Health
Research shows that climate change is impacting our lives and health in many ways. It affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, our wellbeing and our homes. By 2070, in Suffolk, evidence suggests we will see more extreme heat, more flooding and more people dying early from heart, lung and brain diseases.
Pollution from vehicle exhausts is a big contributor to climate change, and it also has a big impact on our health.
When we breathe polluted air, we breathe in a mix of gases and particles. These particles can stick in our throat and our lungs. Smaller particles can pass into our blood and be transported around the body into many different organs. Breathing polluted air is linked to a range of health issues including asthma, chronic heart disease (CHD), and strokes. It can also stunt the development of children’s lungs.
So, what can we do to protect our health?
Choose to travel on quieter routes
- Taking a quieter route and avoiding busy main roads will help to reduce your exposure to air pollutants, whether you’re in a vehicle or on foot. Walking or scooting as far away from the main road as possible will help.
- Go Jauntly is a free Walking App that enables you to select Green Routes for your journey, taking you away from polluted roads.
- You can also find maps and route suggestions on the Discover Suffolk webpages and app.
Avoid travelling at busy times of day
- Avoid travelling during rush hours and heavily congested times to avoid exposure inside or outside of a car. If you can, delay or start your journey earlier to reduce your exposure.
- Travelling outside of rush hours should also make a quicker, easier and more pleasant journey.
Ventilation
- Air pollution can come from everyday activities such as cooking, cleaning and showering. It can build up over time inside your home.
- Opening windows can help with air pollution by allowing indoor pollutants to escape. If you live close to a busy road, open windows at the back of the house to avoid pollutants coming in from outside.
- Open windows a few times a day to refresh the air in your rooms, especially when cooking or showering.
- Avoid opening windows during peak times, such as rush hour, as air pollution levels will be higher outside.
