Environmental Nutrition Physical Hazards (Part 3)

Air pollution involves the contamination of the atmosphere with one or more pollutants. It is  an apparent environmental health hazard with significant implications on your health and that of animals and plants.

Air pollutants can be released into the environment naturally  from volcanic eruption and wildfires or from human activities such as from refinery processes, automobiles fumes, smoking and industrial processes.

Examples of air pollutants include:

  • Vehicle exhaust fumes including sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
  • Particulate matter-mainly released form the combustion of fuels and includes components such as nitrates, sulfates , and carbon
  • Smog-
  • Volatile organic compounds-emitted from chemical, paints, fuels and glue.
  • Noxious gases –from industrial processes e.g. nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide

Effects of air pollution on health 

Air pollution mainly causes respiratory issues in addition to neurological disorders , and kidney malfunctions that can further lead to hypertension.

It may damage the lungs and other respiratory organs such as the airways. It can also cause some cancers such as lung cancer .In particular, benzene that is emitted form gasoline combustion and refineries  is associated with leukemia.

Respiratory illnesses triggered by air pollution can either be acute or chronic

Among the acute respiratory illnesses are:

  • Asthma
  • Respiratory infections majorly among children that may present with flu and colds. This can be as a result of inhaling sulphur compounds such as sulfates and sulfur dioxide.
  •  Hypreactive airways that presents with symptoms  including wheezing coughing , and shortening of breathe  among children.Pollutants that can trigger hyperactive airways are : nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide.

Chronic respiratory effects include;

  • Bronchitis
  • Emphysema –it involves the damage of alveoli (air sacs) found on the lungs .It occurs with symptom such as coughs and breathlessness
  • Small airway disease –involves the inflammation of the (bronchioles)small airway
  • Lung cancer

Air pollution also affects animals and plants. It reduces photosynthesis on plants .The air pollutants cover the leaf surfaces  preventing enough sunlight from being absorbed to allow for photosynthesis. This implies reduced crop production and poor crop development.

As  a result of air pollution , animals are predisposed to lung infections, skin irritation and neurological issues.

Smoking

It is  associated with various health effects including  lung damage and lung cancer. 

Smoking among pregnant women  can lead to poor foetal development and low-birth weight babies.

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