Health Effects of Air Pollution
What Are Causes of Air Pollution?
Air pollution is a gas, chemical or particulate that changes the natural makeup of the atmosphere. Our atmosphere is a multifaceted system made up of natural gases. The atmosphere is an essential element to sustaining life on our planet. Air pollutants mix in with the already present natural gases and diminish our outdoor and indoor air quality. This phenomenon can occur in both urban and rural areas. However, higher concentrations of outdoor and indoor air pollution are typically present in urban areas as they tend to be more developed and therefore, have a higher presence of air pollutant producers. Some of the main offenders in air pollution production are cars, buses, airplanes, home cleaning agents, factories and power plants. The number one offender on the list of air pollutants is fuel combustion. Fuel combustion is responsible for the release of many harmful chemicals into the environment. Additionally, air pollution can reach you indirectly through acid rain. Air pollution can travel by way of rain to your water supply, into the ground and then into your food. The negative health effects of air pollution by contamination of these vital elements results in long lasting diseases upon the world population.
Both outdoor and indoor air pollution has long been recognized to have negative affects on the environment. In addition, the health effects of air pollution on your body can be disastrous. Stratospheric ozone depletion is one of the main causes of air pollution, which is a major concern for human health and sustained existence on Earth. Air pollution is leaving a damaging footprint on our environment and that footprint will affect our planet including our ecosystems.
Exposure to toxic air pollutants are credited with a more immediate and noticeably harmful effect on mankind as a whole. Air pollution on a worldwide scale has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands through respiratory disease. Most of the damage that is done is caused by ground level ozone. Ground level ozone is created when air pollutants are released into the air. These gases and chemicals react when they are exposed to sunlight. A dense layer of harmful chemicals sits above our heads. These chemicals interact with each other because of the heat created by the sunlight and they stay lower to the ground. You, in turn, breathe this gaseous mixture in and the foreign chemicals present wreck havoc on your body, thus the hazardous health effects of air pollution.
Health Effects of Air Pollution and the Symptoms
Both outdoor and indoor air pollution will affect different people in different ways. Young children and the elderly may be more susceptible to the symptoms because their immune systems are not as strong as those of adults. People with heart or lung disease or people with asthma may also experience heightened symptoms because of their inherent sensitivity in the respiratory system. When you exercise, you may also notice that your symptoms are exacerbated. This is because you are breathing deeper and more frequently with exercise and that increases the amount of air pollutants in your system.
Some common health effects of air pollution are:
- Irritated or burning eyes.
- Cough
- Headaches
- Irritated throat or lungs.
- Chest pain or tightness.
- Nausea
- Upper respiratory infections.
- If you have asthma, both outdoor and indoor air pollution can increase the frequency and severity of your attacks.
Long-term health effects of air pollution exposure can include:
- MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity).
- Lung cancer
- Heart disease
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
- Damage to the liver, kidneys, nerves or even the brain.
Air pollution symptoms typically subside when the quality of air increases. However, for those of you living in an urban setting, the quality of air remains about the same (or is steadily getting worse rather than better). If you notice that you experience symptoms and these symptoms dissipate when you leave your home area for vacation to an area with better air quality (like the mountains or a rural area with fewer cars and pollutant producers), they are most likely linked to air pollution.
Solutions for the Health Effects of Air Pollution
While air pollutants are difficult to avoid, there are a few precautions that you can take to insure that you and your loved ones minimize the health effects of air pollution. Some suggestions are as follows:
- Consult the Air Quality Index at EPA Airnow. In areas where air pollutant levels are high, this will especially be helpful. The Air Quality Index is a scale of air quality. It ranges from 0 to 500 and it will tell you how much air pollution is present in much the same way that a pollen count will tell you how much pollen you should be expecting in the air. Air Quality Index is used in weather reports and is also given on radio stations, TV stations and newspapers, especially in areas where air pollution is high. If the Air Quality Index score is over 100, you should avoid being outdoors. This indicates a dangerous level of air pollutants in the air.
- Don't exercise outdoors when air pollution levels are high. Exercising increases your breathing which will also increase the amount of air pollutants that you are taking in.
- Air pollution is prone to increase with stagnant and hot weather. If weather conditions are favorable for air pollutants (hot, sunny, windless), stay inside. If you have to go outdoors, be alert. Pay attention to possible symptoms and when/if you notice them, go back indoors.
- If you are going outside on days when air pollutant levels are high, do it during the early morning or evening hours. Remember, sunlight is a key factor in air pollution. The chemicals and gases react with each other in the heat and light of the sun so avoid being outside when the sun is out in full force. Go out when the sun is down or during sunset or sunrise (when it is just coming out or just setting). It will be cooler during those hours.
- Get an air purifier for your home and/or office like the IQAir HealthPro Plus. The IQAir HealthPro Plus is highly recommended by physicians and allergists. Designed for large rooms up to 1000 sq ft in the home or office, this air purifier effectively delivers the results you require for clean and safe indoor air quality improvement. The IQAir HealthPro Plus offers a proven solution to remove the airborne allergens and irritants from the air you and your family breathe through its remarkable filtration system. By combining a medical grade HEPA filter with 5 pounds of activated carbon and potassium permanganate, this incredible purification system removes 99.97% of lung damaging dust particles, pet dander, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, germs, viruses, tobacco smoke, chemicals, and odors. Indoor air pollution will become a thing of the past with this purifier hard at work in your most frequented environments. The IQAir HealthPro Plus is convenient, easy to use, comes in an appealing off white color and is on casters to allow for ease of movement. The HealthPro Plus is energy efficient and comes with a five year warranty. You deserve to experience the relaxation and peace of mind the IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA air purifier will bring to you and your loved ones fighting indoor air pollution and its harmful health effects where it matters most: in your own home. Make the HealthPro Plus the first and most effective step in that battle.