Air Pollutants

Lead

Carbon Monoxide

Nitrogen oxide

Sulfur dioxide

Ozone

Particulate matter

Natural

Dust
Methane
Radon Gas
Smoke from Carbon Monoxide
Volcanic Activity

Human Activities

Power Plants
Motor Vehicles
Chemicals
Fumes from paint
Waste deposition
Nuclear
Methane

Sulfur Dioxide

Once taken into the body, lead distributes throughout the body in the blood and is accumulated in the bones.

Depending on the level of exposure, lead can adversely affect the nervous system, kidney function, immune system, reproductive and developmental systems and the cardiovascular system.

Lead exposure also affects the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. The lead effects most commonly encountered in current populations are neurological effects in children and cardiovascular effects.

Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.

NO2 is the component of greatest interest and the indicator for the larger group of nitrogen oxides. NO2 forms quickly from emissions from cars, trucks and buses, power plants, and off-road equipment. In addition to contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone, and fine particle pollution, NO2 is linked with a number of adverse effects on the respiratory system.

•premature death in people with heart or lung disease,
•nonfatal heart attacks,
•irregular heartbeat,
•aggravated asthma,
•decreased lung function, and
•increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing.

Exposure to CO can reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. People with several types of heart disease already have a reduced capacity for pumping oxygenated blood to the heart, which can cause them to experience myocardial ischemia (reduced oxygen to the heart), often accompanied by chest pain (angina), when exercising or under increased stress.

CO can cause harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body's organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues. At extremely high levels, CO can cause death.

Respiratory illnesses
Public health threats
Emphysema and bronchitis
Premature death