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EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

ON HUMAN LIFE
By : Thota Harshavardhan
BREIF ABOUT THE TOPIC

 Air quality significantly affects the lives of people.


 Air pollution causes around seven million deaths a year
worldwide.
 Growth and concentration of the population in cities, as well
as the way in which we consume energy in urban areas through
transport or heating and air conditioning systems, among
others, result in the emission of huge quantities of gases that
are harmful to our health.
MAJOR CAUSES OF AIR
POLLUTION

 Emissions from different transport modes, the burning of


fossil fuels, industrial production, forest fires, aerosol use and
radiation fare some of the main causes of air pollution.
 Such sources of emissions liberate gases and substances that
are toxic for human beings, the most harmful of which are:
tropospheric ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen
dioxide (NO2), benzo (a) pyrene (BaP) and suspended
particulate matter (PM).
HOW DOES AIR POLLUTION
AFFECT OUR HEALTH?

 Respiratory diseases
 Cardiovascular damage
 Fatigue
 Headaches and Anxiety Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
 Damage to reproductive organs
 Harm to the liver, spleen and blood
 Nervous system damage.
Urban populations are more exposed to suffer the effects of
air pollution and, in this context, people who are already ill are
particularly vulnerable, as are children and the elderly.
HOW TO TACKLE AIR
POLLUTION?
 To alleviate the negative effects of atmospheric pollution on
health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Climate
and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) – made up of the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and 54 nations,
among other agencies – launched the Breathe Life initiative.
 This is a program that aims to “aims to mobilize cities and
individuals to protect our health and our planet from the
effects of air pollution” and which has fixed the objective of
cutting by half the number of deaths linked to air pollution
before 2030.
 Actions will be local and focused on improving transport,
waste management, indoor air quality, energy supply, industry,
food and agriculture.
STANDARD LEVEL OF CRITERIA AIR POLLUTANTS AND THEIR SOURCES
WITH HEALTH IMPACT BASED ON THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
AS A RESULT OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF AIR
POLLUTION ON HEALTH, THE FOLLOWING
HAVE BEEN OBSERVED:

 An increase in lung cancer cases


 An increase in the frequency of chronic asthma crisis
 An increase in the frequency of asthma cases
 An increase in the frequency of coughing/phlegm
 An increase in the acute disorders of upper repiratory system
 An increase in eye, nose and throat irritation cases
 Reduction in respiratory capacity
 An increase in mortality
 A reduction in productivity and production
 An increase in medical treatment expenses
SEVERAL OTHER METHODS TO CURB AIR
POLLUTION ARE LISTED AS FOLLOWS:
 Using public mode of transport :-Encourage people to use more
and more public modes of transportation to reduce pollution.
 Conserving Energy :- Switch off fans and lights when you are going
out. A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to produce electricity.
 Understanding the Concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle :- Do
not throw away the items that are no longer of any use but reuse
them.
 Emphasizing on Clean Energy Resources :- Clean energy
technologies like solar, wind and geothermal energy are on high these
days.
 Using Energy Efficient Devices :- The CFL lights consume less
electricity as compared to their counterparts.
HEALTH HAZARDS

 In terms of health hazards, every unusual suspended material


in the air, which causes difficulties in normal function of the
human organs, is defined as air toxicants.
 According to available data, the main toxic effects of exposure
to air pollutants are mainly on the respiratory, cardiovascular,
ophthalmologic, dermatologic, neuropsychiatric, hematologic,
immunologic, and reproductive systems.
 However, the molecular and cell toxicity may also induce a
variety of cancers in the long term.
 On the other hand, even small amount of air toxicants is
shown to be dangerous for susceptible groups including
children and elderly people as well as patients suffering from
respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
PREVENTIONS

 It is well understood that pollution has a profound


effect on health; therefore, reduction of pollution has
a positive effect on health, particularly the health of
susceptible individuals
 Reductions in the levels of air pollution can be
achieved in many ways, and governments can play a
key role.
CONCLUSIONS

 Air pollution currently affects the health of millions of people.


We have presented evidence on the effects of pollutants on
patients with limitations in their respiratory capacities.
 For example, O3 and PM may trigger asthma symptoms or lead
to premature death, particularly in elderly individuals with pre-
existing respiratory or cardiovascular disease.
 In addition, pollutants enhance the release of allergenic pollen
grains, which results in an increased prevalence of pollen-
induced asthma.
 Thus, the case for action to reduce air pollution is
overwhelming and this action can take many forms.

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