December 28, 2020

Disease caused by air pollution

It’s a well-known fact that air pollution can be a cause of disease. Want to know more about all common diseases? Read here a detailed post about that. Air pollution is mostly invisible but is leading to a big health problem for every person in the world. Respiratory and lung diseases, cancer, sickness, tuberculosis. Do you know what is the most harmful respiratory disease caused by air pollution? In fact, evidence shows that air pollution can impact human health in more ways than we can imagine. There are a big number of sources from which all harmful gases and particles come into the air. The most common harmful particles are exhaust fumes from vehicles, smoke from burning coal or gas, and tobacco smoke. In this article, we discuss what diseases are caused by air pollution and what we should do to avoid them.

What is air pollution

A lot of people have already known that clean air is important for our health. But how many people can explain why is it so? Air pollution refers to the release of harmful substances into the air that is detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole. The particles of air pollutants are harmful to the body. The range of possible pollutants means that air pollution can affect people both outdoors and indoors. Outdoor air pollution consists of particles from burning coal and gas, nitrogen oxides or sulfur dioxide, tobacco smoke, and ground-level ozone. Indoor air pollution consists of household chemicals, carbon monoxide or radon, pollen, mold, and tobacco smoke. Everything depends on the health status of a person, the type of pollutants and the length of exposure to the polluted air.

What are the diseases caused by air pollution

Air pollution can cause or contribute to a variety of health diseases. Even healthy people can experience health impacts from polluted air. It can include respiratory irritation or breathing difficulties. The effects of air pollution on a person’s health can range from mild breathing difficulties to other dangerous problems. We put together more harmful diseases.

Asthma

The effect of air pollution is magnificent. It is the most dangerous respiratory disease caused by air pollution. This is a chronic disease in which inflammation is caused in the air passages of the human body and the person finds it difficult to breathe. The basic symptoms of this respiratory disease are heavy breathing and strenuous even when you are doing routine tasks. Asthma is caused by particulate matter, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen and ground-level ozone. Tobacco smoke can also be a cause of asthma. Therefore, parents, friends, family members, and other people that contacted the patient should refrain from smoking in his or her presence.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

What is the cause of this disease? It is not a secret that COPD is caused by air pollution. The air passages and air alveoli change their shape and become distended. Thus, people can feel the breathing problems even while sitting and doing nothing at all. There are two types of this disease: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. They can also lead to cancer and premature deaths as well. The most affected people are the people working in the mines, quarries, and docks. Everything is because they breathe the air that is full of dust, fine dust, and diesel fumes, etc. Using air purifiers may be beneficial in such cases.

To get more information about air purifier and its benefits you can read our article ‘Air purifier: types and benefits’

Lung cancer

Lungs can get infested with various carcinogens in the air. This can lead to lung or pulmonary cancer. The disease involves the uncontrolled growth of the cells in one or both of the lungs. As a result, you can get a reduction in the oxygen-carrying capacity and malfunctioning in the complete working of the respiratory system.

Remember: lung cancer has different types and levels of infection. Therefore, it is extremely important to check your health regularly.

Leukemia

It is a serious and dangerous type of cancer that can lead to death. It caused by exposure to the benzene vapors and is fatal as well. The WBCs or the White Blood Cells get increased in the amount owing to persistent infection caused by the infection and the respiratory tract is infected heavily.

Pneumonia

Why is polluted air so dangerous? It can carry bacteria that get inhaled into the respiratory tract. As a result, you can face with pneumonia. The disease might get worse with continued breathing of the polluted air or with other diseases caused by pollution. Using air filters wherever possible will help you to prevent this disease and save all your family from it.

Remember: immediate doctor assistance is important and advised in all cases.

Birth defects and immune system defects

The polluted air affects not only adults. There are a number of defects that can occur in the newborn. Everything can also start if a pregnant mother breathes polluted air during pregnancy. The babies born in the areas with air pollution will have lower immunity against infections, cough, and cold and might also exhibit some inborn allergies as well.

Note: the pregnant ladies can consult with the doctors and use the air filters to trap pollutants from the air.

Autism

Recent studies have revealed that air pollution can also cause autism. It is a dangerous disease in which the patient tends to live alone.

Cardiovascular diseases

The people who live in a polluted environment start to notice a lot of cardiovascular diseases of various kinds. The reason for such diseases is the presence of a number of poisonous substances in the polluted air, poisonous gases, and particulate matter. The extent of exposure to the pollutants can determine the degree of the disease and infection.

A weakening of lung function

The people who breathe the polluted air regularly might notice a gradual weakening of the lung function. This happens if the level of air pollution is not high to cause lung cancer or some other more dangerous disease. This can be exhibited in some forms such as allergies, panting while doing heavy or normal daily routine activities and very low immunity to a cough and cold.

Premature deaths

It’s been found out that air pollutants have caused a lot of untimely death, that has been recorded over the world. This is a result of the component of the pollutant, which may lead to how the body reacts either by suffocation or other responses.

Most common health effects of specific pollutants

Polluted air contains a lot of harmful and dangerous particles and chemicals that affect every human in a different way. According to several types of research outdoor air pollution may cause cancer. Let’s talk in detail about the most common effects of specific pollutants.

Particle pollutants

Particle pollutants consist of a combination of different particles in the air. They are extremely small. therefore, they can reach the lungs easily. As a result, the risk of lung and heart disease are really high. They may also cause a worsening of symptoms in people with asthma and allergy.

Ground-level ozone

Pollutants react with sunlight to create ground-level ozone. Smog consists largely of ozone and is a key trigger of asthma symptoms.

Carbon monoxide

According to several pieces of research, the level of carbon monoxide of 2% does not affect our health. However, if the levels are higher than 40%, carbon monoxide may be fatal. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include weakness, chest pain, confusion, a headache. If a person suspects that they are experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, they should move to an area with fresh air and seek immediate medical help.

Sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide is a byproduct of burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. It can cause eye irritation and make a person more vulnerable to developing respiratory tract infections, as well as cardiovascular disease.

Nitrogen dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide is present in vehicle exhaust emissions. Gas and kerosene heaters and stoves also produce large amounts of this gas. The big amount of this gas may lead to respiratory infections. Typically, inhaling nitrogen dioxide causes wheezing or coughing, but it may also lead to headaches, throat irritation, chest pain, and fever.

How can we reduce exposure

People can reduce their exposure to air pollutants by limiting the amount of time that they spend in areas with poor air quality. It is important to be aware of possible air pollutants both outdoors and indoors.

Environmentally friendly living

It is good to burn less gasoline to get rid of air pollution and prevent the harmful effects of climate change. Make good choices for transportation. When you can – just walk or ride a bike. It will be awesome if you choose electric cars instead of other popular variants. Governments, businesses, and individuals can all help in minimizing air pollution. Reducing emissions from vehicles and the levels of pollutants in the atmosphere may improve the quality of the air.

Buy an air purifier

Air purifiers are helpful for not only people with asthma or allergy but also for everyone who wants to be healthy. Pet owners will be extremely happy with this device, as it can trap pet dander and hair. It will help you to get rid of even small particles of pollutions and improve indoor air quality successfully. Even inside our home, there are dust mites and dirt to worry about. Indoor air pollution can irritate your lungs and contribute to allergies and asthma. Do HEPA air filters really work? A true Hepa filter is designed to remove airborne particulates and bacteria using HEPA technology as the primar an air purifier with true HEPA filters is a must-have in every household! It will help to ease allergies and asthma, fight germs and remove dust!

Change filters

It is important to change air filters regularly because we need to keep the air clean always. They are useful when talking about cleaning the air. These filters can be purchased and changed monthly. This is especially essential for individuals with allergy issues, pet owners, and families with young children.

Clean your home regularly

It not only about floor or carpet cleaning. You shouldn’t forget about the walls too! It is a must. Many allergens and pollutants found in the carpeting of an area, floor, walls, furniture. Regular vacuuming is important for clean air. But it is not enough. Therefore, try to get professional cleaning once per month. It can provide an extra form of cleaning. Many companies offer special services when it comes to pet treatment and allergens.

Check air quality

A person can also check the current air quality by using the AirNow website. This awesome web keeps an eye on the air quality across the United States. The site provides information on air pollution levels, which color codes according to their potential effect on health. If the rating is orange or above, people can help protect their health by:

avoiding walking beside busy roads
exercising for less time outdoors or using an indoor venue instead
staying indoors until air quality improves

Check a radon gas level

It is easy to lower air pollution by ensuring that buildings are clean and ventilated. Dust, mold, and pollen may all increase the risk of respiratory problems. If the house were built on the land with uranium deposits, it might cause the accumulation of radon gas, which can cause lung cancer. A person can check for radon in the home by using a radon test kit. Alternatively, they can hire a professional to take this measurement for them.

Use eco-friendly cleaning products

A clean home is less likely to contain dust and other particles that can lower air quality and irritate allergies. But cleaning with the right products is key. Where possible, use completely natural cleaning products such as lemon and vinegar that leave no toxic footprint behind.

Groom your pets

Pet dander and hair are other common allergens in indoor air. If you’re a pet parent, make sure you properly brush your pet’s coat regularly and vacuum all the carpeting, floors, and furnishings using a vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter. The air purifier with true HEPA filters may help you even more successfully with pet dander and hair.

To get more tips about the improvement of air quality at home read our article ’33 effective ways to improve air quality at home’

Dangerous health diseases caused by air pollution

Unfortunately, the list doesn’t end with these. For example, new research has found a connection between the air we breathe and mental health concerns. The more scientists look at this invisible threat, the more they find that air pollution poses a serious threat to our nation’s health. Therefore, be careful and do not forget about your health.