Health Problems Caused by Air Pollution

Most air pollution is caused by industries and puts the people who live in and around those areas at an increased risk for many different diseases.  Air pollution impacts the youngest, oldest and poorest and contributes to diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis.  Other problems affecting people who live in areas with high levels of air pollution include increased fatigue, headaches, nausea and wheezing. 

Air pollution is measured by the levels of particulate matter or PM in the air, and the more elevated the PM levels are, the more dangerous it is to the health of the people living in the area.  Scientists define PM2.5 as fine, tiny particles or droplets in the air that are two and one half microns (there are approximately 25,000 microns in an inch) or less in width.  On days when the levels of daily PM2.5 are elevated, it can reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy.  Many cities post warnings when air pollution levels are elevated as it can be especially unhealthy for people with certain health conditions.  Higher levels of PM2.5 often occur when there is little or no wind.     

PM10 (particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter) and PM2.5 include pollutants such as sulfate, nitrates and black carbon, which can be responsible for many diseases.  There is a fairly recent study that explains why PM2.5 may be more harmful than PM10. “Physically, this makes sense - smaller the particle, more of a probability that it will go deeper into the lungs and harm us.”

One of the worst places for industrial air pollution is in China.  In a recent study reported on by the BBC, the U.S. embassy in Beijing recorded the daily average air quality index (AQI) from 2008 to 2015.  Based on PM2.5, they reported readings that indicated 49% of the time the air quality was “very unhealthy,” and 4% of the time it was “hazardous.”  The study also indicated that the air quality was “good” 2% of the time.   

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Sources:

health.ny.gov/environmental/indoors/air/pmq_a.htm

aqicn.org/faq/2013-02-02/why-is-pm25-often-higher-than-pm10/

bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35351597