Environmental Protection Web

Air pollution: how does it affect your health?

These days many people are concerned about air pollution and whether it might affect their health. The fact is that most of the time, air pollution levels in East Hampshire are low. The air is certainly a lot cleaner today than in the days of the smogs and pea soups of the 1950’s, when factory chimneys belched out smoke and nearly everyone had a coal fire.

This doesn't mean we shouldn't care about air pollution. Some people are more likely that others to be affected by changes in air quality. People who have lung and heart conditions, the very young and very old people are at more risk from changes in the air quality.

How does air pollution affect health?

Pollutant

Sources

Health effects at very high levels

Carbon monoxide Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Carbon monoxide prevents the normal transport of oxygen by the blood. This can lead to a significant reduction in the supply of oxygen to the heart, particularly in people suffering from heart disease. Can cause death.

Benzene
Vehicle emissions, evaporation of petrol during vehicle fuelling and from fuel tanks, fossil fuel combustion. Benzene also occurs naturally.
Excessive exposure may affect the blood, brain, heart, immune system, liver, lung and skin and in worse cases benzene can cause cancer.

1, 3-butadiene Vehicles emissions, chemistry industry Genetic damage, breathing difficulties and cancer.

Lead Industry emissions Brain damage, kidney problems, collapse of nervous systom, damage to reproductive organs. In worse cases can lead to death.

Nitrogen dioxide Vehicles, burning fossil fuels, power stations. Irritates the airways of the lungs, increasing the symptoms of those suffering from lung diseases. Bacterial infections.

Sulphur dioxide Burning fossil fuels, especially coal, industry. Irritates the airways of the lungs, increasing the symptoms of those suffering from lung diseases.

Particles (PM10) Industrial activities, combustion of wood and fossil fuels, construction and demolition activities, movement of road dust into the air. Road vehicles. PM also occurs naturally. Fine particles can be carried deep into the lungs where they can cause inflammation and a worsening of heart and lung diseases. Research is still being carrie dout to establish the true effect of particles on human health.

Ozone Ozone is created by a photochemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. Irritates the airways of the lungs, increasing the symptoms of those suffering from lung diseases.

How does air pollution affect health?
Pollutant	Sources	Health effects at very high levels
Carbon monoxide	Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.	Carbon monoxide prevents the normal transport of oxygen by the blood. This can lead to a significant reduction in the supply of oxygen to the heart, particularly in people suffering from heart disease. Can cause death.
Benzene	Vehicle emissions, evaporation of petrol during vehicle fuelling and from fuel tanks, fossil fuel combustion. Benzene also occurs naturally.	Excessive exposure may affect the blood, brain, heart, immune system, liver, lung and skin and in worse cases benzene can cause cancer.
1, 3-butadiene	Vehicles emissions, chemistry industry	Genetic damage, breathing difficulties and cancer.
Lead	Industry emissions	Brain damage, kidney problems, collapse of nervous systom, damage to reproductive organs. In worse cases can lead to death.
Nitrogen dioxide	Vehicles, burning fossil fuels, power stations.	Irritates the airways of the lungs, increasing the symptoms of those suffering from lung diseases. Bacterial infections.
Sulphur dioxide	Burning fossil fuels, especially coal, industry.	Irritates the airways of the lungs, increasing the symptoms of those suffering from lung diseases.
Particles (PM10)	Industrial activities, combustion of wood and fossil fuels, construction and demolition activities, movement of road dust into the air. Road vehicles. PM also occurs naturally.	Fine particles can be carried deep into the lungs where they can cause inflammation and a worsening of heart and lung diseases. Research is still being carrie dout to establish the true effect of particles on human health.
Ozone	Ozone is created by a photochemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight.	Irritates the airways of the lungs, increasing the symptoms of those suffering from lung diseases.

More detailed information on each of the pollutants above can be found by following the link below:

Outdoor air pollution

Air quality forcast for your area

An air quality forecasting service is provided by DEFRA for the whole of the UK. To see a forcast for your area visit the UK Air Pollution Forecasting website.

Further information

For further information on air pollution and health, please contact us on 01730 234360 or by emailing ehealth@easthants.gov.uk