Something's in the air right now, and it's not looking pretty.

What really determines air pollution?

To gauge whether or not an area has dangerous air quality, we often use the measurement of Air Quality Index (AQI). 

This Index calculates the density of five pollutants in the air: ground-level ozone, particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The higher the AQI, the less breathable the air.

Here is a simple guide on how to read Air Quality Index:

• AQI 0-99 = At a healthy level or below the level known to cause adverse health effects.
• AQI 100-199 = The outdoor air may remain safe for many people, but older adults, children, and people with heart or lung disease would be at risk.
• AQI 200-300 = Very unhealthy. Some areas neighboring wildfires have recorded AQI within this range.
• AQI 301-500 = Extreme condition of air pollution. Highest AQI ever recorded was almost at 500 in 2021, Sustained in Salem, Oregon, the United States.

See historic air quality data + real-time overview of air pollution around the world here. For more info on Air Quality Index, check out New York Times’s coverage here.

Hidden effects of the invisible

Though seeming very trivial and harmless, air holds the power both as a life giver and taker. The impacts of air pollution not only linger in the lungs but can also make its way into the brain.

Memory Loss

1. A recent study by the American Academy of Neurology found older women living in areas with high levels of air pollution may be more likely to develop dementia.
2. Air pollution can have a dangerous impact on our memory, in some cases even leading to the onset of Alzheimer’sdisease.
3. Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet found that long-term exposure to PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide is associated with a higher risk of dementia and heart disease.
4. Another research suggested that increasing levels of inflammation caused by air pollution increases the risk of having a stroke, and people are 50x more likely to develop dementia in the year after a major stroke.

Decision Fatigue

A study by researchers at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics measured the indoor air quality at chess tournaments in Germany:

1. It was found that different types of pollution have different levels of impact on cognition.
2. CO2 only significantly affects decision making when the chess players were under time stress.
3. PM10 had a much greater effect on cognition and decision making regardless of time pressure. 

Read more on the hidden harms of air pollution, especially how it impacts the mind in the full article here.

Shielding your lungs from the risks

Now that we’re at a point of urgency, protecting yourself comes more as a necessity— of course, while we continue our best to prevent the air from getting worse.

Some of the proper precautions you can take to minimize the effects of air pollution include:

• Reading the daily forecast to see what air pollution looks like in your area. You can use websites such as airnow.gov to track hourly updates. 
• Closing your doors and windows when the AQI shows anywhere over 151. In the meantime, turn on fans or use an air conditioner to stay cool.
• Recirculate the air in your car while you drive. Check your control panel for the recirculate button, which prevents outside air from cycling through your vehicle.
• Wear a mask that filters out most bad air particles. N95 or FFP3 will do the job best, as it will protect you from breathing in polluted air.
• Travel to work a bit earlier so you aren’t exposed to as much exhaust. Hit the road 30-60 minutes earlier to avoid rush hour.

If you’re looking for any other extra-mile ways to protect not only yourself but also the society from the risks of air pollution, you can also try out ways such as:

• Petition for regulations to ban bus idling (or other vehicles idling).
• Push your local government to reinforce laws regarding trash burning.
• Visit less stores and restaurants that are not listed as tobacco-free.

Find more tips you can incorporate into your daily routine to prevent the worsening of air pollution here. 

Breathing is one of the most basic rights we have as humans, but what should we do when even the most essential part of the human experience is disrupted?

Share this week’s Monday Mavens edition to your colleagues, especially those who commute a lot.

We wish you a clearer, healthier air for the upcoming week. See you next Monday!