Background:
According to the Environmental Science Engineering Program at the Harvard School of Public Health, nearly 4% of deaths in the U.S. can be attributed to air pollution. Air Pollution is caused by chemicals or biological materials that enter the atmosphere and can cause harm or discomfort to humans and the environment. There are two types of air pollutants: primary and secondary. Primary pollutants are materials that are released directly into the air. Some include ash from volcano eruptions or carbon monoxide gas from vehicle exhausts. Secondary pollutants are not directly released into the air. These pollutants are formed when primary pollutants react or interact with each other. An example of a secondary pollutant would be the ground level ozone.
Examples of primary pollutants:
• Sulfur oxides, Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, toxic metals (including lead and copper), ammonia, and odors from garbage, sewage, and industrial processes
Examples of secondary pollutants:
• Ground level ozone – formed from nitrogen oxide or volatile organic compounds
• Matter formed from gaseous primary pollutants
Health Effects from Air Pollution:
Some of the health effects that can be caused by air pollution range from difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiac conditions. Pollution primarily affects a person’s respiratory system and the cardiovascular system, however, the effect of air pollution can depend on the type of pollutant the person was exposed to, what the degree of exposure was, and the individual’s general health and genetics. Diesel exhaust has been linked to inflammation in the lungs. This can aggravate chronic respiratory symptoms and increase the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks.
Facts on Air Pollution:
• Estimates of the annual human health costs of outdoor air pollution range from $14 billion to $55 billion annually.
• Each year, pollution claims 70,000 lives in the United States.
• Due to the implementation of the federal Clean Air Act, the United States will save a projected $1.1 trillion in health benefits (i.e., avoided illness and death) associated with reductions in air pollution by the year 2010.
Resources:
California’s Office of Health Hazard Assessment
American Lung Association
Environmental Protection Agency
National Institute of Health
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
