Air Quality and Environmental Health

: Air Quality and Environmental Health

Specifications : 2 pages , 3 Sources , APA Style

: language What are some of the common health problems associated with air pollution in urban areas ? Why do you think that it might be difficult to demonstrate that people suffer specifically from air pollution ? Explain HYPERLINK "http /airnow .gov /index .cfm ?action static .health http /airnow .gov /index .cfm ?action static .health HYPERLINK "http /www .epa .gov /air /criteria .html http /www .epa .gov /air /criteria .html

HYPERLINK "http /www .enn .com ?id 9761 " http /www .enn .com ?id

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Air pollution is a very common problem in several cities in the world and can cause serious health hazards . The Air Quality Index helps to determine the quality of air based on the presence of 5 common pollutants . Some of the common pollutants present in the air that can pose a serious health problem include ozone and airborne particles (Air Now , 2007

Ozone or `smog ' can have a serious effect on the respiratory tract resulting in a range of symptoms such as irritation of the respiratory tract , inflammation cough , and lung effects . The lungs may not function effectively resulting in wheezing , difficulty in breathing and chest tightness . People suffering from asthma and other breathing problems are especially vulnerable from the ill effects of ozone . Children and adults affected with asthma are especially prone to suffer an asthmatic attack following exposure to the ground-level ozone (Air Now , 2007

Airborne particulate pollution is the presence of solids or liquid droplets in the air . These particles are capable of entering the lungs and causing ill effects . Individuals suffering from pre-existing lung diss and even heart diss are at a higher risk of suffering from the ill effects of particulate matter . In some cases , the lung or heart disease can get aggravated leading to serious consequences , even fatal outcomes . When an individual is exposed to particulate matter present in the air , several transient symptoms such as irritation of the eyes , nasal mucosa , throat and the airways , difficulty in breathing expectoration , cough , sneezing , chest tightness , difficulty in breathing , etc , occur . Children and elderly individuals are at the higher risk of suffering from the ill effects of particulate matter pollution (Air Now , 2007

The other substances present in air that can have a serious impact on the health include carbon monoxide , lead , nitrogen dioxide , sulphur dioxide , etc . In to reduce the level of noxious substances present in the air , the Clean Air Act has been formulated and was last modified in the year 1990 . The Clean Air Act contains certain primary standards (meant to safeguard the health of populations at risks such as children , asthma patients , etc , and secondary standards (meant to protect the health of the general population (US EPA , 2007

It may be very difficult to demonstrate that people suffer from the ill effects of air pollution . This is because the pollutants present in air are not one and can include an range of substances . At the same...