Causes of Smog during Winters and How to Protect Yourself

Causes of Smog

For the past few weeks, cities in northern India have been covered in a thick layer of winter smog. The situation has turned quite drastic in the National Capital, Delhi. This smog is caused by the collection of Particulate Matter (a very fine type of dust and toxic gases) in the air due to stagnant movement of air during winters.

Smog causes a number of health issues for individuals with or without respiratory ailments. Asthmatic attacks, shortness of breath and bout of flus and infections are some of the common health issues associated with polluted air. Several researches also suggest that the PM particles can get mixed in our bloodstream and reach internal organs, causing a number of heart and brain related ailments.

Main Causes of Smog

Air pollution is mostly a result of human activity and as such, there are several reasons we experience increased pollution in urban centers. Here,

Here are the main causes of winter smog,

  1. Diwali celebrations involving fire crackers cause a lot of air pollution during the festive days. As mentioned above, the harmful gases and particles from crackers remain mixed in the air due to stagnant winds of winter, keeping the air polluted.
  2. The advent of winters also means the beginning of new cropping season in the North Indian states. Millions of tons of paddy from the previous yield is burned away by the farmers,which inadvertently causes a rise in air pollution.
  3. Vehicular emissions are another prominent cause of air pollution as the pollution from vehicles also remains trapped in the environment due to lower wind movement during winters.
  4. Also, construction activity and industrial production is generally ramped up during winters due to a change in weather, which results in more dust entering the environment.

Steps You Can Take Against the Threats of Smog

There are several precautionary steps that can be taken against the air pollution.

  1. Traveling in closed vehicles is recommended when going out of home. You can also buy a portable car air purifier to ensure that your vehicle stays protected from PM and VOC.
  2. Buy a mask which offers protection from PM5 pollutants, wear it when out in open public spaces.
  3. Buy a home air purifier or an office air purifier for protection from indoor air pollution. Air purifiers that come with HEPA filters offer the best results in clearing out pollutants from the ambient air.
  4. Getting some indoor plants such as Aloe Vera, Indian Basil and Spider Plant is also a good idea, as these plants offer protection from formaldehyde and benzene pollutants.
  5. Keep the children and elderly from engaging in outdoor and strenuous activities on smoggy days

Honeywell offers smart home solutions for a healthier and happier lifestyle. Honeywell air purifiers are rated as some of the best home and office air filtration products in India. Honeywell also provides replacement filters at very reasonable prices which makes their products an ideal long term investment for your family’s health.

Continue reading here: Diseases Caused by Air Pollution

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