Today, air pollution has become one of the gravest threats to mankind. While people are aware that both outdoor and indoor air pollution is largely caused due to the presence of toxic gases and dangerous pollutants in the air, there is yet another more insidious source of pollution called electronic pollution, which is silently shattering the environment and having adverse effects on human health.
According to the latest report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), this kind of pollution is causing severe health concerns for millions of people around the world. Approximately 23 percent of deaths in developing nations are linked to electronic pollution and other environmental impacts. Research reveals that more than 200 million people worldwide are at risk of exposure to toxic waste. It's time that we stop ignoring the potential dangers of this pollution and start paying attention to the facts.
Looking at the enormous amount of pollution generated through electronics, tackling the situation wisely is the need of the hour. We are constantly being exposed to electric and magnetic fields (EMF's) - invisible lines of force that surround all electrical devices. Right from television and radio waves, wireless Wi-Fi internet, to cell phone emissions there are thousand other sources that are being bombarded through a constant stream of electronic pollution. Persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals released in the atmosphere due to the rudimentary recycling techniques coupled with the amounts of e-waste processed, can be easily accumulated in the human body through the inhalation of contaminated air and can cause diseases related to the skin, stomach, respiratory tract and other organs. Additionally, it also causes high incidences of birth defects, infant mortality, tuberculosis, blood diseases, and anomalies in the immune system, malfunctioning of the kidneys and respiratory system, lung cancer, underdevelopment of the brain in children and damage to the nervous and blood systems.
A few precautionary measures that can help in protecting and reducing your exposure to electronic pollution are listed below:
" Reduce the number of electronic devices like TV's in your home. Ask yourself this- do you really need three TV's in your house? How many can you watch or use at once?
" Recycle your old consumer electronics, don't just throw them. There are dedicated recyclers available in most of the cities. By using these facilities, the harmful heavy metals can be kept out of landfill and this will help water and air remain cleaner for the future generation
" Turn your cell phone and Wi-Fi off at night as our brain is most susceptible to the damaging RF radiation and we are more vulnerable to the DNA-altering effects of EMFs while we are sleeping
" All the products you buy for your home impacts your indoor air quality. Resort to environmentally friendly electronics
" A good air purifier is most effective in removing the indoor air pollutants. Opt for an air purifier which has a high efficiency particulate air filtration (HEPA) filter which can trap small particles and pollutants and help in improving the air quality
By adopting these few practices and tips, let us pave way towards safeguarding our family and environment from the dangers of electronic pollution.
Guest Author
The author is chief scientific officer- water purification technology at Eureka Forbes Limited
