Air Pollution: A Silent Killer Among Us

Air pollution is harmful to human health and the environment. It can cause serious health problems in both children and adults, including reduced lung function, respiratory infections, aggravated asthma, and even permanent lung damage. Pollutants such as mercury, lead, dioxins, and benzene pose severe health risks and can sometimes be fatal, even in small amounts. Air pollution also has economic impacts, with residents in polluted areas facing higher medical costs and missed workdays.

Air pollution can cause lung inflammation and permanent lung damage

Air pollution is harmful to everyone's health, but certain groups may be harmed more than others. People with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. Short-term exposure to high levels of particulate matter can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections, and aggravated asthma.

Long-term exposure to air pollution can also increase the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases, such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer. Fine particulate matter, which is often emitted during the combustion of gas, coal, or incineration, can cause eye, skin, and lung irritation in the short term and blood disorders in the long term.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated seven million people die each year from air pollution. More than 4,000 people died in just a few months due to a severe smog event in London in 1952.

It can also cause sore throat, coughing and eye, skin and lung irritation

Air pollution can cause a range of health issues, including sore throat, coughing, and eye, skin and lung irritation.

Ground-level ozone, which is a type of air pollution, causes the muscles in the lungs to contract, making it difficult to breathe. Exposure to high ozone levels can cause a sore throat, coughing, and lung inflammation.

Short-term exposure to high levels of particulate matter can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections, and aggravated asthma.

Benzene, which is often found in gasoline, is a known carcinogen. Exposure to benzene can cause eye, skin, and lung irritation in the short term and blood disorders in the long term.

Air pollution can also have economic impacts on residents, including missed workdays and higher medical costs.

Air pollution can lead to respiratory infections and aggravated asthma

Air pollution can have a number of harmful effects on people. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated seven million people die each year from air pollution. In addition to the health risks, air pollution can also economically harm residents in the form of missed workdays and higher medical costs.

The levels and duration of exposure that can be considered 'safe' vary by pollutant, as well as the related disease outcomes. For some pollutants, there are no thresholds below which adverse effects do not occur. Almost 200 air pollutants are regulated by law, some of the most common are mercury, lead, dioxins, and benzene. Benzene, a known carcinogen, can cause eye, skin, and lung irritation in the short term and blood disorders in the long term.

Research has found that people with annual incomes above $70,000 generally experience greater declines in industry, energy, transportation, residential, and commercial-related emissions than do people with lower incomes. This is because highways and polluting facilities have historically been located in or next to low-income neighbourhoods and communities of colour. As a result, the negative effects of this pollution have been disproportionately experienced by the people who live in these communities.

It can cause noncommunicable diseases such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer

Air pollution is harmful to human health. It can cause noncommunicable diseases such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. These diseases are caused by long-term or chronic exposure to fine particulate matter.

Particulate matter is a type of air pollutant. Exposure to high levels of particulate matter can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections and aggravated asthma. This can happen after short-term exposure.

Air pollution can also cause economic harm to residents in the form of missed workdays and higher medical costs.

Some groups of people are harmed more by air pollution than others. For example, people who live in urban areas, low-income neighbourhoods, and communities of colour are more likely to be affected by air pollution. This is because highways and polluting facilities have historically been located in or next to these communities.

Air pollution can economically harm residents in the form of missed workdays and higher medical costs

Air pollution affects everyone’s health, but certain groups may be harmed more. Almost 9 out of 10 people who live in urban areas worldwide are affected by air pollution. Research indicates there are racial or ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in air pollution emissions. For example, highways and polluting facilities have historically been located in or next to low-income neighbourhoods and communities of colour. As a result, the negative effects of this pollution have been disproportionately experienced by the people who live in these communities.

Exposure to high levels of particulate matter can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections and aggravated asthma from short-term exposure. Whereas long-term or chronic exposure to fine particulate matter increases a person’s risk for diseases with a longer onset, like some noncommunicable diseases including stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer.

Ground-level ozone causes muscles in the lungs to contract, making it difficult to breathe. Exposure to high ozone levels can cause a sore throat, coughing, lung inflammation, and permanent lung damage.

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