Air Pollution: Damaging Our Lungs And Overall Health

what can air pollution do to your lungs

Air pollution is anything that makes the air more toxic and damaging to our health. Air pollution can affect all parts of our bodies, including the health of our lungs, heart, and brain. Breathing polluted air can irritate your lungs and may cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, asthma flare-ups, and chest pain. It also puts you at risk for lung cancer, heart attacks, and stroke.

Characteristics Values
Irritation Air pollution can irritate the lungs, causing shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest pain
Asthma Exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of developing asthma and cause flare-ups in those who already have it
COPD Air pollution can increase the risk of developing COPD and cause flare-ups in those who already have it
Lung cancer Air pollution can increase the risk of lung cancer
Heart attacks Air pollution can increase the risk of heart attacks
Stroke Air pollution can increase the risk of strokes
Premature death Air pollution can increase the risk of premature death
Risk factors Children, older people, pregnant people, and those with pre-existing lung conditions are at higher risk

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Air pollution can cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest pain

Breathing in polluted air can irritate your lungs and cause shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. It can also trigger asthma flare-ups and chest pain. If you have a pre-existing lung condition, air pollution can be especially harmful. Older people are also more at risk, as are children, whose lungs are still developing. Being exposed to air pollution as a child increases the risk of developing asthma and COPD as an adult.

Air pollution is anything that makes the air more toxic and damaging to our health. It can affect all parts of our bodies, including the lungs, heart, and brain. PM2.5 particles can reach the breathing sacs in our lungs, and ultrafine particles can cross into the bloodstream. These particles can carry toxic chemicals linked to cancer. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a brown toxic gas found in high levels on busy roads, around industrial sites, and where there are older, less efficient vehicles. High levels of NO2 can irritate the lining of your airways and cause inflammation.

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It can also cause asthma flare-ups and increase the risk of developing asthma

Air pollution can irritate your lungs and cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest pain. It can also cause asthma flare-ups and increase the risk of developing asthma. This is because air pollution can increase inflammation in the airways, which can trigger asthma attacks. Air pollution can also carry toxic chemicals that are linked to cancer.

People who already have asthma are more likely to experience flare-ups when pollution levels are high. If you have asthma, it's important to always carry a reliever inhaler with you and use it as soon as you notice any symptoms.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution because their lungs are still developing. They also breathe faster, which means they take in more polluted air. Being exposed to air pollution as a child increases the risk of developing asthma as an adult.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a brown toxic gas that is commonly found on busy roads, particularly when traffic is moving slowly or where there are older, less efficient vehicles. High levels of NO2 can irritate the lining of the airways and make them more inflamed, which can trigger asthma attacks and make it harder for people with asthma to breathe.

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Air pollution puts you at risk of lung cancer

Air pollution can also cause lung cancer. PM2.5 particles can reach the breathing sacs in your lungs and ultrafine particles can cross into your bloodstream. These particles can carry toxic chemicals that are linked to cancer. Nitrogen dioxide is a brown toxic gas in the air that can irritate the lining of your airways and make them more inflamed. It is found in higher levels on busy roads, particularly when traffic is moving slowly or where there are older, less efficient vehicles.

Despite recent progress, air pollution remains a serious environmental and health problem. Over 70% of people in Illinois live in areas that fail to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards. While individuals can minimize their exposure and contributions to air pollution, the greatest opportunity for clean air progress is through local, state, and national policy change.

To protect yourself from the harmful effects of air pollution, it is important to be aware of the levels of pollution in your area and take steps to minimize your exposure. This may include avoiding busy roads with high levels of traffic, staying indoors when pollution levels are high, and using air purifiers or masks to filter the air you breathe.

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It can cause heart attacks and strokes

Air pollution can cause serious damage to the lungs, including irritation, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, asthma flare-ups, and chest pain. It can also put you at risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Air pollution is anything that makes the air more toxic and damaging to our health. It can affect all parts of our bodies, including the lungs, heart, and brain. Some people are more at risk than others, including children, whose lungs are still developing, and they breathe faster, taking in more polluted air. Being exposed to pollution as a child increases the risk of developing asthma and COPD as an adult. Older people are also more at risk, especially if they have long-term lung conditions or heart disease.

Pregnant people are also vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, as it can affect the health of their unborn baby. Air pollution is especially harmful to those with pre-existing lung conditions.

PM2.5 particles can reach the breathing sacs in your lungs, and ultrafine particles can cross into your bloodstream, carrying toxic chemicals linked to cancer. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a brown toxic gas found in high levels on busy roads, around industrial sites, and where there are older, less efficient vehicles. High levels of NO2 can irritate the lining of your airways and make them more inflamed, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

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Air pollution is especially harmful to children, whose lungs are still developing

Air pollution can irritate the lungs and cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, asthma flare-ups, and chest pain. It can also put you at risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. Ultrafine particles of pollution can cross into the bloodstream and carry toxic chemicals linked to cancer.

Nitrogen dioxide is a brown toxic gas found in high levels on busy roads, particularly when traffic is moving slowly or where there are older, less efficient vehicles. It is also found around industrial sites like factories and building sites. High levels of nitrogen dioxide can irritate the lining of the airways and make them more inflamed.

Pregnant people should also be aware of the dangers of air pollution, as it can affect the health of unborn babies.

Frequently asked questions

Air pollution can irritate your lungs and cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, asthma flare-ups, and chest pain. It also puts you at risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, and strokes.

Children are more at risk than adults because their lungs are still developing. They also breathe faster, which means they take in more polluted air. Being exposed to pollution as a child increases the risk of developing asthma and COPD as an adult. Older people are also more at risk, particularly if they have long-term lung conditions or heart disease.

If you’re pregnant, pollution can affect your unborn baby.

Air pollution is especially harmful if you have a lung condition. You’re more at risk from asthma attacks and COPD flare-ups when pollution levels are high.

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