Why pollution is bad

All that prevented death, illness, and lost productivity adds up to a lot of savings:. Importantly, many of the benefits can be accessed in the near term. Right now, air pollution leads to almost , premature deaths a year in the US. Within a decade, aggressive decarbonization could reduce that toll by 40 percent; over 20 years, it could save around 1. Of the potential yearly deaths prevented, Rep. Second, where scientists used to focus almost exclusively on pollution effects for which there is an established and well-understood biological pathway, the recent production of enormous data sets for instance, the entire population of more than 60 million Medicare patients has allowed them to uncover new statistical correlations.

For example, scientists now know that exposure to smog tiny, microscopic particulates hurts prenatal and young brains. Similarly, they know it hurts the kidneys, the spleen, even the nervous system. A recent study from the national academies of multiple countries , including the US, put it this way:. The scientific evidence is unequivocal: air pollution can harm health across the entire lifespan. It damages lungs, hearts, brains, skin and other organs; it increases the risk of disease and disability, affecting virtually all systems in the human body.

While that may sound like a big jump, it is likely a lower bound. The implications of this new air quality research are far-reaching. Though the benefits of the Clean Air Act were already thought to outweigh the costs, they may be twice as high as previously estimated.

These rule changes are its last-ditch bid to blind the government to new research. But the latest air pollution research, coupled with the plunging cost of clean energy, should render that dynamic moot. The health benefits of avoided severe heat will not manifest. Sulfur dioxide is a harmful gas that is emitted mainly from fossil fuel consumption or industrial activities.

The annual standard for SO 2 is 0. It affects human, animal, and plant life. Susceptible people as those with lung disease, old people, and children, who present a higher risk of damage. The major health problems associated with sulfur dioxide emissions in industrialized areas are respiratory irritation, bronchitis, mucus production, and bronchospasm, as it is a sensory irritant and penetrates deep into the lung converted into bisulfite and interacting with sensory receptors, causing bronchoconstriction.

Moreover, skin redness, damage to the eyes lacrimation and corneal opacity and mucous membranes, and worsening of pre-existing cardiovascular disease have been observed Environmental adverse effects, such as acidification of soil and acid rain, seem to be associated with sulfur dioxide emissions Lead is a heavy metal used in different industrial plants and emitted from some petrol motor engines, batteries, radiators, waste incinerators, and waste waters Moreover, major sources of lead pollution in the air are metals, ore, and piston-engine aircraft.

Lead poisoning is a threat to public health due to its deleterious effects upon humans, animals, and the environment, especially in the developing countries. Exposure to lead can occur through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. Trans- placental transport of lead was also reported, as lead passes through the placenta unencumbered The younger the fetus is, the more harmful the toxic effects.

Lead toxicity affects the fetal nervous system; edema or swelling of the brain is observed Lead, when inhaled, accumulates in the blood, soft tissue, liver, lung, bones, and cardiovascular, nervous, and reproductive systems.

Moreover, loss of concentration and memory, as well as muscle and joint pain, were observed in adults 85 , Children and newborns 87 are extremely susceptible even to minimal doses of lead, as it is a neurotoxicant and causes learning disabilities, impairment of memory, hyperactivity, and even mental retardation.

Elevated amounts of lead in the environment are harmful to plants and crop growth. Neurological effects are observed in vertebrates and animals in association with high lead levels The distribution of PAHs is ubiquitous in the environment, as the atmosphere is the most important means of their dispersal. They are found in coal and in tar sediments. Moreover, they are generated through incomplete combustion of organic matter as in the cases of forest fires, incineration, and engines PAH compounds, such as benzopyrene, acenaphthylene, anthracene, and fluoranthene are recognized as toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic substances.

They are an important risk factor for lung cancer Volatile organic compounds VOCs , such as toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene 90 , have been found to be associated with cancer in humans The use of new products and materials has actually resulted in increased concentrations of VOCs. VOCs pollute indoor air 90 and may have adverse effects on human health Short-term and long-term adverse effects on human health are observed.

VOCs are responsible for indoor air smells. Short-term exposure is found to cause irritation of eyes, nose, throat, and mucosal membranes, while those of long duration exposure include toxic reactions Predictable assessment of the toxic effects of complex VOC mixtures is difficult to estimate, as these pollutants can have synergic, antagonistic, or indifferent effects 91 , Dioxins originate from industrial processes but also come from natural processes, such as forest fires and volcanic eruptions.

They accumulate in foods such as meat and dairy products, fish and shellfish, and especially in the fatty tissue of animals Short-period exhibition to high dioxin concentrations may result in dark spots and lesions on the skin Long-term exposure to dioxins can cause developmental problems, impairment of the immune, endocrine and nervous systems, reproductive infertility, and cancer Without any doubt, fossil fuel consumption is responsible for a sizeable part of air contamination.

This contamination may be anthropogenic, as in agricultural and industrial processes or transportation, while contamination from natural sources is also possible. Interestingly, it is of note that the air quality standards established through the European Air Quality Directive are somewhat looser than the WHO guidelines, which are stricter The most common air pollutants are ground-level ozone and Particulates Matter PM.

Air pollution is distinguished into two main types:. Indoor pollution is the pollution generated by household combustion of fuels. People exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants experience disease symptoms and states of greater and lesser seriousness. These effects are grouped into short- and long-term effects affecting health. Susceptible populations that need to be aware of health protection measures include old people, children, and people with diabetes and predisposing heart or lung disease, especially asthma.

As extensively stated previously, according to a recent epidemiological study from Harvard School of Public Health, the relative magnitudes of the short- and long-term effects have not been completely clarified 57 due to the different epidemiological methodologies and to the exposure errors.

New models are proposed for assessing short- and long-term human exposure data more successfully Thus, in the present section, we report the more common short- and long-term health effects but also general concerns for both types of effects, as these effects are often dependent on environmental conditions, dose, and individual susceptibility.

Short-term effects are temporary and range from simple discomfort, such as irritation of the eyes, nose, skin, throat, wheezing, coughing and chest tightness, and breathing difficulties, to more serious states, such as asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and lung and heart problems. Short-term exposure to air pollution can also cause headaches, nausea, and dizziness.

These problems can be aggravated by extended long-term exposure to the pollutants, which is harmful to the neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems and causes cancer and even, rarely, deaths.

The long-term effects are chronic, lasting for years or the whole life and can even lead to death. Furthermore, the toxicity of several air pollutants may also induce a variety of cancers in the long term As stated already, respiratory disorders are closely associated with the inhalation of air pollutants.

These pollutants will invade through the airways and will accumulate at the cells. Damage to target cells should be related to the pollutant component involved and its source and dose. Health effects are also closely dependent on country, area, season, and time. An extended exposure duration to the pollutant should incline to long-term health effects in relation also to the above factors.

Particulate Matter PMs , dust, benzene, and O 3 cause serious damage to the respiratory system Moreover, there is a supplementary risk in case of existing respiratory disease such as asthma Long-term effects are more frequent in people with a predisposing disease state.

When the trachea is contaminated by pollutants, voice alterations may be remarked after acute exposure. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD may be induced following air pollution, increasing morbidity and mortality Long-term effects from traffic, industrial air pollution, and combustion of fuels are the major factors for COPD risk Multiple cardiovascular effects have been observed after exposure to air pollutants Changes occurred in blood cells after long-term exposure may affect cardiac functionality.

Coronary arteriosclerosis was reported following long-term exposure to traffic emissions , while short-term exposure is related to hypertension, stroke, myocardial infracts, and heart insufficiency. Ventricle hypertrophy is reported to occur in humans after long-time exposure to nitrogen oxide NO 2 , Neurological effects have been observed in adults and children after extended-term exposure to air pollutants.

Psychological complications, autism, retinopathy, fetal growth, and low birth weight seem to be related to long-term air pollution The etiologic agent of the neurodegenerative diseases Alzheimer's and Parkinson's is not yet known, although it is believed that extended exposure to air pollution seems to be a factor.

Specifically, pesticides and metals are cited as etiological factors, together with diet. The mechanisms in the development of neurodegenerative disease include oxidative stress, protein aggregation, inflammation, and mitochondrial impairment in neurons Figure 1. Brain inflammation was observed in dogs living in a highly polluted area in Mexico for a long period In human adults, markers of systemic inflammation IL-6 and fibrinogen were found to be increased as an immediate response to PNC on the IL-6 level, possibly leading to the production of acute-phase proteins The progression of atherosclerosis and oxidative stress seem to be the mechanisms involved in the neurological disturbances caused by long-term air pollution.

Inflammation comes secondary to the oxidative stress and seems to be involved in the impairment of developmental maturation, affecting multiple organs , Similarly, other factors seem to be involved in the developmental maturation, which define the vulnerability to long-term air pollution.

These include birthweight, maternal smoking, genetic background and socioeconomic environment, as well as education level. However, diet, starting from breast-feeding, is another determinant factor.

Diet is the main source of antioxidants, which play a key role in our protection against air pollutants Antioxidants are free radical scavengers and limit the interaction of free radicals in the brain Similarly, genetic background may result in a differential susceptibility toward the oxidative stress pathway For example, antioxidant supplementation with vitamins C and E appears to modulate the effect of ozone in asthmatic children homozygous for the GSTM1 null allele Inflammatory cytokines released in the periphery e.

Such activation and the subsequent events leading to neurodegeneration have recently been observed in lung lavage in mice exposed to ambient Los Angeles CA, USA particulate matter In children, neurodevelopmental morbidities were observed after lead exposure.

These children developed aggressive and delinquent behavior, reduced intelligence, learning difficulties, and hyperactivity It is important to state that impact on the immune system, causing dysfunction and neuroinflammation , is related to poor air quality. Yet, increases in serum levels of immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and the complement component C3 are observed Another issue is that antigen presentation is affected by air pollutants, as there is an upregulation of costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86 on macrophages As is known, skin is our shield against ultraviolet radiation UVR and other pollutants, as it is the most exterior layer of our body.

On the one hand, as already stated, when pollutants penetrate through the skin or are inhaled, damage to the organs is observed, as some of these pollutants are mutagenic and carcinogenic, and, specifically, they affect the liver and lung. On the other hand, air pollutants and those in the troposphere reduce the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation UVR in polluted urban areas Air pollutants absorbed by the human skin may contribute to skin aging, psoriasis, acne, urticaria, eczema, and atopic dermatitis , usually caused by exposure to oxides and photochemical smoke Exposure to PM and cigarette smoking act as skin-aging agents, causing spots, dyschromia, and wrinkles.

Lastly, pollutants have been associated with skin cancer Higher morbidity is reported to fetuses and children when exposed to the above dangers. Impairment in fetal growth, low birth weight, and autism have been reported Another exterior organ that may be affected is the eye. Contamination usually comes from suspended pollutants and may result in asymptomatic eye outcomes, irritation , retinopathy, or dry eye syndrome , Air pollution is harming not only human health but also the environment in which we live.

The most important environmental effects are as follows. Acid rain is wet rain, fog, snow or dry particulates and gas precipitation containing toxic amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. They are able to acidify the water and soil environments, damage trees and plantations, and even damage buildings and outdoor sculptures, constructions, and statues. Haze is produced when fine particles are dispersed in the air and reduce the transparency of the atmosphere.

It is caused by gas emissions in the air coming from industrial facilities, power plants, automobiles, and trucks. Ozone , as discussed previously, occurs both at ground level and in the upper level stratosphere of the Earth's atmosphere.

Stratospheric ozone is protecting us from the Sun's harmful ultraviolet UV rays. In contrast, ground-level ozone is harmful to human health and is a pollutant. Unfortunately, stratospheric ozone is gradually damaged by ozone-depleting substances i. If this protecting stratospheric ozone layer is thinned, then UV radiation can reach our Earth, with harmful effects for human life skin cancer and crops In plants, ozone penetrates through the stomata, inducing them to close, which blocks CO 2 transfer and induces a reduction in photosynthesis Global climate change is an important issue that concerns mankind.

Unhappily, anthropogenic activities have destroyed this protecting temperature effect by producing large amounts of greenhouse gases, and global warming is mounting, with harmful effects on human health, animals, forests, wildlife, agriculture, and the water environment. A report states that global warming is adding to the health risks of poor people People living in poorly constructed buildings in warm-climate countries are at high risk for heat-related health problems as temperatures mount Wildlife is burdened by toxic pollutants coming from the air, soil, or the water ecosystem and, in this way, animals can develop health problems when exposed to high levels of pollutants.

Reproductive failure and birth effects have been reported. Eutrophication is occurring when elevated concentrations of nutrients especially nitrogen stimulate the blooming of aquatic algae, which can cause a disequilibration in the diversity of fish and their deaths. Without a doubt, there is a critical concentration of pollution that an ecosystem can tolerate without being destroyed, which is associated with the ecosystem's capacity to neutralize acidity.

Hence, air pollution has deleterious effects on both soil and water Concerning PM as an air pollutant, its impact on crop yield and food productivity has been reported. Its impact on watery bodies is associated with the survival of living organisms and fishes and their productivity potential An impairment in photosynthetic rhythm and metabolism is observed in plants exposed to the effects of ozone Sulfur and nitrogen oxides are involved in the formation of acid rain and are harmful to plants and marine organisms.

Last but not least, as mentioned above, the toxicity associated with lead and other metals is the main threat to our ecosystems air, water, and soil and living creatures Undoubtedly, children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, especially during their development. Air pollution has adverse effects on our lives in many different respects. Diseases associated with air pollution have not only an important economic impact but also a societal impact due to absences from productive work and school.

Despite the difficulty of eradicating the problem of anthropogenic environmental pollution, a successful solution could be envisaged as a tight collaboration of authorities, bodies, and doctors to regularize the situation. Governments should spread sufficient information and educate people and should involve professionals in these issues so as to control the emergence of the problem successfully.

Technologies to reduce air pollution at the source must be established and should be used in all industries and power plants. This was followed by the Copenhagen summit, , and then the Durban summit of , where it was decided to keep to the same line of action. The Kyoto protocol and the subsequent ones were ratified by many countries.

As is known, China is a fast-developing economy and its GDP Gross Domestic Product is expected to be very high by , which is defined as the year of dissolution of the protocol for the decrease in gas emissions. This latest agreement was ratified by a plethora of UN United Nations countries as well as the countries of the European Union In this vein, parties should promote actions and measures to enhance numerous aspects around the subject.

Boosting education, training, public awareness, and public participation are some of the relevant actions for maximizing the opportunities to achieve the targets and goals on the crucial matter of climate change and environmental pollution Without any doubt, technological improvements makes our world easier and it seems difficult to reduce the harmful impact caused by gas emissions, we could limit its use by seeking reliable approaches.

Synopsizing, a global prevention policy should be designed in order to combat anthropogenic air pollution as a complement to the correct handling of the adverse health effects associated with air pollution. Sustainable development practices should be applied, together with information coming from research in order to handle the problem effectively. At this point, international cooperation in terms of research, development, administration policy, monitoring, and politics is vital for effective pollution control.

Legislation concerning air pollution must be aligned and updated, and policy makers should propose the design of a powerful tool of environmental and health protection. As a result, the main proposal of this essay is that we should focus on fostering local structures to promote experience and practice and extrapolate these to the international level through developing effective policies for sustainable management of ecosystems.

All authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication. Hundreds of people lived on the slopes of the Quezon City landfill. These people made their living from recycling and selling items found in the landfill. However, the landfill was not secure.

Heavy rains caused a trash landslide, killing people. Sometimes, landfills are not completely sealed off from the land around them. Pollutants from the landfill leak into the earth in which they are buried. Plants that grow in the earth may be contaminated, and the herbivore s that eat the plants also become contaminated. So do the predator s that consume the herbivores.

This process, where a chemical builds up in each level of the food web, is called bioaccumulation. Pollutants leaked from landfills also leak into local groundwater supplies. There, the aquatic food web from microscopic algae to fish to predators such as sharks or eagles can suffer from bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals.

Some communities do not have adequate garbage collection systems, and trash lines the side of roads. In other places, garbage washes up on beaches. Kamilo Beach, in the U. The trash is dangerous to ocean life and reduces economic activity in the area. Some cities incinerate , or burn, their garbage. Incinerating trash gets rid of it, but it can release dangerous heavy metal s and chemicals into the air.

So while trash incinerators can help with the problem of land pollution, they sometimes add to the problem of air pollution. Reducing Pollution Around the world, people and governments are making efforts to combat pollution. Recycling, for instance, is becoming more common. In recycling, trash is processed so its useful materials can be used again. Glass, aluminum cans, and many types of plastic can be melted and reused. Paper can be broken down and turned into new paper.

Recycling reduces the amount of garbage that ends up in landfills, incinerators, and waterways. Austria and Switzerland have the highest recycling rates. These nations recycle between 50 and 60 percent of their garbage. The United States recycles about 30 percent of its garbage.

Governments can combat pollution by passing laws that limit the amount and types of chemicals factories and agribusiness es are allowed to use. The smoke from coal-burning power plants can be filtered. People and businesses that illegally dump pollutants into the land, water, and air can be fine d for millions of dollars. Some government programs, such as the Superfund program in the United States, can force polluters to clean up the sites they polluted.

International agreements can also reduce pollution. The Kyoto Protocol , a United Nations agreement to limit the emission of greenhouse gases, has been signed by countries. Still, many gains have been made.

In , the Cuyahoga River, in the U. The fire helped spur the Clean Water Act of This law limited what pollutants could be released into water and set standards for how clean water should be.

Today, the Cuyahoga River is much cleaner. Fish have returned to regions of the river where they once could not survive. But even as some rivers are becoming cleaner, others are becoming more polluted. As countries around the world become wealthier, some forms of pollution increase. Countries with growing economies usually need more power plants, which produce more pollutants. Reducing pollution requires environmental, political, and economic leadership.

Developed nations must work to reduce and recycle their materials, while developing nations must work to strengthen their economies without destroying the environment. Developed and developing countries must work together toward the common goal of protecting the environment for future use. Light Pollution Light pollution is the excess amount of light in the night sky.

Light pollution, also called photopollution, is almost always found in urban areas. Light pollution can disrupt ecosystems by confusing the distinction between night and day. Nocturnal animals, those that are active at night, may venture out during the day, while diurnal animals, which are active during daylight hours, may remain active well into the night.

Feeding and sleep patterns may be confused. Light pollution also indicates an excess use of energy. The dark-sky movement is a campaign by people to reduce light pollution.

This would reduce energy use, allow ecosystems to function more normally, and allow scientists and stargazers to observe the atmosphere. Noise Pollution Noise pollution is the constant presence of loud, disruptive noises in an area. Usually, noise pollution is caused by construction or nearby transportation facilities, such as airports. Noise pollution is unpleasant, and can be dangerous. Some songbirds, such as robins, are unable to communicate or find food in the presence of heavy noise pollution.

The sound waves produced by some noise pollutants can disrupt the sonar used by marine animals to communicate or locate food. How Long Does It Last? Different materials decompose at different rates. How long does it take for these common types of trash to break down? Indoor Air Pollution The air inside your house can be polluted. Air and carpet cleaners, insect sprays, and cigarettes are all sources of indoor air pollution. Acids can corrode some natural materials.

Acids have pH levels lower than 7. Acid rain can be manmade or occur naturally. When released through a small opening, the liquid becomes a spray or foam. Also called cyanobacteria and in freshwater habitats pond scum.

Carbon dioxide is also the byproduct of burning fossil fuels. It can be toxic to humans. Some CFCs have destructive effects on the ozone layer. Also called blue-green algae even though it is not algae and in freshwater habitats pond scum. The Earth is the only place in the known universe that supports life. Nobel Prizes are awarded in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace.

Ocean acidification threatens corals and shellfish. Also known as petroleum or crude oil. Pesticides can be fungicides which kill harmful fungi , insecticides which kill harmful insects , herbicides which kill harmful plants , or rodenticides which kill harmful rodents.

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He was well aware of the negative outcome on health, increased hospital admissions and also mortality. But maybe, he thought, there could be other adverse impacts on our lives. To start with, he conducted a study looking at whether air pollution had an effect on cognitive performance.

Roth and his team looked at students taking exams on different days — and also measured how much pollution was in the air on those given days. All other variables remained the same: The exams were taken by students of similar levels of education , in the same place, but over multiple days.

He found that the variation in average results were staggeringly different. The most polluted days correlated with the worst test scores. On days where the air quality was cleanest, students performed better.

To determine the long-term effects, Roth followed up to see what impact this had eight to 10 years later. Those who performed worst on the most polluted days were more likely to end up in a lower-ranked university and were also earning less, because the exam in question was so important for future education. Although we should be wary of drawing conclusions about correlations such as these, the authors have seen some evidence that there is a causal link. As part of the same study, they compared very specific areas over time, as well as following levels of pollution over time.

A cloud of polluted air, after all, can move around depending which direction the wind blows. This takes pollution to different parts of the city, at random, to both richer and poorer areas. Importantly, even moderate pollution made a difference. Image of man in dirty air Credit: Emmanuel Lafont.