AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution causes damage to human health and ecosystems. It causes greater environmental risks to health, aggravates diseases such as respiratory, cardiovascular and cancerous diseases, and therefore reduces life expectancy.

Atmospheric pollution is produced by various sources, both human and natural:

• Fossil fuel consumption for electricity generation, transport, industry and households
• Os procesos industriais e o uso de disolventes
• Agriculture
• Waste treatment
• Natural emission sources: volcanic eruptions, windblown dust, sea salt aerosols and the emission of volatile organic compounds from plants.

– How can we reduce it?

• Support public transport: reduce the use of cars and opt for sustainable, public, efficient and economic transport.
• Buy local products: you will avoid transporting products from distant places, avoiding fuel costs and the pollution that this entails.
• Consume ecological products: in the production of these products avoid the use of chemical elements that could harm the environment.
• Choose renewable energies: this type of energy is obtained from natural sources that produce energy in an uninterruptible way, such as the sun, the air or the sea. In addition to being non-exhaustible, they have no impact on the environment.

NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollution is the presence in the environment of noise or vibrations that imply annoyance, risk, or damage to people and the environment. Prolonged exposure to noise has both physical and psychological effects on health. It has cardiovascular and metabolic impacts, effects on sound, cognitive and hearing impairment, problems in infants and in general on quality of life, mental health and well-being. That is why it is important to try to reduce noise pollution.

Noise pollution in urban areas is very diverse, but can generally be divided into 4 categories:

• Road traffic, circulation of vehicles: produces 80% of noise in cities.
• Construction sites, industrial buildings: they produce 10% of the total noise.
• Railways: produce 6% of noise.
• Bars, clubs, music and other types of activities: these make up 4% of the remaining noise.

– How to reduce it:

• Walk on public roads in an orderly manner without shouting.
• Avoid using a motor vehicle if it is not essential.
• Avoid noisy activities outside daylight hours, such as vacuuming or washing machines.
• Respect the hours of rest and night time.
• Avoid playing music or television at a very high volume to prevent hearing discomfort both for yourself and for the rest of your neighbours.

LIGHT POLLUTION

Light pollution is one of the most important problems in environments inhabited by humans. Excessive and incorrect urban lighting has an impact on our health, economy and environment. So much light and so many hours causes changes in sound and impacts associated with various health problems such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, depression and anxiety disorders.

There is a higher concentration of light pollution in urban areas and on illuminated roads, where the presence of humans is greater. Some examples of the causes of this type of pollution are: public lighting, vehicle traffic, advertising banners, neon signs, shop lights.

– What can we do to reduce it?

• Use motion sensors: they will switch on the light only when necessary.
• Use less polluting lamps: choose lamps with higher energy efficiency and less pollutants. Reduce the power of the light if possible.
• Do not project onto the skyline: light cannons, lasers and other lights projected onto the skyline cause very high light pollution.
• Turn off the lights when you don’t use them: don’t make a habit of leaving the lights on and remember to turn them off when they are not necessary.
• Use LED lamps: they reduce energy consumption and energy costs considerably.