The Green Parent » air pollution

A Breath of Fresh Air

Jenn Savedge — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:41 +0000

Ah, there’s nothing like a breath of fresh air, right? Well, it all depends on what’s in that air! Air pollution is a common problem in our modern society. And it affects us all…young and old, rich and poor, Red and Blue.

Outdoors, air pollution is caused by both natural sources (like volcano eruptions, soil erosion, and forest fires) and human activities (like fossil fuel combustion from cars and power plants.) This is why outdoor air pollution is often greatest in and around cities where human concentrations are largest.

But if fears about air pollution have you running indoors, it may alarm you to realize that indoor air is often more dangerous than what’s outside. Chemicals in your cleaning supplies, paint, furniture, and even in your household dust can become trapped inside your home, making the indoor air pollutant levels as much as 25-62% greater than outdoor levels.
So what can you do…stop breathing? No, that won’t work. But you can breathe easier by knowing what to look for and how to protect your family from air pollution.

Outdoors

Pay attention to air-quality advisories, especially if you live in or near a big city. If the levels are high, don’t spend a lot of time outdoors.
When traveling by car, try to limit the amount of time you spend sitting in heavy traffic. Seek out less traveled routes or walk instead.
Hold your breath or turn your head when you see exhaust spurting out of the car in front of you or when you are filling your car with gas.

Indoors

Do not smoke and avoid hanging out for long periods with those who do.
Ventilate your home well by opening windows and doors regularly, especially when dusting, vacuuming, and painting.
When entering your home, leave your shoes at the door and ask your guests to do the same to avoid tracking harmful chemicals indoors.
Avoid dry cleaning your clothes. If you can’t avoid it, seek out a green dry cleaner or at the very least make sure you air-out your clothes before bringing them indoors.
Use natural cleaning agents like baking soda and vinegar instead of synthetic chemical compounds.
Wet mop your floors frequently to reduce your exposure to dust.
Do not use synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilizers in your home, on your lawn, or in your garden.

Now relax, and don’t forget to breathe!

Photo by rosaalta

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Toxic Air and Our Children’s Schools

Jenn Savedge — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:37:42 +0000

Air pollution drives me nuts. You can’t see it, you can’t touch it, and unless it’s really bad, you can’t even smell it. And unlike water pollution, you can’t even filter it out of your life.

So I was pretty disturbed to see this report that just came out from USA Today that took a look at the amout of air pollution that can be found around our children’s schools. The report, entitled The Smokestack Effect: Toxic Air and America’s Schools, compared industrial pollution information collected by the Environmental Protection Agency with the location of the nation’s 128,000 schools to determine which schools had the highest exposure to toxic air pollutants.

So how clean is the air around your child’s school? Check out the study’s interactive map and school finder to see where your school stands.

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Go Green: Environmentally-Friendly Holiday Travel Tips

Jenn Savedge — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:12:00 +0000

The holidays just wouldn’t be the same without a visit with friends and family. So for many of us who have wandered a little from the proverbial family roots, that means a trip by sky, rail, or road. Here’s how to green your holiday travel.

1. Leave The Flying To Santa: Traveling by airplane releases significantly more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere (and therefore causes more global warming) than traveling by car or by train.

2. Tune Up Your Sleigh: If your holiday travel includes a road trip, make sure your car is in tip-top condition so that you can maximize gas mileage, curb air pollution, and save a few bucks at the pump. Get an oil change, check your car’s fluid levels, belts, and spark plugs, and make sure your tires are properly inflated. Click here and here for more info about driving green.

3. Lighten Your Load: Go easy on yourself and the environment by pairing down your holiday luggage. Whether you travel by car, train, or plane, the more baggage you have, the more pollution will be emitted to get it to your location.

4. Offset It: Offset your holiday carbon emissions with companies such as GreenTags or Green-e that invest in projects to absorb or prevent the release of carbon dioxide. (Green Parent Tip: Carbon offsets also make a great gift! Click here for more eco-friendly gift ideas.)

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Why Go Green?

Jenn Savedge — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 05:18:00 +0000

As a parent, I knew that I did not want to raise my kids in a world full of toxins. And I wanted my kids to respect the planet and the other species that share it with us. But let’s face it, there are days when it is all I can do to keep my girls clean, safe, and happy and I just don’t feel up to the monumental task of saving the planet. But the reasons to go green are inextricably linked with my job as a mom. After all it’s hard to keep my girls clean, safe, and happy if they are exposed to polluted water, air, and food. So here are the reasons that I choose to go green.

1. Going Green Saves Green

The essence of going green is to use less…less electricity, less water, and less stuff. And guess what, the good news is that using less actually saves you money. Conserve energy and you’ll have a lower electric bill and need less fuel at the pump. Reduce waste and you’ll spend less at the store and have lower trash removal fees. And fix your leaky faucets and you’ll not only conserve water, you’ll also slash the cost of your annual water bill. Now, who couldn’t use a little more green?

2. A Clean Bill of Health

We rely on the environment for more than aesthetics and commodities. It is literally the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. Air pollution, global warming, acid rain, and water pollution deteriorate the environment as well as your health. Protecting the environment means protecting these resources and ensuring that your family has access to clean water, healthy foods, and fresh air.

3. It’s For The Birds

Contrary to popular belief, we are not the only species on the planet. Every bird, mammal, fish, and tree depends upon the environment for its survival. And even if you are not an avid bird-watcher, the survival of one species is inextricably linked to the survival of the others. You may not notice when one plant or bird species becomes extinct, but as the number of species on the planet becomes threatened, the pressure on the environment builds up, affecting the survival of humans.

4. So I Can Look My Kids In The Eye

There is an old Native American adage that says, “We did not inherit the Earth from our parents, we are borrowing it from our children.” One of my obligations as a parent is to ensure that my children have the same access to nature that I enjoy. When I am old and gray and bouncing my grandkids on your lap, I’ll be glad that are growing up in a clean, healthy environment.

5. Raising ‘Em Right

No matter how hard I try to teach my children to do the right thing, they will inevitably learn from what I do rather than what I say. If I show my children that I care about the environment by making environmentally-friendly choices, they will (hopefully) follow my lead. Raising children who understand their connection to the environment is one of the most eco-friendly impacts you can make.

6. Give The Economy A Boost

You do not have to choose between protecting the environment and supporting the economy. Eco-friendly choices drive a free-market economy. Industries such as farming, fishing, and tourism, rely on the health of the environment. Innovative technologies and products that protect the environment create new high-paying jobs. Using the marketplace for eco-friendly products is a win-win solution for consumers and businesses. So by going green, I am helping to foster a strong economy.

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