Natural Indicators of Air Pollution. How Can You Know that It Is Better to Stay at Home?

Since you’re reading this article you probably know that smog can have a tremendous impact on human and animal health. Are you wondering whether it’s possible to measure air quality without advanced tools like sensors, or maps? What are the indicators of air pollution and why should you pay attention to them? Keep reading!

Table of Contents

• Indicator species – what are they?
• How is air pollution created?
• 3 air pollution indicators
• The takeaway

Indicator species – what are they?

Have you ever heard about the so-called indicator species? These are organisms that can be used to evaluate air quality in a given area. It’s all due to the fact that they simply can’t be found in polluted places.

How is air pollution created?

Air pollution is typically created as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels. If your vehicle uses fuel with sulphur compounds, it releases sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere. This substance can cause acid rain, and, generally, highly polluted air has a negative impact on our health as it may cause:

• asthma,
• strokes,
• heart attacks,
• respiratory and circulatory conditions,
• problems with concentration,
• nausea,
• allergies,
• cancer.

Therefore, it’s worth learning about any natural indicator of air pollution to be able to tell when it’s better to stay at home and limit our exposure to harmful substances.

3 air pollution indicators

Lichens are plants that can be used as natural indicators of air pollution, as they inform us about the concentration of sulphur dioxide in the air. They usually grow on rocks, and tree barks. Since they absorb all the necessary nutrients from rainwater, pollutants such as sulphur dioxide can effectively inhibit their growth. Therefore, lichens are natural indicators of air pollution which can be measured by evaluating their condition:

• bushy lichens mean that the air quality is good,
• leafy lichens are able to survive in slightly polluted areas,
• crusty lichens grow in more polluted areas.

The takeaway

Since smog has a negative impact on our health, it’s worth taking advantage of available natural indicators of air pollution and observe nature. Thanks to it, we can estimate whether it’s possible to safely go out or whether it’s better to stay at home in given conditions. Do you feel that these natural indicators aren’t enough? Check out our blog to learn how air pollution sensors work.