Conservation Guardians of Northwest Illinois

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Take a Deep Breath

Winter 2004-2005 Newsletter

Take a deep breath. No, wait a minute. Let’s think about that.

How deep a breath you want to take might depend upon where you live. Air pollution and the quality of air that we breathe is a concern for all of us. Air pollutants remain in the environment for long periods of time and are carried by winds sometimes hundreds or even thousands of miles from their origin.

Air pollution causes serious health problems including breathing problems, reduced lung function, asthma, irritated eyes, nasal congestion, reduced resistance to cold and infections, reduction in the ability of the blood to bring oxygen to the body’s cells and tissues, bronchitis, cancer, heart attacks and stroke. This is not good news. The damage caused to the environment by air pollution is equally as damaging. Air pollution damages plants, animals and the ecosystem.

It affects the food chain. It causes acid rain and global warming.
Rather than being devastated by this news, we need to look at the causes of air pollution and then search for ways that we can do something about it.

The most common cause of air pollution comes from energy consumption. The United States has slightly less than 5% of the world’s population and yet we consume 26% of the world’s oil. Most of our pollution comes from the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal ) to power industrial processes and motor vehicles.

So if we can cut down on the burning of these fossil fuels we can cut down on the amount of pollution that is produced. We can take several steps that will make a difference.

We can be wise transportation users:

1. Whenever possible, we can use public transportation.
   — We can walk more or ride a bike.
   — We can combine errands into one trip .
   — We can shop by mail, phone or on-line.
   — We can avoid drive-thru lines (park and walk in).
   — We can avoid revving or idling the engine for long periods.
   — We can use cruise control to maintain a consistent speed.
   — We can keep our car(s) in good working order, including proper inflation of tires.
   — We can buy a new car (new cars pollute less than old ones).
   — We can buy a car that get excellent gas mileage.
   — We can buy a hybrid car.
    
2. We can be wise electricity/energy users:
   — We can use compact fluorescent lights.
   — We can turn off appliances and light when you leave the room.
   — We can use a microwave to to reheat or cook small meals.
   — We can recycle paper, plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans—it takes energy to produce all of these.
   — We can reuse paper bags and boxes.
   — We can properly dispose of paints, solvents, and pesticides.
   — We can paint with a brush – not a sprayer.
   — We can maintain fireplaces, air conditioners and refrigerators.
   — We can buy products that have the Green Power symbol on them.
   — We can turn thermostats down in the winter and up in the summer.
   — We can check furnace filters.
    
3. We can ask our senators and representatives to enact wise legislation:
   — We can ask for a higher tax on gasoline (It will cut down on consumption and the revenue from the tax can be used to build and upgrade public transportation and develop alternate fuels).
   — We can offer tax credits to people who buy hybrid cars or cars with excellent gas mileage.
   — We can insist on the enforcement of strict standards of air quality.
   — We can elect people to local, state and federal offices who are willing to work for a cleaner quality of air for all of us.

Go ahead and take a good deep breath. It promotes sound thinking!

—Judith Wehrle