OPEN HOUSE: HOW TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION CAUSED BY SMOG Maintain cars, use public transport, renewable energy Use of home remedies, tree plantation, a total ban on crackers and creating awareness among masses can also provide succour The air pollution created by smog is causing devastation in the North Indian region. Reduction of vehicle usage on roads can provide a little relief from the problem. Car pooling and utilisation of public transportation is an alternative to reduce number of vehicles on roads. Combining errands and reducing trips to the market can be another way of keeping ourselves away from the smog and simultaneously reduce air pollution. There are various home remedies, which can be adopted to keep our personal surroundings safe and pollution free. The raw untreated camphor helps in clearing chest congestion and nasal blockage. Various air purifying indoor plants can help in clearing smog around us. Adding desi ghee, turmeric, olive oil, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables in our diet will boost our energy and keep our system strong and healthy. Essential oils like eucalyptus help in clearing bacteria in the air and add a soothing essence to the house. Sprinkling of water outdoors and eliminating the usage of fireplaces and stoves is another way of keeping our homes wholesome. ‘Khus’ curtains, used traditionally in Indian homes, are a natural filter, which keep homes fresh and cleansed. Ikjot Kaur Mann Banish crackers from society There should be no place for fireworks in our society. India is a nation with a huge population. At least 350 million of the Indian populace just manages to make both ends meet. There is abject poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, and disease in the country. Whole country should be united in rooting out these serious problems from our society. How can our own people be so insensitive towards blowing up millions on crackers? We must stop manufacturing crackers to save environment and wealth. The public must be sensitised. We tend to follow our heart more than our brain when it comes to religious matters. How could Lord Rama be happy seeing children gasping for breath post our Diwali madness? Why can’t our leaders speak in one voice about environment issues rather than baking their political bread on the fire of crackers that is destroying our fragile environment? Major (retd) Gurdeep S Samra Let’s mend our ways as govt seems helpless Smog is air pollution caused by tiny particles in the air. The word comes from a mixture of the smoke and fog. The main components of smog are ground-level ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM). These are derived from industrial and vehicular combustion of fossil fuels. Two main classes of PM — PM10 and PM2.5 — are distinguished by their size and thus ability to penetrate the human respiratory system. PM10 tends to be filtered in the nasal passages. PM2.5 is able to penetrate into the lungs and even the bloodstream. Instead of taking stringent steps to monitor and control air pollution, the state head washed his hands by simply tweeting that “Situation is serious but Punjab is helpless as problem is widespread and state has no money to compensate farmers for stubble management”. When the government fails to keep a tab on smog then we can mend our ways to deal with the situation. If the air quality forecast is poor, where possible, avoid the affected areas. If this is too difficult, stay indoors and keep your windows closed. Avoid exercising in smoggy conditions, particularly at midday when ground ozone levels are at their highest. Carry your inhaler at all times if you’re asthmatic or have chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or a combination of both. Avoid unnecessary car journeys in cities. Don’t rev up or leave vehicle engine running for a long time outside home on cold days or when stuck in traffic jams. Follow a strictly healthy diet and drink loads of water. For maintaining air quality, keep plants inside and around your house. Ravi Chander Garg Start walking, use bicycles Nowadays states including Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, are severely affected by smog, which is caused by heavy traffic, high temperature, sunshine, burning of stubble, industrial and other consumer product emissions, besides calm winds. Smog is of two types. One is photochemical and the other one is sulphur smog. Both types of smog is harmful for humans. Various problems such as emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung infections and cancer are caused by smog. It also inhibits the growth of plants and causes extensive damage to crops, trees and vegetation. Smog is also a major cause of road accidents. There maybe many more risks to small kids as it becomes difficult for then to breathe. Are we really human? If yes then what gift we are giving to the coming generations. If animals and other spices work for their well being then why can’t the most rational, civilzed and wise creature that is human being not taking care for himself and his/her predecessors. We should invest in renewable energy which helps in reduction of emissions from power generating plants depending on fossil fuel. To reduce vehicular emission use public transport, maintain cars properly and believe in walking instead of biking. Use environmentally-friendly consumer products as these release less hazardous material into the atmosphere and also emit less particular matter that reacts in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone. Smog detection and monitoring system similar to the one used in China can help. It can act as early warning system and can be used by respective Metrological Department to record the amount of emissions and particulate matter in the air. Planting more trees can keep our environment pollution free. One should take care of his own family, surroundings and other areas too as this planet belongs to all of us. Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui Urge farmers not to burn stubble Smog formation is posing a big threat to health of the people. Therefore, all required steps must be taken to deal with the issue. Smog is combination of smoke, fine carbon particles and gaseous pollutants in the atmosphere. The steps required to control smog formation depend on the source and causes for its formation. The main source for smog formation is burning of rice stubble by farmers in fields, which adds smoke, fine carbon particles and gases in the atmosphere. The first step is to stop farmers from burning stubble in their fields. The research conducted at Punjab Agricultural University has provided alternative methods for disposal of crop residue instead of burning it. One best method is to plough back rice straw into the soil. It will not only increase organic matter in the soil, but also will add nutrients resulting in more productivity. Other methods to deal with stubble are bio-char formation/fermentation, mechanical removal, making bales and their transport for use as fuel in industry and for energy production. Farmers have to clear their fields soon to plant wheat after rice. So they resort to burning stubble. Farmers are demanding compensation for not burning stubble in fields. In the interest of the public health, they must be compensated even if the state has to take loan from banks, national exchequer or aid. Smog is also formed by smoke from the industry and emissions from large number of vehicles plying on roads. There must be a check on the number of vehicles being registered in the city. The departments concerned must play a positive role in this direction. Dr G Dev, Kitchlu Nagar

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