The correct order would be sensory, short term, long term.
1. Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke. Cigarette smoke is known to reduce your cardiorespiratory health and increase the risk of developing cancers. Talk to your physician, pharmacist or visit QuitNow.ca to get free help with smoking cessation. Try to avoid exposure to second-hand smoke.
2. Pay attention to local air quality advisories. Try to reduce your exposure to outdoor air pollution by spending more time inside when air pollution levels are high. If you have allergies to plants try to avoid parks during pollen season.
3. Get cardiovascular exercise. Exercise improves your cardiovascular and respiratory health. Studies suggest that fitness reduces your susceptibility to the harmful effects of air pollution. Getting more than 2.5 hours a week of vigorous aerobic activity is ideal, but every little bit helps. Try to exercise indoors when outdoor air pollution levels are high.
4. Walk, cycle or use public transportation. Try to walk or cycle, rather than drive, to get around as this improves your fitness and does not produce any air pollution. For longer trips take public transport to reduce local air pollution.
5. Reduce air pollution generation at home. Try to heat and power your home using renewably generated electricity. Alternatively, burn smart by replacing wood stoves with electric or gas furnaces. Take advantage of local wood stove exchange programs. Consider replacing any gasoline burning machines that you own, i.e. lawn mowers, leaf blowers, snow plows, string trimmers, chainsaws, with battery or electric versions.
6. Use indoor HEPA air filters. High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter based air conditioning and air purifier systems can reduce the particulate matter and allergens in indoor air. However, avoid ‘ionic’ or filter-free systems as these often generate high amounts of the air pollutant ozone.
