Air quality describes the state of the air that we breathe which, unknown to some, can become something that causes damage to our health. Air pollution, the cause for harm to our well being, compromises of gases and small particulate matter within the air which often we’re unable to see. Pollutants, such as nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃) and particulate matter (PM₁, PM₂.₅, PM₁₀) are emitted through a variety of sources, like fuels from cars, buses, and dust at construction sites. These concentrations can also be worsened or improved by prevailing weather conditions.
How do Air Quality Concentrations affect people?
Different levels of exposure to such pollutants contributes to varying levels of health problems such as diabetes, lung disease, COPD and can worsen symptoms of existing health issues like asthma. Exposure to poor air quality can affect all members of the population, specifically children, the elderly and members of the population who have lung and heart problems. It is these members of the population at greater risk. Air quality exposure affects all individuals, but some more than others, as described in the graphic below.
Long-term and Short-term Exposure
Exposure to air pollution can cause and worsen health in the population, particularly in the most vulnerable individuals. Long-term exposure (years or lifetimes) to air pollution can cause chronic health conditions, such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. These conditions all lead to reduced life expectancy. Short-term exposure (over hours or days) can also affect health, effects include worsening of asthma, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and increased hospital admissions for heart and lung problems.
It can be daunting thinking about the implications of exposure to air pollution, but there are lots of things we can do day to day to improve air quality for ourselves and for those around us thus reducing the risks to human health.
We have an overview of all the information you need to know about air pollution and how you can make a different to health of you, your family, and the environment. Our overview can be found here.
For quick changes that you can take in everyday life to improve air quality please see our article on Taking Small Steps for Big Changes
Further information about the key air pollutants harmful to human health and the environment can be found on the following links:
For an in depth read: