HOW DO WE KNOW IF THE ENVIRONMENT WE LIVE IN IS CLEAN?

It is important for each of us that the environment in which we live, work and spend our leisure time is clean and healthy. On average, eight percent of our planet's population lives in areas that are constantly exposed to even several types of pollution at the same time. One of the main pollution problems we all face is air pollution. Chronic exposure to polluted air is associated with an increased risk of asthma, lung, heart disease and cancer. Bad weather also negatively affects a person's mental state.

In order to find out whether the environment around us, the air we breathe, is clean, special knowledge is not necessary. When the level of air pollution is critical, it becomes difficult to breathe, an unpleasant smell is felt, and a bitter taste may appear in the mouth. After breathing in dirty air for a long time, headaches and other symptoms may appear. Lower levels of air pollution are not so easy to identify. However, we can make sure of the cleanliness of the air even by observing nature. So-called indicators of clean nature, such as lichens, simply do not grow in a polluted environment. The Environmental Protection Agency takes care of the continuous provision of information about air pollution in Lithuania. In order to reduce as much as possible the danger to human health caused by pollution sources, the agency regularly provides data on the country's air quality. The amount of pollutants such as general dust, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfates, etc. in the air is measured. You can find accurate information about air cleanliness in your region on the Agency's website.

If we talk about indoor air, its quality is determined by a wide variety of factors. Various chemicals can be released from finishing materials and furniture of unnatural origin. Household cleaners can release volatile organic compounds. If the premises are heated with solid fuel, we inevitably inhale the products of fuel combustion. If there are smokers in the family, we breathe in tobacco smoke. We can bring back various viruses, bacteria, and mold spores from the outdoors. All of this is in the air around us, all of which we breathe.

Statistically, people spend up to 80% of their time indoors, so indoor air quality is more important than outdoor air quality. If we cannot choose the air in open spaces, we are fully capable of controlling the air quality at home. Even when living in sufficiently polluted areas, it is possible to reduce the amount of inhaled pollutants. Rational room ventilation plays the most important role here. Generally, most people ventilate rooms by opening windows, but this ventilation has several obvious disadvantages. First of all, indoor heat is lost in the cold season. Secondly, pollutants also arrive in rooms with fresh air. Modern ventilation devices with recuperation become a rational solution in this situation. In a home with such a system, clean air goes inside and polluted air goes outside. This creates a particularly healthy indoor microclimate, prevents mold and dust that can irritate the respiratory tract. If we care about the food we eat, the beauty products we use on our bodies, why should we ignore the air we breathe every day?