Air Pollution Talk

Other than ground-level ozone, particle pollution is another health threat on the air quality. Particle pollution are tiny solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. This is also called particle matter or PM. You won’t be able to see them. These particles come from dust, fires, motor vehicles, power plants, and factories. Most types of particle pollution are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Particle pollution causes haze. That’s why people tend to see more haze in heavy polluted areas and large cities.

Like the way you would to avoid exposure to other air pollution, you should stay indoors to protect yourself from particle pollution. When the air is hazy, avoid going out or staying outdoors for long period of time if you have asthma or other related problems. Avoid bringing young children out. Stay indoors and plan fun activities at home. The advantage of living in smaller cities and rural areas is that you can enjoy outdoors more often. But the irony is that big cities dwellers tend to go out much more often than rural residents.

Source: Office on Women’s Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health

If you wonder what kind of health effects of outdoor air pollution can have on your health, first of all, it can cause your eyes and nose to burn, your throat to itch, and even breathing problems.

In extreme cases, exposure to air pollutants at high levels over a long period of time may lead to cancer, birth defects, brain and nerve damage. It can cause long-term injury to the lungs and breathing passages.

Air pollution doesn’t just affect women, children, and elderly, it affects everyone. Children are especially susceptible to the effects of air pollution because their lungs are developing. Outdoor air pollution also adds more harms to people who have lung and heart diseases because they are more sensitive.

In the U.S., ground-level ozone and particle pollution are two of the most common pollutants and threat to people’s health.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.