The Air Quality Index (AQI) across Punjab has soared past toxic levels, leaving citizens gasping for clean air, as smog—a toxic mixture of fog, pollutants, dust particles and climate change-induced weather patterns—persists despite various government measures aimed at addressing it.
While there is little the public can do in the short-term to alleviate the prevailing pollution, health experts have some suggestions for how to ensure you suffer the least from its ill-effects.
Air purifiers
For those who can afford it, the best option is to invest in a good-quality air purifier for your home, ideally with a HEPA filter, which can help reduce indoor pollution levels. These devices are most effective in contained spaces, with all doors and windows closed to reduce the ingress of outdoor pollution. In Pakistan, prices of air purifiers range from Rs. 30,000 for budget models to Rs. 300,000 for high-end devices.
Cooler air
For those who cannot install air purifiers, a potential option for purifying the air in your room is by utilizing air conditioners, which have a limited ability to cleanse the air. These are also safer alternatives to ceiling fans, which merely serve to recirculate air.
Protective masks
While health experts recommend staying indoors during times of high AQI, if you must travel outdoors, wear a N95 or KN95 mask. These masks can filter out many airborne particles, helping to protect your lungs from direct exposure, which is particularly vital for vulnerable groups.
Keep clean
Wash your hands and face regularly, taking special care to rinse out itchy eyes with an emergency eyewash bottle that utilizes boric acid to soothe irritation.
Green is key
Move a few plants into your house to help filter the smog and carbon dioxide in the air. Aloe Vera, Spider Plants and Chinese Evergreens are among the most easily available and recommended air-purifying plants. Going green also applies to your diet; eating foods rich in antioxidants, like berries, nuts, leafy greens, and citrus fruits, may help combat inflammation and oxidative stress caused by air pollution.
Hydration
Drink lots of water throughout the day. This is especially pertinent for children and those feeling unwell. Those suffering from coughs cause by smog, should gargle a few times with salty water to dislodge any embedded pollutants. If the coughing persists, consider using a nasal blockage inhaler for speedy relief. Some people might also benefit from short periods of steam therapy, which can soothe your respiratory system, loosening mucus and easing irritation from smog particles.
Stay prepared
Smog tends to be an excellent medium for disease so get those flu shots. These are especially advisable for children under-five as they are most at risk and can prove vectors for disease transmission to entire families.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is the leading cause of premature deaths globally. Non-governmental organization Fair Finance Pakistan has estimated that air pollution causes at least 128,000 in Pakistan annually, while the U.N. has warned over 11 million children under-five are exposed to toxic air in Punjab alone. In recent days, this has led to hundreds of people being hospitalized, especially in Lahore, exhibiting shortness of breath, itchy eyes and a rise in viral infections. The effects are most pronounced in vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.
In this scenario, it is vital that people take steps to protect themselves, especially as smog is likely to persist—to varying degrees—for the next two months.