10 concequences of air pollution
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The consequences of air pollution on the environment
The polluted air, floating on the surface of the earth, is carried away by wind and rain. Clouds and high temperatures also help to disperse pollution to reach very great distances from its point of origin.
Air pollution has a major impact on theprocess of plant evolution by preventing photosynthesis in many cases, with serious consequences on the purification of the air we breathe.
The accumulationof gases in the atmosphere also generates environmental problems with sadly known consequences : acid rain, depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, the greenhouse effect, etc. The concentration of these gases in the atmosphere, mainly dioxide Of carbon, increases on average by 1% per year. This phenomenon is due to the properties of certain gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and chlorofluorocarbons) to trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere, preventing it from returning to space after being reflected by Earth.
Air pollution contributes to the formation of acid rain, atmospheric precipitation in the form of rain, frost, snow or fog, which are released during combustion of fossil fuels and transformed by contact with water vapor in the atmosphere. Acid rain affects the amount of chemicals in soils and freshwater, affecting food chains.
Premature death: Science shows that both short-term and long-term exposure to unhealthy air can shorten your life and lead to premature death. Medical experts have known about this risk for decades —remember our blog about the great smog event depicted in "The Crown"?Asthma attacks: Breathing ozone and particle pollution can lead to increased asthma attacks, which can result in visits to the emergency room and hospital admissions, not to mention missed work and school.Cardiovascular disease: Air pollution can increase the risk of both heart attacks and stroke.Lung cancer: In 2013, the World Health Organization determined that particle pollution can cause lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S.Developmental damage: Exposure to air pollution can slow and stunt lung development in growing children, harming their health now and reducing their lung function as adults.Susceptibility to infections: Air pollution increases the risk of lung infections, especially in children.Worsened COPD symptoms: Exposure to air pollution can make it even harder for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to breathe. Severe symptoms can lead to hospitalization and even death.Lung tissue swelling and irritation: Even people with healthy lungs are susceptible to irritation and swelling. For those living with chronic lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD, these effects can be especially harmful.Low infant birth weight: Some studies show exposure to air pollution may increase the risk of low infant birth weight and infant mortality.Wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath:Like many of the other conditions in this list, these can be caused by both long-term exposure and short-term exposure to high levels of air pollutants.