
Inhaling pollution can have a detrimental impact on human health. Air pollution can be inhaled deeply into lung tissue and enter the bloodstream, leading to coughing, itchy eyes, and more serious conditions such as lung cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. Even low levels of air pollution can have an impact on human health, and particles in air pollution can be smaller than 1/30th the diameter of a human hair.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Contribute to serious health problems | Inhalation of particle pollution may affect the stability or progression of conditions through inflammatory effects in the respiratory tree |
Increase the risk of | Lung cancer, coughing, itchy eyes, lung diseases, cardiac problems, asthma, heart attacks, strokes, premature death |
Cause | Hospitalisations, emergency room visits, respiratory infections |
What You'll Learn
Inhaling pollution can cause coughing and itchy eyes
Particle pollution can be inhaled deeply into lung tissue and contribute to serious health problems. Studies have reported respiratory effects related to acute exposure to fine particles, including respiratory symptoms (especially in children and those diagnosed with asthma), reduction in pulmonary function, and increased airway inflammation and responsiveness. Inhalation of particle pollution may affect the stability or progression of these conditions through inflammatory effects in the respiratory tree.
Breathing in particle pollution can increase the risk of lung cancer. Particle pollution can cause early death and heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that respiratory effects associated with particle pollution can be serious enough to result in hospital admissions, including COPD and respiratory infections.
Air pollution exposure is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which may lay a foundation for chronic diseases and cancer. In 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO) classified air pollution as a human carcinogen. Many studies have established that short-term exposure to higher levels of outdoor air pollution is associated with reduced lung function, asthma, cardiac problems, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions.
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It can cause or worsen lung diseases
Inhaling pollution can cause or worsen lung diseases. When we breathe in air pollutants, they can enter our bloodstream and contribute to coughing or itchy eyes. Pollutants can be inhaled deeply into lung tissue and contribute to serious health problems.
Particle pollution can cause early death and heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits. Studies have reported respiratory effects related to acute exposure to fine particles, including respiratory symptoms (especially in children and those diagnosed with asthma), reduction in pulmonary function, and increased airway inflammation and responsiveness. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that respiratory effects associated with particle pollution can be serious enough to result in hospital admissions, including COPD and respiratory infections.
Breathing in particle pollution can increase the risk of lung cancer. Inhalation of particle pollution may affect the stability or progression of these conditions through inflammatory effects in the respiratory tree. When we breathe in air pollutants, they can impact the lungs, heart, brain and other organs and ultimately lead to disease.
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It can lead to hospitalisations
Inhaling pollution can lead to hospitalisations. Studies have shown that inhaling particle pollution can cause respiratory effects, including symptoms such as coughing, itchy eyes, and increased airway inflammation. These effects can be serious enough to result in hospital admissions, including for COPD and respiratory infections. Inhalation of particle pollution can also lead to emergency room visits and contribute to premature death.
Particle pollution can be inhaled deeply into lung tissue and can cause or worsen many breathing and lung diseases. It can increase the risk of lung cancer and lead to early death. In addition to respiratory issues, inhaling pollution can also cause cardiac problems.
The health impact of inhaling pollution is significant, and it can affect everyone. Even levels of air pollution below federal air quality standards can impact people's health. Therefore, it is essential to take measures to reduce exposure to air pollution and protect our health.
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It can cause cancer
Inhaling pollution can have a serious impact on human health. One of the most significant risks is that it can cause cancer.
Breathing in particle pollution can increase the risk of lung cancer. These particles are incredibly small, sometimes smaller than 1/30th the diameter of a human hair, and can be inhaled deeply into lung tissue. Once in the lungs, they can cause inflammation and oxidative stress, impacting the lungs, heart, and brain, among other organs. This can lead to a range of serious health problems, including respiratory infections, heart attacks, strokes, and even early death.
Studies have found that exposure to air pollution can contribute to coughing, itchy eyes, and the development or worsening of many breathing and lung diseases, which may require hospitalisation. The respiratory tract is the main pathway of exposure to air pollution, and the effects can be particularly severe in children and those with asthma.
Fine particles in the air can also have inflammatory effects in the respiratory tree, increasing airway inflammation and responsiveness. This can lead to a reduction in pulmonary function and serious respiratory conditions such as COPD, which may require emergency department visits and hospital admissions.
Overall, the inhalation of particle pollution poses a significant risk to human health, with the potential to cause cancer and other serious diseases. It is important to minimise exposure to air pollution and take steps to improve air quality, even in areas that meet federal standards.
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It can cause premature death
Inhaling pollution can cause premature death. When we breathe in air pollutants, they can enter our bloodstream and contribute to coughing or itchy eyes and cause or worsen many breathing and lung diseases, leading to hospitalisations, cancer, or even death.
Fine particles in air pollution can be smaller than 1/30th the diameter of a human hair. When inhaled, these particles can be deeply embedded in lung tissue and contribute to serious health problems. PM 2.5 accounts for most health effects due to air pollution in the US.
Particle pollution can cause early death and heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits. Studies have reported respiratory effects related to acute exposure to fine particles, including respiratory symptoms (especially in children and those diagnosed with asthma), reduction in pulmonary function, and increased airway inflammation and responsiveness.
The main pathway of exposure from air pollution is through the respiratory tract. Breathing in these pollutants leads to inflammation, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, and mutagenicity in cells throughout our body, impacting the lungs, heart, brain, and other organs, ultimately leading to disease.
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Frequently asked questions
Short-term exposure to high levels of pollution can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections, aggravated asthma, cardiac problems, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions.
Long-term exposure to pollution increases a person's risk of developing diseases with a longer onset, such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer.
Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, which can cause health problems in both the short and long term. Short-term exposure to pollution can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections, and aggravated asthma.
Older people are more likely to be living with chronic diseases, which may worsen following exposure to environmental pollutants.