The EPA has classified certain air pollutants as "Criteria Air Pollutants," which cause sickness. These are the most prevalent air pollutants in the atmosphere, and as a result, they cause the most harm to human health. The EPA has identified certain air contaminants as requiring special care in order to keep their levels within acceptable limits. Lead, ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide are among the criterion air pollutants.
Result used to be everywhere in the air, but since the Clean Air Act was passed, lead levels in the air have dropped by 98 percent, at least in the United States. The neurological system, kidneys, and brain are all vulnerable to lead poisoning.
Atmospheric pollution pollution is one of the leading causes of diseases linked to air pollution. Air pollution refers to the microscopic liquid and solid particles that present in the air. The particles are so small that they can enter the lungs and bloodstream, caused extensive damage. Particle matter can come from a variety of factors, but one of the most significant contributors to particulate matter air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels.
Ozone is an useful chemical when it is present in the upper atmosphere, as it shelters the Earth from the sun’s UV radiation,” explains Wood. "Ozone is a hazardous pollutant and one of the main components of smog when it is at ground level. Ozone is commonly generated through the interaction of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) with sunlight and heat.”
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are colorless gases that are produced when fossil fuels are burned or when industrial procedures are carried out. Both substances can harm the lungs and airways, causing cardiovascular problems to worsen in people who already have them. Asthma is hypothesized to be caused in part by nitrogen dioxide.
"Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels," Wood explains. "Cars and industrial facilities frequently emit carbon monoxide, which prevents people from getting enough oxygen, causing confusion, sickness, and even death."
The levels of outdoor air pollution are higher in places of the world that are rapidly industrializing. Emissions controls in developing countries are frequently lax. The highest risk regions to dwell are massive population centers with unsustainable emissions policies.
Prevention
Lifestyle behaviors and geographic location are also risk factors for air pollution diseases. People are harmed by both indoor and outdoor air pollution, according to Wood. "Using coal, wood, or biomass to cook food exposes people to indoor air pollution. According to WHO estimates, cooking with dirty fuels was responsible for many of the 4.3 million fatalities caused by air pollution in 2012.
To stop diseases caused by air pollution, smart control techniques must be used, such as enacting emissions standards and developing technologies to reduce emissions.
Source management is one of the greatest ways for reducing air pollution, according to the EPA. Source control entails reducing pollution at its source by increasing the efficiency of industrial processes and switching to cleaner fuels.
Another method to enhance overall air quality is to use technology that decreases pollutants, according to Wood. "Scrubbers on smokestacks, filters, electrostatic precipitators, and mechanical collectors on tailpipes are all examples of technological innovation that limit air pollution. Clean air technological advancements can be linked with economic incentives such as carbon trading and caps. As a result, businesses are more likely to adopt clean energy technology."
Implementing emissions-reduction methods usually benefits the economy as well, because society will have to spend less money on healthcare costs related to diseases caused by air pollution.
Air pollution causes diseases that shorten people's lives while also making them unhappier and more difficult. For these reasons, we must do all possible to eliminate air pollution and the diseases that it causes.
When the closeness of pollution produced by industries or other contributors results in poor air quality, building owners can address tenant concerns by ensuring that excellent, high-efficiency air filters are employed in the HVAC systems. Air filters can manage particles as small as sub-microns and even ozone, the principal culprit in locations prone to high smog levels on a regular basis.
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