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It is no great secret that air pollution contributes to climate change and does nothing but damage our planet. From causing asthma in kids, to ruining buildings via acid rain, pollution in the air has many negative side effects.

You may think that the vast majority of air pollution is caused by big business and that there is nothing you can do as an individual to help improve the air quality in your city. The reality is, however, that there are plenty of changes we can make as individuals that will contribute to the cause.

Check out this gallery to find out how you can do your bit.

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In this day and age, it is no great secret that air pollution is bad. From harming human health to causing acid rain, the presence of particulate matter in the atmosphere affects us in many negative ways.

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Let’s start by looking at how air pollution is harmful to human health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated seven million people die each year from air pollution.

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Indeed, short-term exposure to air pollution can cause coughing, dizziness, and fatigue, while long-term exposure can cause respiratory diseases such as asthma, as well as cardiovascular and nervous system damage.

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But air pollution is not only harmful to human life; it is also bad for plants and animals. Plants and crops grow less when exposed long term, and animals can suffer respiratory problems.

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The pollution of air by burning fossil fuels can also cause acid rain, which in turn damages the leaves of vegetation and increases the acidity of soils and water.

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Buildings and other structures are also affected by acid rain. Indeed, it is estimated that acid rain causes up to US$5 billion in property damage each year.

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The presence of particulate matter in the air also reduces the amount of sunlight that reaches the earth. This not only reduces visibility, but also affects farming.

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When there is less sunlight available, plants are less able to photosynthesize, meaning that crops are less productive and forests grow at a slower rate.

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There's still hope! For each of the ways that air pollution causes harm, there is something you can do as an individual to improve the air quality of your home and your city.

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Many of the tips for reducing air pollution involve changing the way we travel. A great first step is to reduce your number of car journeys by shopping locally.

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Travel to shops in your local area by walking or cycling, and if you need to go further consider using public transport (at least in one direction).

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If you have kids, try and get them walking or cycling to school. Starting the day on foot or by bike is a great way to get the blood pumping and kick-start the day.

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There is another incentive here: including physical activity in your kids’ daily lives makes them more likely to be active and healthy in their adult lives.

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Of course, you can also practice what you preach by cycling or walking during your commute. Or take public transport, and then walk that last stretch?

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Not only will you contribute to improving your city’s air quality, you will also do yourself a great favor when it comes to improving your mood and your physical health.

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An important (although perhaps obvious) tip is to reduce the number of journeys you make in the car. Of course, this is not always practical.

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If you cannot get rid of your car just yet, make sure you service it regularly, so as to reduce its impact on air pollution and on the environment in general.

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One last car-related tip: give car-sharing a go. If your kids’ school run is impossible without a car, consider taking part in a car-sharing scheme.

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Not only will you reduce your contribution to air pollution, but you’ll save yourself some money on fuel, too.

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Now for some tips that aren’t necessarily transport related. Firstly, it’s important to remember that air pollution often begins at home.

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Consider switching to an energy provider that uses renewable energy sources. You may also think about installing better insulation or more efficient appliances.

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It is also important to avoid burning things in your home or yard. Domestic burning is unfortunately quite popular, and it contributes heavily to particulate matter emissions.

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Avoid burning solid fuels in open fires or wood burning stoves, and steer clear of burning leaves and rubbish in your yard.

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The connection between the meat industry and air pollution may not be immediately obvious, but, in fact, animal agriculture contributes heavily to air pollution.

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Cut down the amount of meat and dairy you consume, and you will do your bit to reduce ammonia emissions that cause pollution to the air, as well as surface and ground waters.

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Another change you can start doing is planting more trees and greenery. Plants are great for reducing air pollution because they take CO2 out of the air.

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Supporting a local garden initiative, or even just planting some new trees in your backyard, is a great way to improve your city’s air quality over the long term.

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And finally, it is a great idea to support clean air legislation. At any given time there are usually local developments and policy changes underway that are focused on reducing air pollution.

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Keep an eye on developments and work out how you can best support any positive legislative changes. Together we can keep our air cleaner for longer!

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So there you have a few tips for how to improve the air quality in your city. Remember that there are a whole host of other things you can do to improve air quality in your home, too.

Sources: (UCAR) (Sustrans)