indoors is much lower than outdoors, which allows toxins from dust particles, vapors from cooking, painting or furniture dyes to accumulate inside our houses.

It’s time to become more cautious about what pollutants you introduce to your life. And since you have already learned how to help reduce outdoor air pollution, it is time to have a look at some preventative measures that will teach you how to improve air quality in your home and office.

#1 Keep air purifying indoor plants

Very elegant solution to improving air indoors, that would also have a beneficial effect on our health, is keeping houseplants.

Many houseplants have the same ability as trees to metabolize air pollutants from indoor spaces as well as refresh air by removing carbon dioxide and replenishing oxygen levels. Plants with large leaves that originate from tropics and rainforests are especially effective in doing so.

Some examples of the best houseplants for cleaning indoor air are:

Can there be any easier solution how to get better air quality in your home than surrounding yourself by pretty flowers?

#2 Open your windows

Opening your windows fully at least once a day for three to five minutes can replace stagnant and polluted indoor air with fresh air from outside.

It is important to let the air in your house circulate even for short periods of time because this way you let accumulated toxins out and decrease humidity that gathers from many indoor activities like cooking, doing laundry or taking a steamy shower.

One of the common issues of well-insulated houses is that indoor-outdoor air exchange is entirely disabled. While this is a desired effect when it comes to preserving heat and energy, it is not the best for maintaining healthy air quality inside. If that’s the case, the stagnant air in your house needs to be refreshed once a while by opening windows to create a little draft.

Do not forget to open your windows to ventilate a room if you must use any volatile chemicals, such as those found in paint strippers and paints. Better yet, look for low- or no-VOC products to avoid being exposed to the toxic fumes from these products in the first place.

#3 Use natural products and non-toxic cleaners

When purchasing household products for your home and your yard, opt for the cleanest and greenest products that don’t contain any harmful polluting chemicals.

The majority of the air fresheners, detergents, paints, and cleaners on the market contain toxic substances, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), that easily vaporize into indoor air.

VOCs represent a variety of chemicals derived from petroleum, for example, formaldehyde, benzene, perchloroethylene and chlorofluorocarbons.

To minimize your exposure to these chemicals, choose products that have been made with natural substances, and do not produce harmful fumes.

When seeking out natural products, resources such as the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning and the United States Environmental Protection Agency Safer Choice page are great places to learn about the product safety.

A few great tips to stick to:

#4 Use essential oils

Essential oils are potent plant extracts that can be used for many purposes, including cleaning, purifying and freshening indoor air. They also offer an eco-friendly, healthy, and often more effective alternative to many chemical and synthetic products.

Using high quality essential oils in a diffuser will not only produce a nice scent throughout a room, you will also gain many health benefits from the complex natural compounds that the essential oils contain. For example, lavender oil with eucalyptus oil have calming properties; peppermint and chamomile oils are good for digestion and relieving symptoms of cold; rosemary oil improves concentration and memory.

You can also use essential oils to make your own homemade cleaning products and personal care products. Some favorite oils that have been used for skin and hair are rose, cedarwood, thyme or clary sage oils.

For purposes of purity, safety, and to experience the most benefits, be sure to use only therapeutic grade essential oils from a reputable company.

#5 Test your home for radon

Radon is an invisible, odorless and radioactive gas that naturally seeps up from the soil and bedrock of the Earth. It is one of the products of the radioactive decay of uranium, which can be found naturally in all rocks on this planet.

Most houses draw less than one percent of their indoor air from subjacent soils, but when your house is built on a highly permeable soil and foundations are not properly sealed, more than 10 percent of indoor air can come from the ground. This can lead to increased radon accumulation in the indoor air, even though its concentration in the soil is within safe limits.

When radon levels in your house are above limits, some mitigation strategies for reducing its concentration need to be applied. One reliable technique is ‘Active soil depressurization, ‘which draws radon from beneath the foundation and emits it outside.

#6 Do not smoke indoors

Do not smoke inside your home. Cigarette smoke contains up to 70 carcinogenic substances and toxins that remain in the indoor air for a long time.

Passive exposure to the cigarette smoke can also cause serious health problems to other family members and pets.

Some of the health deteriorating compounds found in smoke include lead, arsenic, ammonia, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. By smoking in a confined space, the level of these compounds quickly exceeds safe limits without you even realizing the danger associated with inhaling them.

For example, nitrogen dioxide contributes to seemingly unrelated health problems such as ear infections and development of food allergies in children.

#7 Keep indoor humidity low

We do many activities at home that make rooms damp. But did you know that in humid environments hundreds of different bacteria species, fungi and molds thrive? And that breathing their spores affects the health of your skin and respiratory tract?

Keep your home dry to prevent mold and mildew from proliferating. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping an indoor humidity level of 30 to 60 percent.

You can do this by opening windows to exchange air inside your house. Remember that stagnant air retains all the moisture from your activities, so you should allow proper air movement by creating a draft inside at least once a day.

Use exhaust hoods or fans to reduce the level of moisture that can travel throughout the air when you cook or take shower. When showering, keep the bathroom door closed to not let excess humidity out. Rather leave the fan remove the moisture after you finish the shower.

Also, when possible dry your clothes outside.

If necessary, use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity level of your home.

Hysure Portable Dehumifier is a great product to buy for this purpose. This dehumidifier is a product we recommend because it is easy to operate and is very quiet, so it will not disturb you when sleeping. Most importantly, it is efficient in removing moisture (approximately 750 ml of per day) and has low energy consumption.

Even customers’ reviews confirm that this dehumidifier performs well and is worth the money if you have humidity problems in some rooms. For example, one review states that it can decrease the amount of humidity by 20 percent in a garage. Other review highlights how easy its maintenance is.

Have a look yourself:

If anything else have failed, this could be the solution to your problem with high humidity.

#8 Vacuum clean with a HEPA filter

It may sound surprising, but some vacuum cleaners actually contribute to indoor air pollution.

Yes, that’s right.

Vacuum cleaners without a proper filter, that would allow small particles escape back into the air, only worsen home air quality by stirring and redistributing pollutants.

To be sure you are not causing more harm when cleaning your house, use a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) or ULPA (Ultra Low Penetration Air) filter.

The design and cleaning efficiency are also important criteria. No HEPA filter will perform as promised if the vacuum cleaner is not properly sealed. Only well-sealed vacuum cleaners direct all collected particles to pass through the filter.

When looking for a new vacuum cleaner, make sure that it contains the real HEPA filter and not something labelled misleadingly as “HEPA-like” or “HEPA-type” filters. Beware of this marketing trick to confuse customers, as these types of filters might not comply with the standards of removing the most harmful particles.

#9 Keep your home dust free

Do you know where dust comes from and how come it always reappears in your home?

What should you imagine under this label?

Well, let’s see… It includes tiny particles like dead skin cells, pet dander, microscopic soil particles from your shoes, decomposing organic materials, microfibers from clothing, bacteria, molds, and dust mites.

Scientists have also found traces of many chemicals in common household dust. These chemicals usually originate from cleaning products, plastic items, paints, oil, cosmetics, pesticides or other products commonly used at home.

No one can write down a precise list of compounds contained in dust since they differ based on the area where you live, your lifestyle and your household, but every time you walk across a room, your kids play, pets run around, dust gets suspended into the air, from where it can be easily inhaled by you and your children.

You cannot prevent dust from entering your house, but you can minimize chances of your exposure to it by regular cleaning. Vacuum cleaners with HEPA filter should help in retaining most of the harmful particles (read the previous section to learn more about them).

Do not forget to clean your heating and air conditioning filters, ducts, and vents regularly as well. It will reduce particles accumulated over the time from re-circulating throughout the air in your home.

#10 Use air purifiers with HEPA filter

If you live in an area with poor outdoor air quality, it’s worth considering the use of air purifier at home. On critical days when authorities issue health warning, you should keep your windows closed and use air purifier to minimize the risk of breathing polluted air.

For example, a two-year study in Salt Lake City, which chokes under a thick blanket of smog on cold winter days when inversion hits in, has found out that air purifiers with HEPA filters reduced fine-particulate matter (PM2.5) in observed households by 55 percent.

So, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Final words

Give a talk on how we can protect the environment

Задание из учебника английского языка Starlight 10. Unit 4.8 — Student B Task 1. Давайте поговорим об организации Недели здоровья.

Задание: Give a talk on how we can protect the environment.

Remember to discuss:
• how pollution can be reduced
• the importance of protecting the countryside
• what people can do personally to help — saving
• energy, recycling, not wasting water, using public transport more, etc
• what the government should do — pass laws, run awareness campaigns etc

You will have to talk for 1.5 — 2 minutes. Student A will listen until you have finished. Then he/she will ask you some questions.

Questions for Student A:
• Do you think you could do more to help protect the environment?
• Are young people today concerned about environmental issues? Why/Why not?
• What would be the best way to increase people’s awareness of environmental issues?
• Do you think the world’s environmental problems will be solved in the future?
• What environmental issue affects your life the most?
• Who is to blame for the world’s environmental problems?

Listen to a model answer.What does the speaker say about what the government should do and how people can help.

Перевод: Расскажите о том, как мы можем защитить окружающую среду.

Не забудьте обсудить:
• как можно уменьшить загрязнение окружающей среды
• важность защиты сельской местности
• что люди могут делать лично, чтобы помочь — экономить
• энергия, переработка, экономия воды, использование общественного транспорта и т. д.
• что должно делать правительство — принимать законы, проводить информационные кампании и т. д.

Вам придется говорить в течение 1,5-2 минут. Студент А будет слушать, пока вы не закончите. Затем он / она задаст вам несколько вопросов.

Вопросы студента А:
• Как вы думаете, вы могли бы сделать больше, чтобы помочь защитить окружающую среду?
• Волнуют ли сегодня молодежь экологические проблемы? Почему да / нет?
• Как лучше всего повысить осведомленность населения об экологических проблемах?
• Считаете ли вы, что мировые экологические проблемы будут решены в будущем?
• Какая экологическая проблема больше всего влияет на вашу жизнь?
• Кто виноват в мировых экологических проблемах?

Послушайте образец ответа. Что говорит спикер о том, что должно делать правительство и как люди могут ему помочь?

Ответ на задание:

We must protect the environment. First, we must reduce pollution. One idea might be to use public transport and cut down on exhaust fumes. Then we might make factories put filters into their chimneys so that they don’t pollute the air as much. Also, it is very important to protect the countryside because it is home to a lot of wildlife. Let’s not forget that we get a lot of fresh food from farms in the countryside. People can save energy by switching off lights when they leave a room.They can also recycle as much as possible and not waste water. Governments need to pass more laws to reduce pollution and protect the environment. A good idea would be to run awareness campaigns so that everyone can learn how to help.

Перевод: Мы должны защищать окружающую среду. Во-первых, мы должны уменьшить загрязнение окружающей среды. Одной из идей может быть использование общественного транспорта и сокращение выбросов выхлопных газов. Затем, мы могли бы заставить фабрики ставить фильтры в трубы, чтобы они не загрязняли воздух так сильно. Кроме того, очень важно защитить сельскую местность, потому что здесь обитает много диких животных. Давайте не будем забывать, что мы получаем много свежих продуктов с ферм в сельской местности. Люди могут экономить энергию, выключая свет, когда они выходят из комнаты.Они также могут перерабатывать как можно больше отходов и не тратить их впустую. Правительствам необходимо принять больше законов для уменьшения загрязнения и защиты окружающей среды. Хорошей идеей было бы провести кампании по повышению осведомленности, чтобы каждый мог узнать, как помочь.

Ответ на вопросы студента А:

• Yes. I could recycle more things like newspapers and aluminium cans.
• Young people are very concerned about environmental issues because they will have to deal with all the problems in the future.
• I think a television campaign with famous sportsmen and actors is best to increase people’s awareness of environmental issues. People pay attention to celebrities.
• It is possible to solve the world’s environmental problems but we have to do things now and not leave them to future generations.
• I live in a city so air and noise pollution affect me the most.
• We are all to blame for the world’s environmental problems and that is why we must all work together to solve the problems.

Перевод:
• Да. Я мог бы перерабатывать больше вещей, такие как газеты и алюминиевые банки.
• Молодые люди очень озабочены экологическими проблемами, потому что в будущем им придется решать все эти проблемы.
• Я думаю, что телевизионная кампания с участием известных спортсменов и актеров лучше всего подходит для повышения осведомленности людей об экологических проблемах. Люди обращают внимание на знаменитостей.
• Можно решить мировые экологические проблемы, но мы должны делать это сейчас, а не оставлять их будущим поколениям.
• Я живу в городе, поэтому загрязнение воздуха и шума влияет на меня больше всего.
• Мы все виноваты в мировых экологических проблемах, и именно поэтому мы все должны работать вместе, чтобы решить эти проблемы.

Что сказал спикер:

The speaker in the model answer says that the government should pass new laws to make recycling household rubbish compulsory and introduce fines for dropping litter. They should also make people more aware of environmental issues. People can help by reducing the amount of energy that they use in their homes and by using their cars less often.

Перевод: Спикер говорит, что правительство должно принять новые законы, чтобы сделать утилизацию бытового мусора обязательной и ввести штрафы за сброс мусора. Они также должны сделать людей более осведомленными об экологических проблемах. Люди могут помочь, сократив количество энергии, которую они используют в своих домах, и реже используя свои автомобили.