Different seasons, different air pollution problems?

It’s mid-July, and it’s 30°C in London, United Kingdom. But only last week it was barely in double figures, and raining.

It is often joked that “this is just typical British weather”, but in recent years the weather has been noticeably ‘more typically British’ than in the past. This situation isn’t unique to the UK, there are many countries the world over wondering when their summer will start, and how long they will last!

You’re hot then you’re cold

Nothing is certain. This year has seen a dramatic change in the weather patterns around the world.

In addition to Greenland’s ice sheet being discharged into the ocean at an alarming rate – which is a known fact – it now appears that the soaring temperatures in Greenland are causing storms and floods in Britain. The strong El Niño has reportedly started charging up the jet stream meaning California experienced a few dry, warm months this winter instead of the typical rain and storms. The mighty Mississippi, in contrast, experienced a rare winter swell that caused heavy floods at the beginning of the year.

Meanwhile, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is, as the Guardian puts it, “teetering on the brink of no return”. The landmark 400 ppm of CO₂ was measured for the first time at the Australian atmospheric measuring station at Cape Grim earlier this year and it’s feared that even levels in the northern hemisphere – which fluctuate with the seasons – are unlikely to dip below that mark again. This signals that things could still go from bad to worse as far as the impact on human health and climate change are concerned.

How bad is “bad”? To put things into perspective, the American Lung Association has recently noted in its 2016 State of Air report that more than 50% of Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of particle pollution (tiny solid and liquid particles floating around the air we breathe), or ozone pollution (harmful gases that react to sunlight).

Even if you’ve never heard of Murphy’s Law, it still applies

Probably the most disturbing and counterintuitive of all is the fact is that urban air pollution is much more severe and harmful when it’s warm and sunny. The exhaust fumes from transport or power generation are unable to easily escape, accumulating and staying in the lower levels of the atmosphere for longer.

As paradoxical as it sounds, next time the sun is shining, you may want to think twice before taking a long walk alongside a busy road. The same Murphy’s Law (or “sod’s law”, as it’s more commonly known) principle applies even if you are trying to chill on the famous Maho Beach in the Caribbean – known for its pictures of sunbathers touching the wheels of landing airplanes.

A combination of airplane fuel emissions and the sun aren’t making this beach the healthiest of paradises for its visitors. When you feel you can touch the sky, in reality you may be flirting with dangerously high levels of air pollution.

There is a silver lining though: photocatalytic materials designed to combat air pollution are also much more effective during the sunny spells and light breezy winds as well.

“Staycation” – is it healthy?

Whether you’re forced to stay at home on a cold and rainy day in the summer, or hiding inside from a heat wave in the winter – be aware that you’re faced by another silent enemy: indoor air pollution.

All the fumes that are getting in from the outside and staying can influence one’s health and well-being the same way as outdoor pollution. It’s something to consider for those opting for a “staycation” for this summer holiday or for the office environment all year round. Several companies are working on cleaning products that specifically target internal pollution that we can’t see like PURETi Clean & Fresh™.

Therefore, no matter how odd the weather patterns may seem at times in your part of the world, think about using it to your advantage. Just as you would not leave the house without a sunscreen on a hot sunny day, you should never ignore the dangers of air pollution, inside or outside.

Remember, there are proven technological solutions to help us better navigate the newly emerging weather patterns and reduce our exposure to harmful urban air pollution.