Health Effects of Air Pollution

Air defilement could affect the climate, the environment, and homosexual wellness. Among these areas, the health is the main focus of this paper (Thomson Scientific, 2005).Polluted subscriber line whitethorn contain ane or more hazardous substances that affect human being health. The term of metre for this is particulate consequence or the number of particles of potentially hazardous substances as percentage of parentage.This includes a wide range of pollutants. Examples of particulate matter includes driveway dust, diesel soot, fly ash, wood smoke, nitrates in fertilizers, sulfate aerosols, lead, and arsenic to severalize a few.The suggested Federal limit of an average of 50 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic foot of air in one year outcome is considered poor air quality Gore, 2005).Health effectuate of air pollution could be short-term or long-term. Effects get out depend on the unmarrieds sensitivity. When it comes to the extent of harm, it usually depends on the total exposure to modify chemicals. Short-term effectuate may include simple symptoms such as headaches, na practice sessiona and allergic reactions.These symptoms could lead to irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. There are also unadulterated cases which could lead to upper respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. It may be short-term but the effects are mischievous and will need more medical attention. Air pollutants also hold long-term effects which include lung cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and heart disease.These effects could even damage the brain, nerves, liver or kidneys. According to the National Resources defense mechanism Council, some 64,000 nation in the USA may be death prematurely each year from cardiopulmonary causes linked to air pollution (Gore, 2005).The most affected people were the children, and the elderly. In addition, people with health problems such as asthma, hearth disease also suffer more when air is begrime. I n 1995 show by the American Cancer Society and Harvard medical exam School, air pollution scores for about 300,000 premature deaths in USA each year (Gore, 2005).Children are one of the most affected by air pollution because they have not yet fully developed their resistive system. Simple cigarette smoke and smoke coming from exhausts of motor vehicles could be detrimental to them.Researchers have reported in their long study that children teenagers in Southern atomic number 20 were homogeneously to have diminished lung function because of surd air pollution. The study made by James Gauderman of University of Southern California and his colleagues was published in New England Journal of Medicine on 1,759 children ages 10 to 18 in a dozen Southern California communities.The study was concluded that the reason for the diminishing lung function came primarily from car exhaust. It was be out that 7.9 percent of the 18-year-olds in the juicyest pollution areas had lung capacities that were less than 80 percent of what they should have been.Among those subjected to the least- dirty air, 1.6 percent had underperforming lungs. It was also reported that there were similar effects when children live in the home of a mother who smokes. Estimated was half a million die prematurely every year in the united States as a result of smoking cigarettes (Gore, 2004).Just like children, elderly and people with health problems are most at risk in polluted air. As people grow older, they encounter more and more health problems which could be aggravated by air pollution. The exact impact may not be thoroughly understood but long term exposure may increase susceptibility to infections.Also to be taken into account is the duration of the exposure and concentration of the particulate matter in the air. It is estimated that polluted air shortened the lives by an average of one to two years. In the great Smog Disaster in London in 1952, quaternity thousand people died in few day s due to high concentrations of pollution (Gore, 2005).There are many steps made to protect human health against air pollution. American Lung Association is very active and recommends the use of heat recovery breathing device or an energy recovery ventilator remove stale polluted air (Gore, 2005).A treaty called Kyoto Protocol in 1997 entered as part of joined Nations Framework Convention on modality Change made a great impact on cut back air pollution. The treaty aims to reduce emission of dangerous gases such as ascorbic acid dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide by industrialized countries which affects the health of their citizens. One bill adopted in the treaty to reduce harmful discharges is creation of carbon emission (CO) credits.Those who failed to observe the restriction will be ordered to piece necessary equipment to reduce the air pollution under pain of severe financial sanction or buy (CO) credits.The credits are like ordinary commodities. They could sell to it to co mpanies that find it difficult to comply with the emission restriction. If the grocery store value of the (CO) credit is higher than the cost of pollution reduction equipment, they will be forced to comply thus, reducing the air pollution that affects human health.According to reports, these (CO) credits are now being traded in the exchanges of Chicago humor Exchange in the US, European Climate Exchange in United Kingdom, Nord Pool in Norway and PowerNext in France. (Palabrica, 2007).ReferencesPalabrica, R. (2007). Trading on climate change, corporate securities info.Philippine Daily Inquirer.Thomson Scientific (2005). Air pollution. Retrieved family line 7, 2007 fromESI Special Topics. Retrieved on September 7, 2007 from http//esi-topics.com/airpolGore, P. (2005). Air pollution health effects. Retrieved August 7, 2007 from http//www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/pollution-main.html