What is Air pollution? || Effect of air pollution on human health

Hi, and welcome to this summary of air Pollution. Air pollution is a major public health serious issue for disturbing the environment.

In this article, we'll discuss outdoor air pollution, are types of pollutants, and their sources. We will learn the effects of air pollution on human health and how to prevent air pollution.  

What is air pollution?

Air pollution occurs when any unpleasant particle of physical, chemical, or biological agent enters the air. It is the largest environmental health risk in the world, leading to millions of deaths around the world every year.

Although anyone can be affected by air pollution, most affected people include elderly children and people with chronic diseases like lung cancer and heart problems.  

Let's take a look at outdoor air Pollution. First, the outdoor air can be polluted by natural sources or human sources natural or biogenic sources of air pollution include pollen, bushfires, or dust from deserts. 

Pollution of the air from human sources also called anthropogenic air pollution is commonly due to Industries burning of fossil fuels, forest fires, and the use of extraordinary vehicles.

Sources and effects of air pollution

There are many sources of air pollutants. Let's take a brief look at a few important ones.   Particulate matter is a complex mixture of small particles and liquid droplets that are mainly from industry or motor vehicle exhausts, dust storms, or bushfires and can also generate large amounts of p.m.  

Particulate matter is arranged according to the diameter of the particles, the health effects of particulate matter are mostly due to particles that are less than 10 micrometers In diameter which are very small. These particles can reach the deepest parts of the lungs and into the bloodstream.   

Nitrogen dioxide is usually formed when fuel is burned at a high temperature in the air. Common sources are the exhaust of motor vehicles, industry, power plants, turbines, welding, and using explosives.

Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and is established when the carbon in fuel doesn't burn completely.   

The main source of carbon monoxide is motor vehicle exhaust, and therefore carbon monoxide levels are very high in Areas with heavy traffic, and congestion.

Sulfur dioxide is a gas that can be produced when sulfur-containing fuels are burned stirring industrial processes like in power plants and refineries    

So, what are the health effects?  

Exposure to air pollution can result in a broad range of short and long-term health issues. The health effect will depend on different elements like the type of pollutant concentration, length of exposure, and individual characteristics of the person exposed to it.    

It has minor symptoms, like irritation of the Eyes, Nose, and Throat but later it moves to more severe conditions, like heart and lung disease or cancer. It can also lead to increased hospital admissions and an increase in death ratios in the world.  

In 2012, outdoor air, pollution was estimated to have caused 3.7 million deaths around the world. In addition to causing health effects, air pollution can also lead to damage to property reduced visibility, and other effects on the environment like acid rain.   

When people inhale air, toxins and harmful chemicals enter the body by the intake of oxygen which produce respiratory disorders and affects the walls of the lungs.

Air pollution can cause long term damage people's health. As a result, chronic diseases may occur due to unpleasant polluted environment