Air Pollutants

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Ill effects of pollutants

Respiratory illnesses Public health threats Emphysema and bronchitis Premature death

carbon monoxide

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.

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.

particulate matter

•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.

nitrogen oxide

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.

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

lead

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.

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.

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

Air Pollutants

Sources of Air Pollutants

Human Activities

Sulfur Dioxide

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

Natural

Dust Methane Radon Gas Smoke from Carbon Monoxide Volcanic Activity

Particulate matter

Ozone

Sulfur dioxide

Nitrogen oxide

Carbon Monoxide

Lead