How do our bodies reduce the impact of air pollution?

Air pollution in Beijing. Image: carnewschina.com

You definitely feel the difference in the air quality in major cities and the countryside and we have heard how Beijing with a very dense population of dizziness facing air pollution, as well as other major cities in the world.

 Exposure to pollution often can not be avoided. Even so, it turns the body has its own mechanism to counteract the pollution so that the normal exposure, the body is only getting minimal impact.

As quoted from the website health.kompas.com, Agus Dwi Susanto, a lung specialist from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia explained that the body has a mechanism of disposal of carbon monoxide at a time, which is in the morning after waking. Carbon monoxide is known as the most abundant gas in air pollution, especially from vehicle exhaust. Agus said that the release of carbon monoxide gas will be equivalent to that enter the body from exposure to pollution with normal levels. 

Taman Menteng, a new park in Jakarta. Image: portal.cbn.net.id

Pollution levels are normally interpreted as being on the road and drive a vehicle. However, if the exposure is more than that, the body's mechanism for removing carbon monoxide was not proportional to the amount of exposure that goes.

Agus said, exposure to excessive pollution is caused by smoking or because we live in an area with high levels of air pollution, such as factories or near the highway. Secondly, it could result in a total carbon monoxide enters the body was not completely getting out of the human body so that we can experience health problems, especially disorders of the respiratory organs. The rest of the pollution which has already entered into the human body then would be if the residue and sediment over the years will trigger diseases such as lung cancer.

What should we do to prevent the disease from exposure to air pollution?

If the air quality in the city you are in an unhealthy, you can use a mask when you are riding a motorcycle, so you can reduce the entry of foul air from other vehicles, and from the air that is around you. If you are unfamiliar with exercise activities, particularly jogging or swimming, then you will have lungs that is more powerful than your friends who are lazy exercise.

Jokowi (with mic) opens a new park in Pluit Reservoir. Image: foto.news.viva.co.id

Relax in the city park that decorated with large trees and no green grass, is also a solution to get some fresh air, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. If you 've got a bit of empty land in your home, remember to plant trees or flowers so that you can get extra oxygen.

If you have time to spare, then you need a vacation out of town, for example, to the mountains, lakes, woods to enjoy the fresh air, so you get an exchange of air from the nose to the lungs and internal organs. In addition to getting some fresh air, get away out of the city will also reduce the pressure that has made you stress.

If you have not busy, then you need a vacation out of town, for example, to the mountains, lakes, woods to enjoy the fresh air, so you get the air exchange from the nose to the lungs and internal organs. As human beings, we also require the exchange of air to nourish the body. In addition to getting some fresh air, then vacation out of town will also reduce the pressure that has made you stress. 

Banjir Kanal Timur Park, Jakarta. Image: property.okezone.com

You also need to suggest to you that the city government plant more trees, you need a garden city even wider, if necessary, propose to the mayor or the governor to create an urban forest. Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia is now under a new governor, Joko Wi (Indonesian presidential candidate in 2014)  has made a policy to make more parks around the city, and even many slums are transformed into a beautiful garden with a water reservoir for flood control. The program will continue to be positive by adding a good public transport city bus (Trans Jakarta) and MRT (Mass Rapid Transport), so that the residents of Jakarta and its surroundings will reduce the use of motorcycles and other motor vehicles.

If your city has a green open space and urban forest, the city you will definitely have a beautiful city, healthy and can prevent global warming. In the long run, you and other city residents will live healthier and happier.