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Health Effects: Common Disease Associated With Air Pollution and How Pervention

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Common disease associated with air pollution and how pervention

Air pollution is the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are


harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage
to the climate or to materials.
There are many different types of air pollutants, such as gases (such as
ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and
chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both organic and inorganic), and
biological molecules.
Air pollution may cause diseases, allergies and even death to humans; it
may also cause harm to other living organisms such as animals and food
crops, and may damage the natural environment (for example, climate
change, ozone depletion or habitat degradation) or built environment (for
example, acid rain). Both human activity and natural processes can
generate air pollution.
Air pollution is a significant risk factor for a number of pollution-related
diseases, including respiratory infections, heart disease, COPD, stroke
and lung cancer.[1] The human health effects of poor air quality are far
reaching, but principally affect the body's respiratory system and the
cardiovascular system. Individual reactions to air pollutants depend on
the type of pollutant a person is exposed to, the degree of exposure, and
the individual's health status and genetics.[2] Indoor air pollution and
poor urban air quality are listed as two of the world's worst toxic
pollution problems in the 2008 Blacksmith Institute World's Worst
Polluted Places report.[3] Outdoor air pollution alone causes 2.1[4][5] to
4.21 million deaths annually.[1][6] Overall, air pollution causes the
deaths of around 7 million people worldwide each year, and is the world's
largest single environmental health risk.[1][7][8] The scope of the air
pollution crisis is enormous: 90% of the world's population breathes dirty
air to some degree. Although the health consequences are extensive, the
way the problem is handled is often haphazard.
Health effects
Even at levels lower than those considered safe by United States
regulators, exposure to three components of air pollution, fine particulate
matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone, correlates with cardiac and
respiratory illness.[49] In 2012, air pollution caused premature deaths on
average of 1 year in Europe, and was a significant risk factor for a
number of pollution-related diseases, including respiratory infections,
heart disease, COPD, stroke and lung cancer.[1] The health effects caused
by air pollution may include difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing,
asthma[50] and worsening of existing respiratory and cardiac conditions.
These effects can result in increased medication use, increased doctor or
emergency department visits, more hospital admissions and premature
death. The human health effects of poor air quality are far reaching, but
principally affect the body's respiratory system and the cardiovascular
system. Individual reactions to air pollutants depend on the type of
pollutant a person is exposed to, the degree of exposure, and the
individual's health status and genetics.[2] The most common sources of
air pollution include particulates, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur
dioxide. Children aged less than five years that live in developing
countries are the most vulnerable population in terms of total deaths
attributable to indoor and outdoor air pollution.[51]
Mortality
The World Health Organization estimated in 2014 that every year air
pollution causes the premature death of some 7 million people
worldwide.[1] Studies published in March 2019 indicated that the number
may be around 8.8 million.[53]

Cardiovascular disease
A 2007 review of evidence found that, ambient air pollution exposure is a
risk factor correlating with increased total mortality from cardiovascular
events (range: 12% to 14% per 10 µg/m3 increase).[74][clarification
needed]

Air pollution is also emerging as a risk factor for stroke, particularly in


developing countries where pollutant levels are highest.[75] A 2007 study
found that in women, air pollution is not associated with hemorrhagic but
with ischemic stroke.[76] Air pollution was also found to be associated
with increased incidence and mortality from coronary stroke in a cohort
study in 2011.[77] Associations are believed to be causal and effects may
be mediated by vasoconstriction, low-grade inflammation and
atherosclerosis[78] Other mechanisms such as autonomic nervous system
imbalance have also been suggested.[79][80]
Lung disease
Research has demonstrated increased risk of developing asthma[81] and
COPD[82] from increased exposure to traffic-related air pollution.
Additionally, air pollution has been associated with increased
hospitalization and mortality from asthma and COPD.[83][84] Chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes diseases such as chronic
bronchitis and emphysema.
Children
In the United States, despite the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, in
2002 at least 146 million Americans were living in non-attainment areas
—regions in which the concentration of certain air pollutants exceeded
federal standards.[96] These dangerous pollutants are known as the
criteria pollutants, and include ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead. Protective measures to
ensure children's health are being taken in cities such as New Delhi, India
where buses now use compressed natural gas to help eliminate the "pea-
soup" smog.[97] A recent study in Europe has found that exposure to
ultrafine particles can increase blood pressure in children.[98] According
to a WHO report-2018, polluted air leads to the poisoning of millions of
children under the age of 15, resulting in the death of some six hundred
thousand children annually.[99]

Pervention of air pollution


Various pollution control technologies and strategies are available to
reduce air pollution.[15][16] At its most basic level, land-use planning is
likely to involve zoning and transport infrastructure planning. In most
developed countries, land-use planning is an important part of social
policy, ensuring that land is used efficiently for the benefit of the wider
economy and population, as well as to protect the environment.
Because a large share of air pollution is caused by combustion of fossil
fuels such as coal and oil, the reduction of these fuels can reduce air
pollution drastically. Most effective is the switch to clean power sources
such as wind power, solar power, hydro power which don't cause air
pollution.
Reference
1. "7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution". WHO. 25
March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
2. Daniel A. Vallero. "Fundamentals of Air Pollution". Elsevier
Academic Press.
3. "Reports". WorstPolluted.org. Archived from the original on 11 August
2010. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
4. "Fine Particulate Matter Map Shows Premature Mortality Due to Air
Pollution. 2013".Retrieved 27 June 2016.
5. "Cheap air pollution monitors help plot your walk". European
Investment Bank. Retrieved 18 May 2021

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