Did you know that the air inside your home can be polluted too? And guess what? Your kitchen plays a big role in it!
Researchers at the Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) at the University of Surrey are on a mission to make our air cleaner.
They’ve created a Kitchen Pollution Guide to help us out, and even the government of Egypt is using it!
So, what’s the big deal about kitchen air pollution? It’s really harmful and can lead to about four million people dying too soon every year.
That’s mostly because of the smoke and fumes from cooking with fuels like wood and charcoal.
Professor Prashant Kumar, who started GCARE, says many of us don’t think about how the kitchen air can be dirty. We usually think it’s a safe and clean place in our homes.
Professor Kumar and his team, who come from 20 different countries, want to change this. They’ve put together tips and advice that are easy for everyone to follow.
Their guide is even available in 17 languages because they want as many people as possible to benefit from it. They also made a short video to explain things in a simple way.
So, what can you do to make the air in your kitchen cleaner? Here are some of their top tips:
- Fry Less: The more you fry food, the more smoke you make. Try to reduce the number of meals you fry to make your kitchen’s air cleaner.
- Quick Cooking: The longer you cook, the more pollution you create. So try to have shorter cooking sessions whenever you can.
- Keep Kids Away: If you have children or other people who are not cooking, it’s better for them to stay out of the kitchen to avoid breathing in the bad air.
- Open Windows: Always open your kitchen windows when you’re cooking. This helps to let out the carbon dioxide and other bad stuff from the air.
These tips aren’t just for individuals; they’re for everyone involved in making houses and even for the government.
Dr. Yasmin Fouad from Egypt’s Ministry of the Environment said that they are promoting these practices to help people avoid the bad effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution.
You might wonder why this is such a big deal. But think about it: the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in our homes. It’s where we cook our meals, where families often gather, and it’s central to our daily lives.
That’s why clean air in the kitchen is super important. Dirty air in your home can affect your lungs, make you cough, and even lead to serious diseases over time.
So the next time you’re in the kitchen, remember these tips. Simple changes can go a long way in making sure you and your family are breathing cleaner, healthier air.
Thank you, GCARE, for showing us how to make our kitchens a better place to breathe!
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Source: University of Surrey.
