Air Pollution and Health Effects on the Population

Different individuals are affected in different ways by air pollution. The sensitive ones suffer the most ill effects as do the elderly or the very young. People already afflicted with asthma which is a respiratory condition, or those with heart problems will also suffer more. The highthe level of exposure to damaging chemicals and the period of time of the exposure play an important part in the extent of damage caused to the individual.

Normal people may suffer short term effects that include burning sensation in the eyes, respiratory infections like pneumonia or bronchitis, nausea and headache as well as allergic reactions.
Asthmatic conditions get enhanced because of high levels of pollution.

As for long term effects, air pollution has been traced as a contributory cause of chronic respiratory diseases, heart problems, lung cancer, and general damage to organs like the kidneys, brain, nerves and liver.
Smoking damages the environment and is the cause of lung diseases even in passive smokers.

 All this can be avoided if only each of us does our bit to reduce the pollution levels in the atmosphere. Treatment of these diseases is a long drawn out and expensive affair and may not always have the desired effect. More people die of environmental ill effects than they do of car accidents. While upper level ozone protects us from the sun's ultraviolet rays, most urban cities are full of polluted air that is far from the accepted health standards. There is also always a potential health threat from the ground level ozone which is the primary ingredient of smog that is prevalent especially in the cold season. Ozone exposure can also severely inhibit the immune system.

Those who are most endangered by the ozone at the ground level are kids who play outdoors, people who have already been afflicted with lung diseases, construction and road workers who are exposed in a big way to the air pollution and also healthy athletes and sportspersons who may be exercising outdoors. Inhalation of particulate matter is also maximum in this group. Lung capacity declines and so does resistance to diseases when one is exposed to air pollution at the levels that are found today.

So be aware! Act now to reduce pollution and do your bit to preserve the environment!

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Sita Gita