Although not unfamiliar to us, air pollution is a severe daily problem. It has grown to the point where it threatens one’s health. As soon as we pass an industrial structure, we can tell there is air pollution because the smoke from the building has a strange tint.
Although some forms of air pollution cannot be seen, we may recognize them by their odour. The level of air pollution has gotten so bad that it now threatens world health. A study has shown that air pollution causes the early deaths of about 6.5 million individuals. And over the past two years, this number has increased. In this article, we’ll discuss how air pollution impacts our health. Please resume the lesson to learn more about how air pollution can harm one’s health.
What Is Air Pollution?
We can define air pollution as a hazardous substance from either human activity or a natural source.
However, the most significant contributors to air pollution include motor vehicle emissions, household fuels like gasoline and oil, industrial exhaust from power plants, and odors from chemical processing.
Other causes include natural disasters like wildfires, volcanic eruptions that release gas and ash into the air, and other gases like methane released by organic sources like animals and other sources. A list of how air pollution can be produced is shown below.
Vehicle Pollution
There are a variety of artificial substances in air pollution, including nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, volatile organic compounds, aromatic hydrocarbon, and others.
Nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2)
Two forms of nitrogen Are nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), created from vehicle smoke emissions. In the sunshine, nitrogen oxide is initially transformed into nitrogen dioxide. And result in Nox, made when nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide are combined.
This NOx is generated in significant quantities near the road zones. And this can lead to bronchitis and Asthma, which are exceedingly dangerous to human health. And continued exposure to this dangerous toxin can result in health problems like heart disease.
Black carbon (BC)
Black carbon is often referred to as burning fuel waste. It is created by burning Diesel, wood, coal, plastic, and other materials. This seriously pollutes the air, which highlights PM2.5.
As a result of prolonged exposure to this toxic substance, heart attacks and strokes may occur. Additionally, it can sometimes cause cancer and other health problems like hypertension, Asthma, migraines, and persistent obstructive pulmonary disease.
Ozone
It is an atmospheric gas known as SMOG when pollutants created by vehicles, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, and other sources rise above ground level and undergo photochemical reactions when exposed to sunlight.
When exposed to this gas for a while, chest pain, a cough, and throat pain may immediately result. And prolonged exposure to humans can result in lung infection.
Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur-containing fossil fuels that are burned produce sulfur dioxide. This results from burning coal and heavy metal extraction and sulfur equipment. When in contact with people,
It can lead to eye irritation, asthma attacks, migraines, other severe forms of respiratory infections, and problems with the cardiovascular disease system.
When sulfur dioxide and water interact, sulfuric acid is created, which leads to acid rain. Causing forest loss, a global issue that is highly concerning
Particulate matter (PM)
PM, or particulate matter, is a mixture of numerous chemical compounds, including sulfur, nitrate, carbon, and other chemicals, such as mineral dust, soot, and liquid droplets. Different emissions include those from burning fossil fuels, car exhaust, and burning organic material, all classified as PM.
The production of gases and vapors is another cause of PM. PM2.5, much thinner than human hair, is an example of a particulate matter. It indicates that even a tiny chance of breathing anything into your deep lung tissue could have serious health consequences.
How does air pollution affect our health?
When investigations were done, it became clear that air pollution posed the most hazard to respiratory health problems. Air pollution harms people greatly since it contributes to deadly diseases like cancer by causing oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells.
Other frequent diseases that affect people daily are also becoming more prevalent.
The significant health problems that are harming people are listed below.
Cancer
According to research, around 50 000 000 or more women live near roads where they are exposed to air pollutants and are at a high risk of developing breast cancer.
Additionally, airborne hazardous substances like methylene chloride exist. These chemicals in items like paint remover and aerosol also cause breast cancer.
Other harmful substances, such as the industrial chemical benzene and another substance called gasoline, can result in diseases like leukemia.
When an afflicted person is kept under observation, it becomes clear that their cancer has a second problem associated with coal burning.
Asthma
Among the diseases, this combination of pollutants causes is pulmonary problems. Brings on major respiratory disorders like Asthma. According to statistics, the prevalence of Asthma is rising worldwide due to increased air pollution. Additionally, Asthma affects children who are more likely to struggle than those who live better lives. People can develop bronchitis from other substances like nitrogen oxide.
When we breathe this hazardous substance, it immediately enters our system and causes symptoms like coughing, itchy eyes, and occasionally skin inflammation. People who have it often end up in hospitals or perhaps pass away.
What about the small amount of air pollution? That, however, has the potential to harm people seriously.
No matter where you reside, exposure to air pollution from industrial emissions, road dust, smoke from moving vehicles, and other causes can lead to serious health problems.
Why improving air quality matters
Due to the enormous threat that air pollution poses to human life. And it now affects the entire world. People are becoming more aware of the need to reduce all kinds of gases, particularly PM2.5, that are harmful to human health.
Because exposure to these substances could result in premature death and underweight offspring in the future.
Therefore, lowering air pollution levels may benefit kids who aren’t in the best of health.
People’s asthma rates may decline due to increased awareness of the causes of air pollution. Additionally, if air quality is improved, it can help with cases of bronchitis. Closing fossil fuel power plants is another crucial approach to prevent or minimize air pollution, which might significantly reduce the number of diseases brought on by it.
Last word
As the article has ended, we can state that breathing clean air is essential because it reduces the risk of diseases like Asthma, stroke, respiratory infections, lung cancer, and other serious illnesses related to air pollution and helps with other severe conditions. We would like to raise your awareness of the powerful effects of air pollution on human health. Ensure that others know your efforts to safeguard yourself and your surroundings.