What are the effects of air pollution?
Answers
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION?
The effects of air pollution can be quite serious. They are commonly associated with universal issues such as global warming, as well as cancer and other health problems. In humans, pollution has been linked to:
· Lung disease
· Reduced life expectancy
· Asthma attacks and bronchitis199,203,204
The World Health Organization estimates that 4.2 million deaths worldwide are caused by poor air quality – through stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.203
Effects of air pollution on human health
When you breathe in polluted air, tiny, invisible particles (pollutants) penetrate deep into your lungs, bloodstream and body. This can affect your body in a number of ways. In the short term, air pollution can:
· Affect how well your lungs work, making it more difficult to breathe.199
· Irritate your airways, causing inflammation and giving you a sore, scratchy, throat and cough. You might also experience congestion from mucus building up.199
· Exacerbate respiratory health conditions, such as asthma, as well as allergies like hay fever, and make the symptoms of a cold worse.199,204
· Irritate your eyes and make them sore.202
In the longer term, over several years, air pollution can cause problems with:
· Your heart and blood vessels, leading to conditions like heart disease and stroke.203
· Your respiratory system, leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or infections, such as pneumonia. Air pollution can even cause lung cancer.199,203
Child Health Problems. Air pollution is detrimental to your health even before you take your first breath. ...
Global Warming. ...
Acid Rain. ...
Eutrophication. ...
Effect on Wildlife. ...
Depletion of the Ozone Layer.