Most of us already worry—or at least are mildly concerned—about air pollution because of its adverse health effects. We know that it’s more harmful to the elderly or to young children than any other age group, and  heart disease, lung disease, asthma and other conditions can be greatly worsened by air pollution.

In the short term, people can experience infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis and other respiratory infections, as well general irritation to nose, eyes and throat. Headaches, allergic reactions, upset stomach, and other symptoms may also be attributed to the quality of the air. In fact, in 1952, 4,000 people died in just a few days from high concentrations of air pollution in the “Great Smog Disaster” of London.

Long-term effects can be just as deadly, if not more so—diseases of the liver, kidneys, brain, and nerves, including cancers, can be caused by pollution. Billions are spent every year just on the healthcare costs resulting from air pollution.

New research also indicates that not only does continual air pollution exposure affect the lungs of young children—it also can lower their IQs.

All of that is enough to make me want to write my legislator right now and demand more to be done—how about you?

As much as we want our leaders to take action against smog, we need to take action as individuals, too. There are a lot of things we can do to both stop contributing so much to the problem, as well as to improve the quality of air in our homes. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Since air pollution is mainly caused by the burning of oil, coal, diesel, and gas, as well as tobacco products, refraining from using or supporting these things is the best thing one can do to not have an impact in the cause of pollution. This is easier said than done, but small steps—such as not driving when you don’t have to (or using public transportation), burying environmentally-friendly alternatives or using alternative energy, and quitting smoking—can all have an impact, especially if everyone helps out.

Other small daily actions you can take, from unplugging anything not in use to reducing use of air conditioning or heating, can also help.

Your car probably needs to be checked to make sure it’s running correctly anyway—why not make sure the tire pressure and tuning are good so it’s not creating more of an impact than it needs to?

Adding plants and trees to your home can help improve your air quality. Specific plants, such as spider plants, the bamboo palm, gerbera daisies, peace lilies, and English ivy, are known to use carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and other chemicals as fuel—and, in turn, remove them from your air.

Installing an air purifier may help improve your indoor air quality. If you can’t afford a system for your whole house, invest in one or two smaller ones for key areas—especially in your bedroom, where you spend up to a third of your time.