COVID-19 has transformed the fate of the millennium drastically. Every nation across the globe has made it mandatory to use face masks in public places. But even before the onset of the pandemic, wearing masks had become common among the masses to combat air pollution. Research shows that urban air pollution caused by vehicular emissions can cause serious damage to the lungs and augment other health complications. Also, the demand for masks has seen an alarming increase over the few decades to counter respiratory illness or transmitting cold and influenza in countries across the globe.
However, World Health Organization (WHO), does not fully endorse masks to act as a shield against smog. Further, the American and the European cardiology research centers too have not revealed any clinical studies showing how effective the masks are against pollutants. Plus, the consequences of using the mask on a large scale is detrimental to the environment as well, which we conveniently choose to ignore.
The need of the hour is to initiate changes that will give us cleaner air to breathe. Every individual on this planet is responsible for their action towards the environment and the biggest solution is to reduce the trail of carbon footprints. By adopting simple measures, one can easily contribute in a long way to relieve the earth from dirty air.
- Charity begins at home and hence the first step must be to combat indoor air pollution. Common items used in daily lives like perfumes, hair sprays, detergents, air-fresheners, etc. contain harmful chemicals like xylene and benzene. One can opt for natural or organic products that are more eco-friendly.
- Afforestation is the best method to reduce air pollution. On an individual level, one can opt for planting indoor saplings at home that not only enhances the décor but also purifies the air. Nowadays, the concept of vertical gardening is slowly gaining popularity in residential and commercial areas as well.
- Power is generated by burning fossil fuels, crude oil and coal that pollutes the air exponentially. Switching to solar energy, saving electricity using CFL and LED bulbs and turning off the lights when not in use can reduce carbon footprints drastically. Further, switching to induction based cooking or solar cooker is more fuel-efficient and consumes less energy.
- Electric vehicles are the rides of a better and cleaner future. Emission caused by petrol and diesel vehicles has been
considered as a prime factor in the contribution of pollution across all cities of India. Today, modern technology has given us the option to ride eco-friendly bikes, cars and scooters that run on electricity and CNG which are less polluting. - Using public transport and car-pooling are prudent ways to save on fuel and pollute less. Other options are Metro, e-
rickshaws, and electric shuttle buses that are economical and eco-friendly. Travelling by air leaves a bigger chunk of carbon footprints. Hence, switching to inter-city train travel and prioritizing air travel for leisure can do a lot to save our environment.
Wearing a mask and breathing within a comfortable air bubble is not a solution. Its high time to critically analyze the precarious situation that is choking our environment. Begin today and reduce your carbon footprint. Yes, say goodbye to face masks and just breathe easy!
