What is the body's greatest need? What do you think?<\/p>\n
This article was translated from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which has been studying for 50 years how polluted air affects our environment and human health. The Institute publishes many studies on how air pollution affects health and the population groups that are most affected. Below you can read very important information that concerns people living in cities, where the greatest air pollution is present.<\/p>\n
Air pollution is a known environmental health hazard.<\/span><\/span> We know what we're looking at when a brown haze descends over a city, exhaust fumes billow across a busy highway, or a plume rises from a chimney.<\/span><\/span> Some air pollutants are not visible, but their pungent smell warns you.<\/span><\/span> It is a great threat to our health and the health of our loved ones.<\/span><\/span> Air pollution, in all its forms, is responsible for more than 6.5 million deaths every year in the world<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, a number that has increased over the past two decades.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What is air pollution?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Air pollution is a mixture of dangerous substances that comes from bad decisions people make. Emissions from vehicles, fuel oil and natural gas for heating homes, by-products of electricity production and production, especially coal-fired power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-caused air pollution.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Air pollution caused by traffic<\/a><\/strong><\/em> (TRAP), a mixture of gases and particles, has most of the elements of human-caused air pollution: ground-level ozone, various forms of carbon, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and fine particles. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ozone<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, an atmospheric gas, is often called smog when it is at ground level. It is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Harmful gases,<\/strong> which include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx), are components of motor vehicle emissions and by-products of industrial processes. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Particles <\/strong>(PM) consist of chemicals such as sulfates, nitrates, carbon or mineral dust. Emissions from vehicles and industry resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, cigarette smoke and the burning of organic matter, such as forest fires, contain particulate matter. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A subset of PM, fine particles (PM 2.5) is 30 times thinner than a human hair. It can be inhaled deep into the lung tissue and cause serious health problems.<\/strong> PM 2.5 is responsible for most health effects<\/strong><\/em><\/a> due to air pollution in the US. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Volatile organic compounds<\/strong> <\/em>(VOC) evaporate at or near room temperature - hence the name volatile. They are called organic because they contain carbon. VOCs are released by paints, cleaning products, pesticides, some furniture, and even craft materials like glue. Gasoline and natural gas are the main sources of VOCs released during combustion. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds containing carbon and hydrogen. Of the more than 100 PAHs known to be widely distributed in the environment, 15 of them are listed in the Report on Carcinogens<\/strong>. In addition to combustion, many industrial processes, such as the production of iron, steel and rubber products, as well as the generation of electricity, also produce PAHs as a by-product. PAHs are also found in particulate matter.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n What does NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) do?<\/strong><\/em><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n During its 50-year history, NIEHS has been a leader in air pollution research. The institute continues to fund and conduct research on how air pollution affects health and the population groups most affected. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n How does air pollution affect our health?<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When the National Air Quality Standards were established in 1970, air pollution was considered primarily a threat to the health of the respiratory system. In 1993, NIEHS researchers published a landmark study of six cities<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, which established a link between fine particles and mortality. Exposure to air pollution is linked to oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which can set the stage for chronic disease and cancer.<\/strong> In 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO) classified air pollution as carcinogenic to humans<\/em><\/a><\/strong>. Research on air pollution and its effects on health is constantly progressing. Public health concerns now include cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and reproductive, neurological, and immune system disorders.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Malignant diseases (Cancer)<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A large study of more than 57,000 women showed that those who live near major roads can increase the risk of breast cancer<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.<\/span><\/span> A sister NIEHS study found that other airborne toxicants, particularly methylene chloride, which is used in aerosol products and paint removers, are also linked to increased risk of breast cancer<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.<\/span><\/span> Occupational exposure to benzene, an industrial chemical and component of gasoline, can cause leukemia and is associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/span><\/span> A long-term study, 2000-2016, revealed a connection between the incidence of lung cancer<\/a><\/strong><\/em> and increased reliance on coal for energy production.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Cardiovascular diseases<\/span><\/span> <\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Fine particles can disrupt the function of blood vessels<\/em><\/a><\/strong> and accelerate calcification in the arteries<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Disease of the respiratory system<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n Who is most affected by air pollution?<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n Air pollution affects everyone's health, but certain groups may be more affected.<\/span><\/span> Almost 9 out of 10 people living in urban areas around the world are affected by air pollution, he says study<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n You can check more about air quality in Croatia below: http:\/\/iszz.azo.hr\/iskzl\/<\/p>\n You can check more about air quality in the world below: https:\/\/www.iqair.com\/world-air-quality-ranking<\/p>\n What are the consequences for children<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The NIEHS-funded Children's Health Study at the University of Southern California is one of the largest studies of the long-term effects of air pollution on children's respiratory health.<\/span><\/span> <\/span>Among his findings:<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n
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