What Are the Main Causes of Air Pollution?

Attributing to severe respiratory issues, various diseases, and even death, the presence of harmful air pollution is a major public health concern spanning our entire earth. Unfortunately, the World Health Organization (WHO) undertook studies with resulting data which indicates that 99% of the entire global population inhales air that exceeds guideline limits. However, what specific sources are causing this catastrophic surge in harmful worldwide air pollutants? Keep reading to learn what primary sources contribute to widespread air pollution, and what you can do to best protect yourself.

Burning of Fossil Fuels

Being the most significantly harmful source of air pollution, the combustion of fossil fuels emitted into our atmosphere poses a huge problem for the overall health of ourselves and our planet. Including coal, oil, and gasoline to primarily fuel transportation, the release of CO2 and other toxic pollutants into the air is responsible for various weather conditions such as acid rain, smog, and much more. Additionally, inhaling pollutants such as gas and other fossil fuels greatly attributes to health conditions related to the heart and lungs.

Wildfires

While 90% of wildfires are caused by a single small spark, this source of harmful air pollution can be a tough one to avoid. More than merely displacing and killing plants and animals in the affected woods, wildfires also greatly attribute to massive spikes in air pollution. Colliding with other chemical gases in the atmosphere, people often experience a surge of uncomfortable symptoms when toxic wildfire smoke blows through their town. Unfortunately, climate change raises the temperature of our atmosphere which further creates conditions for wildfires to thrive.

Industrial Emissions

More and more industries are being built as demand of goods grows all over the world, which also creates a climate where industrial emissions are increasing each day. Pollutants from industrial factories effects the quality of our planet’s air in more ways than we can ever imagine. Various PM2.5 and PM10 particle matter (including CO2, SO2, NO2, and much more) are emitted into the air by industries that primarily produce goods. As all this expanding toxic heat is trapped in our atmosphere, earth’s temperature is steadily rising by 1-degree-Celsius per decade, thus causing health problems far and wide.

Mass Burning of Garbage & Waste

While many countries around the world have learnt to not burn garbage as a means to get rid of it, certain locations still hold this harmful practice. Burning garbage releases a host of toxins including carcinogens, soot, black carbon, and more into our atmosphere. Open garbage burning causes various health issues such as skin irritations, cancer, respiratory issues, heart failure, as well as various other deadly conditions.

The Overuse of Assorted Synthetic Chemicals

Encompassing both indoor and outdoor air pollution, the introduction of assorted synthetic chemicals in our world has led to severe and often unpredictable health issues. Harmful toxins we use every day in cleaning sprays, paints, cooking supplies, furniture, heaters, perfumes, and much more all attribute to the air in our homes. Furthermore, many modern outdoor activities (agricultural practices being a prime example) have seriously harmful impacts in the degradation of our planet’s air quality. To quicken the growth of crops and kill the insects that feed on vegetation, various pesticides and fertilizers are haphazardly emitted into the air we breathe. The introduction of these synthetic chemicals into our respiratory tract is a major contributor to pollution-related health issues.

How Can You Best Protect Yourself?

While we may never be able to fully protect ourselves from all the different types of air pollutants, we can at least find solace in the fact that O2 Nose Filters are available to protect us. O2 Nose Filters helps prevent harmful particulate matter from entering and potentially affecting your nasal cavities. O2 Nose Filters has been proven in controlled studies to help protect wearers from inhaling airborne particles such as bacteria, viruses, dust, exhaust fumes, smoke, and other pollutants. Independent laboratory tests demonstrate that 3M’s Advanced Electret Media in O2 Nose Filters block 90% of particulates at PM10 and 65% of particulates at PM2.5. Additionally, O2 Nose Filters are comfortable to wear due to their latex-free design and medical-grade Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) materials.

3M’s patented AEM™ (Advanced Electret Media) filter technology relies on the principles of electrostatic attraction. The high capture ratios and extended breathability attributed to 3M’s AEM™ material allows airborne particles from indoor air pollution to be captured within the filter. Rather than using a ‘screen’ approach to block the passage of particles, the charged fibers act as ‘magnets’ to retain particles while still allowing air to pass through, making O2 Nose Filters both breathable and effective.

O2 Nose Filters provides inexpensive and effective security to protect people from harmful indoor air pollution. While our nasal passageways try their best when it comes to filtering harmful particulate matter, they aren’t perfect. That’s why O2 Nose Filters are such an effective solution when it comes to improving our mental and physical health. Nose filters are a discreet, effective option to protect against air pollutants. The O2 Nose Filter uses 3M’s patented AEM™ electrostatic technology to capture allergens, viruses, and other particulates, making them a valuable tool for anyone who wants to drastically limit the pollutants they breathe in daily.