10 Harmful Effects of Air Pollution on Health

Inhalation of polluted air can cause a variety of adverse health issues including breathing difficulties and respiratory irritation. Effects of Air Pollution on Health depends on concentration of pollutant and period of exposure to the polluted air.

 Higher concentration of pollution level in air may cause immediate impact in health including respiratory illness and lack of oxygen supply to the body cells.

Whereas, long-term exposure to the polluted air may result in permanent health effects such as lung diseases, heart diseases, and cancer.

Below is a list 10 harmful effects of air pollution on health:

1. Polluted air can affect lungs and can cause asthma, emphysema , Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory diseases.
2.  Nitrogen Dioxide mixed in air are linked to Chronic bronchitis.
3.  Fine matter in air may impair blood vessel function.
4.  Daily exposure of post-menopausal women to polluted air increases the risk of hemorrhage stroke.
5. Infected air can lower the levels of high-density lipoprotein , called good cholesterol it also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
6. Exposure to polluted air may cause hypertensive disorders in pregnant women leading to maternal and fetal illness and death.
7. Air pollution may increase the risk of breast cancer in women.
8. Toxic substances like methylene chloride, used in aerosol products , are associated with the increased  rate of breast cancer.
9. Inhalation of benzene and gasoline components can cause leukemia and is associated with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
10. Maximum cases of lung cancer are caused by polluted air.intake.

Following groups are most susceptible to severe health hazards from air pollution:

• Individuals with chronic diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes, cancer, and others.
• Pregnant women
• Infants
• Elderly people
• Children below 14
• Outdoor workers and those who exercise vigorously.

People under these groups may experience effects of air pollution immediately even at low levels of pollutants, and their health hazards may be greater intensity than others.

Still you are a healthy individual, you may experience temporary symptoms, such as: irritation on nose and throat, coughing and sneezing, shortness of breath, suffocation, etc. while you are exposed to a polluted environment.

The air we are breathing is growing more polluted day by day due to rapid industrialization and modernization. Dirty emissions mixed in the air we are breathing shows, it is destroying our health. Air pollution alone kills about 7 million people every year. It’s time to change.