Parenting - Impact of PM2.5 on Human Body

Air pollution is harmful to the human body, especially in Taiwan by the haze in mainland China, fall and winter northeast monsoon to the south, the sky is always gray and hazy, if not properly protected, the body will have an impact on all systems; therefore, the Environmental Protection Agency has also announced the amendment of the "serious deterioration of air quality emergency measures", when the fine suspended particles of PM2.5 up to 350 micrograms, prohibit motorcycles on the road, but also prohibit the hosting of road running, ball games, and other outdoor sports. PM2.5, known as particulate matter, refers to particulate matter in the atmosphere with a diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers, and is also known as lung-enterable particulate matter. Its diameter is less than 1/28 of a human hair, and it is so small that it can penetrate the alveoli of the lungs.The main source of PM2.5 is human emissions, of which the direct emissions mainly come from the combustion process; the other gaseous pollutants in the air that are converted into PM2.5 are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds, in addition to various kinds of dust and pollen, etc. The population of smokers in Taiwan is declining, but the number of people who smoke has decreased. Taiwan's smoking population is declining, but the incidence of lung cancer is increasing year by year, one of which is related to the high concentration of PM2.5 in the air. In Taiwan, 75% of women with lung cancer did not smoke, and the study found that the culprit was fine suspended particles PM2.5. The cause of lung cancer is related to air pollution, and people inhale PM2.5 into the lungs to accumulate, which will stimulate lung cancer. Severe air pollution has caused the lung cancer rate in Beijing to explode to 56% in 10 years, and according to data released by the World Health Organization, the mortality rate increases by 6% for every 10μm/m3 increase in the concentration of PM2.5. It's very difficult for people who are breathing all the time not to come into contact with suspended particles, and the first thing that we can do is to avoid as much contact as possible with the source of the pollutant in the first place. To minimize the impact of air quality on the body, the National Institute of Health and Wellness (NIH) offers the following 5 tips to protect the public from air pollution:

1. Wear a mask / It is recommended that you wear a mask and a jacket when you go out to avoid direct contact between your skin and respiratory tract and dirty air.

2. Reduce the time spent outdoors, especially for the elderly, children and patients with chronic respiratory diseases; avoid outdoor exercise and stay indoors instead.

3. Enhance hygiene/Strengthen personal hygiene protection such as washing hands, face and nose when going in and out of the house. Insulate against pollution / Close windows and doors as appropriate to minimize the chance of dirty air entering the house.

4. Regular work and rest/exercise is one of the ways to fight air pollution. Maintaining a regular work and rest schedule and exercising properly can enhance your health and prevent respiratory discomfort and other illnesses.