Air pollution

Hey there! Take a look outside with me for a second, right here in Buffalo. What’s really going on in our sky? We all know about pollution, but have you ever stopped to think that there might be stuff floating around in our air that we can’t even see? I’m not just talking about the usual smoke from cars; I’m talking about tiny, almost invisible things that can be bad news for us, our lakes, our trees, and even the animals we share our home with. Living in Buffalo for the past four years, I’ve really seen how the air quality can change, and it makes me think about how it touches my life every day. Now that we’re thinking about it, let’s dive into what’s happening and what we can actually do to make things better and end pollution.

Buffalo’s Hidden Air Crisis: What You’re Breathing and How It’s Hurting Us

Even though you can’t see it with your own eyes, the air in Buffalo can have some sneaky stuff in it that’s not good for our bodies. Which is why we must come together to end pollution. Remember when we were little, and grown-ups told us to cover our mouths and noses when we sneezed because of tiny particles flying around? Well, imagine those same tiny particles coming out of big factories and lots of cars – things we can’t just cover our noses to avoid! I remember when I was a kid, the air felt so fresh. My brother and I would play in the park, just breathing it all in. But lately, it almost feels like you can feel something heavy in your chest sometimes. If you have trouble breathing, like with asthma, this bad air can make it even harder. Clean air is one of the most important things we need to live, so this is a big deal for all of us. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has done a lot of work on this, and they’ve shown how breathing in polluted air can lead to serious health problems over time.  

The Sneaky Problem of Acid Rain and Ending Air Pollution

Think about acid for a second. What comes to mind? Now, imagine that mixing with rain. That’s kind of what acid rain is. When certain pollution goes up into the air, it mixes with the clouds. Then, when it rains, it’s like an acid ring falling down. This rain can get into our lakes and oceans, and it’s really harmful to the fish and other creatures living there. It can also soak into the ground and hurt our trees and plants. When I take walks in Delaware Park, sometimes I see trees that look like they’re sick or even dying. It’s terrible that something like acid rain can do that. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is working hard to fight against this, trying to keep our nature healthy.   

Nitrogen Trouble and Our Efforts Towards Ending Air Pollution

Algae dirty water

We all know that plants need food to grow, right? One of their foods is called nitrogen. But because there’s so much air pollution, sometimes there’s way too much nitrogen in the air. I’ve noticed that after it rains really hard, a lot of water runs into our rivers and lakes. If this water has too much nitrogen in it, it makes these tiny green plants called algae grow like crazy. Have you ever seen a lake covered in green stuff and thought it looked yucky? Well, that algae blocks the sunlight that other plants and fish need. And when the algae die, they use up all the oxygen in the water, so the fish and even turtles can’t breathe. This is a huge problem for the animals living in Buffalo’s waters and the population needs to end.   

The Scary Truth Behind Indoor Air Pollution in Buffalo and Ways of Ending Air PollutionIndoors

Woman cleaning

We’ve talked a lot about the air outside, but have you ever thought about the air inside our own homes here in Buffalo? Things we use every day, like cleaning sprays and even just the stuff our furniture is made of, can put tiny bad things into the air we breathe indoors. Even something as small as mold growing on a wall can make us feel really sick. That’s why doing things like spring cleaning regularly is so important. If we don’t, things like headaches and allergies can get much worse. It’s a good idea to open your windows sometimes to let fresh air in. We want our homes to be safe places, so let’s try to do some healthier things inside. The World Health Organization (WHO) gives advice on how to keep the air inside our homes clean and healthy.   

You Can Be a Part of the Change

Even small changes can make a big difference. Even though ending pollution isn’t something we can fix instantly, being someone who shares ways to make the air better can help everyone. Now that you’ve learned a bit more about air pollution, try to do some of these things in your own life. Be someone who helps make Buffalo a better place for all the plants, animals, trees, and water around us. Let’s work together to fix this!