Effect Of Pollution On Human Health

Pollution refers to the contamination of both the biological and physical constituents of the earth's crust resulting in an adverse effect on the normal environmental processes. Pollutants are sometimes naturally occurring substances such as carbon dioxide and energies such as ultraviolet rays which have exceeded their natural levels (Iyyanki, Muralikrishna, 2017). Pollutants are grouped as indoor and outdoor pollutants. Indoor pollutants include smoke, dust particles, carbon monoxide, while outdoor pollutants include Nitrogen dioxide, ozone, Sulphur dioxide, lead. The impact of pollution on human health has been found to be tremendous and detrimental often leading to diseases and even death (Mueller et al. 2015).

The health effect of the pollutant depends on its source and can be a result of either long term or short term exposure to the pollutant in question. Fine particles of particulate matter increase risk of death. Exposure to high levels of ozone causes the appendix of a person to become perforated. Small particles cause inflammation and bring some changes in the blood-brain barrier. This exposes one to the risk of developing stroke, Parkinson's disease, and neuron disorders. Motor vehicles and industrial processes contribute to air pollutions, especially the emission of dangerous gases like nitrogen (IV) oxide, Sulphur (IV) oxide, carbon monoxide, and some ground-level ozone which are the major contributors to chronic diseases and also having a larger contribution to respiratory problems (Jiang, Mei and Feng, 2016). Diseases that result from due exposure of these gases include; asthma, lung cancer, ventricular hypertrophy, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. This also leads to psychological complications, autism, retinopathy, fetal growth, and low birth weight (Kim, Kabir and Kabir, 2015).

Particle pollutants are the mixture of particles that are found in the air. Pulmonary and cardiac morbidity and mortality arose from the exposure to these particles. The particle sizes are directly linked to the rise of the lung and heart-related diseases. Ground level ozone is powerful oxidant which accepts an electron from other molecules. Its exposure may lead to high risks of damaging the DNA. Carbon monoxide combines permanently with hemoglobin (which is an oxygen carrier in the body), forming carboxyhemoglobin, and thus leaving no room for oxygen (Ghorani-Azam, Riahi-Zanjani and Balali-Mood, 2016). It exposes one to high risk of suffocation due to lack of oxygen and even leads to immediate death if quick action is not taken. Sulfur dioxide comes from fossils fuel consumption, natural volcanic activities and industrial processes. It's very harmful to plants, animals and human health. Exposure to it leads to increased risks of lung cancer, skin, and respiratory problems. Nitrogen oxide mainly results from motor engines, traffic-related air pollution. Its effects include; respiratory infections, throat irritations, headache, dyspnea, chest pain, and pulmonary edema (Jiang, Mei and Feng, 2016).

Air pollutants are very dangerous and poisonous when it's a long exposure to the environment. Toxic chemicals in the air such as Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can lead to the formation of acidic rain. It can also cause dangerous ground-level ozone whose effects can destroy trees, crops, farms, and animals. Through its adverse effects, water bodies such as seas and lakes become harmful to both human and animals whose life depends on water (SIERRA‐VARGAS and Teran, 2012)

References

• Ghorani-Azam, A., Riahi-Zanjani, B. and Balali-Mood, M., 2016. Effects of air pollution on human health and practical measures for prevention in Iran. Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 21.
• Iyyanki, V. and Muralikrishna, V.M., 2017. Air pollution control technologies. Environmental management, Elsevier, India, pp.337-397.
• Jiang, X.Q., Mei, X.D. and Feng, D., 2016. Air pollution and chronic airway diseases: what should people know and do?. Journal of thoracic disease, 8(1), p.E31.
• SIERRA‐VARGAS, M.P. and Teran, L.M., 2012. Air pollution: impact and prevention. Respirology, 17(7), pp.1031-1038.
• Kim, K.H., Kabir, E. and Kabir, S., 2015. A review on the human health impact of airborne particulate matter. Environment international, 74, pp.136-143.
• Mueller, N., Rojas-Rueda, D., Cole-Hunter, T., de Nazelle, A., Dons, E., Gerike, R., Goetschi, T., Panis, L.I., Kahlmeier, S. and Nieuwenhuijsen, M., 2015. Health impact assessment of active transportation: a systematic review. Preventive medicine, 76, pp.103-114.