We breathe in between 17,000-30,000 breaths per day on average, so there is plenty of opportunity for pollution to enter our lungs and affect us.

What is it?

Air pollution is when particles, gases or other things that are harmful to us or to the environment get into the atmosphere that surrounds us.

Why it is happening?

The amount and type of air pollution around us varies depending on where we live. Pollution from road traffic is the most significant cause of air pollution. It is estimated it could be responsible for up to 70% of air pollution. So if you live in a city or near major roads, you are more likely to be exposed to air pollution.

There are also other sources of pollution including:

• Factories and power plants - the burning of fossil fuels releases Carbon Dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere.
• Agricultural process – caused partly by fertilizing fields and operating heavy farm machinery.
• Dust – in 2014 dust from the Saharan desert blew over to the UK and is through to have made the existing air pollution worse.
• Indoor air pollution – It’s possible to have pollution even indoors, caused by smoking, lack of air circulation and cleaning chemicals.

What are pollutants?

Here’s the science… some of the main pollutants in our air are:

• Nitrogen oxide: a toxic gas which is produced by diesel engines.
• Carbon monoxide: a colourless, odorless, toxic gas caused largely by vehicular exhaust.
• Methane: an extremely efficient greenhouse gas which contributes to enhanced global warming and is caused by industry and agriculture.
• Particulates: tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in the air. They are cause by the burning of fossil fuels or natural activity like fires or volcano eruptions. Particulates are thought to be harmful to humans when they enter the lungs.
• Sulfur oxide: a chemical compound produced by volcanoes and industrial processes. Sulfur oxides can lead to acid rain.

But does it really affect your health?

Generally if you are young and in a good state of health, moderate air pollution levels are unlikely to have any serious short term effects. If levels are high you could experience symptoms such as watery eyes, coughing, or wheezing. If you have asthma or any other breathing problems, air pollution could affect them.

However, it is the long term exposure to air pollution which is thought could lead to more serious symptoms and conditions affecting human health. These mainly affect the lungs, but can also lead to other conditions such as heart disease and cancer. One report estimated that 29,000 premature deaths a year could be caused by poor air quality in the UK.

What can I do?

• Check the weather forecast. On BBC Weather you will see that there is also a pollution count. If the levels of pollution are high then it may be best not to do lots of exercise outdoors that day. (However, it’s not an excuse to never exercise! You still need regular exercise to remain healthy.)
• Avoid jogging right next to busy roads – this is where the air quality is likely to be worst.
• Avoid the heat – the heat can make air quality worse by cooking the pollutants up into a soup-like smog. It may be better to spend more time indoors on those days.
• If you are travelling abroad to a very polluted city then it is worth checking the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website to see if they have any current health warnings about the area. Some cities such as Beijing or Delhi are known to generally have high levels of pollution.
• Take control of your indoor air pollution levels – don’t allow others to smoke indoors and beware of the type of chemicals you use inside the house. It is also a good idea to air the place properly, and it helps to get some indoor plants (they are the clever things that make all our oxygen after all).
• You can campaign to promote greater air pollution awareness in your area, and take steps to reduce the amount of air pollution you create. See our fact file on Greener Living to get ideas on how to create less air pollution.

Will it get better?

With research into green energies, plus the manufacture of electric cars and government schemes to introduce clean air zones reduce traffic - it is very possible that we might see a reduction in the amount of air pollution in our cities over the next few decades.

Remember to do your bit and watch out for ways your lifestyle could contribute to increasing air pollution. And if you don’t need to take the car, why not walk instead?