The Effect Of Particulate Matter On Human Health

“Asthma is a chronic respiratory illness often associated with familial, allergenic, socioeconomic, psychological and environmental factors.” (Rhodes 2002) Traffic related air pollution at home and school has been associated with adverse health effects, specifically on the respiratory system, resulting in an increased prevalence of asthma in children. The Southern California Children’s Health Study was designed to look at the chronic effects of air pollution on respiratory health. Previous research has shown an association of asthma with those that live in residential areas in close proximity to major roadways and exposure to traffic pollutants.

In the past decade, the severe air pollution problem in fast developing countries, particularly in China, has caused highly social and scientific attention. In 2014, 92 % of the world population are exposed over to the WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) PM2.5 concentration level of 10 μg/m3 (World Health Organization, 2016). Ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution ranked as the third leading risk factor in India and Nepal, and ranked as the fifth in China (GBD 2015 Risk Factors Collaborators, 2016). In 2012, about 3 million deaths globally were attributed solely to ambient air pollution, and around 87% of it occurred in low- and middle-income countries (World Health Organization, 2016).

The University of Texas Health Science Center has found that the amount of PM2.5 in the air in Houston, Texas can be linked with a small increase in mortality rate. Houston is largely industrialized which accounts for the emission of pollutants that negatively affect the people and environment. Home to America’s largest petrochemical industry, as well as many ports and forms of transportation, it’s little surprise that the concentration of PM2.5 in the city can be greater than some other cities. Scientists recorded the levels of PM2.5 in Houston over 11 years and found that though the PM2.5 particles’ mass was greater than the national standard on only 17 days out of the 11 years, on those single days, the mortality risk increased by 1.43%.

Over the past decade, particulate matter (PM) is increasing the air pollution at an exceeding

During the first day of measuring, the AQI for PM 2.5 was fairly good with a score of 27, which explains why the amount PM 2.5 was relatively low. The results from Day 1 did not align with my original hypothesis. I found that most of the living spaces along Philadelphia’s most congested roadways had lower levels of PM 2.5 than many of the parks and apartments near routes with normal levels of congestion. The average level of PM 2.5 for all of the “green” locations was 2.33 while the average level of PM 2.5 for the “red” locations was only 1.46. Additionally, the area with the highest amount of PM 2.5 was Dorchester Condominiums an apartment locacted along a roadway with normal levels of traffic.

Epidemiologic studies have determined that the following are the major air pollutants contributing to respiratory diseases: sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and particulate matter (PM) less than 10 mm and less than 2. 5 mm in diameter (PM10 and PM2.5, respectively) (Baldi et al., 1999; Chew et al., 1999; McConnell et al., 1999; McDonnell et al., 1999; Neukirch et al., 1998; Ostro et al., 1998; Sheppard et al., 1999; Taggart et al., 1996). Particulate matter is the product of solid and liquid particles being directly emitted into the air from such things as diesel engine soot, road and agricultural dust, and manufacturing processes, while SO2, NO2, and O3, are predominately byproducts of fuel combustion.

A widely studied area in the impacts aviation has is researching air quality. There are two areas which have been getting a lot of attention and becoming more important relating to air quality. The first area is known as fine particulate matter (PM). PM is known as an air pollutant containing tiny particles floating in the air, sometimes creating a foggy, hazy look in the air. Compared to NOx, another compound found in emissions, PM is known to be a greater impact (Waitz, Townsend, Cutcher-Gershenfeld, Greitzer, Kerrebrock, 2004). One challenge the aviation industry is trying to overcome is measuring the PM caused by aircraft and PM caused by outside factors non-aviation related. There are currently no uniformly accepted methods for measuring both the PM and PM precursors from

In the present day a majority of China’s major cities contain hazardous amounts of air smog, enough to cause shortness of breath, obstruction to a person’s airway, and just impede a citizen’s daily life. Pollution exists in these crammed megalopolises because the city is constantly on the move for fast tracking improvements and

Epidemiologic studies have indicated that air pollution can induce COPD exacerbations. The increased concentration of dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in particulate matter up to 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter, and black smoke particulate matter can increase respiratory mortality in patients with COPD [113, 114]. Some clinical studies showed that air pollution may account for approximately 6 to 9% of admissions, depending on the time of year [114]. Patients with COPD have also been shown to be at increased risk of death associated with urban particle air pollution [115]. Studies in vitro have shown that diesel exhaust particles stimulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as GM-CSF and IL-8. These cytokines may be involved

Among all the air pollutants in ambient air, PM affects more people than any other pollutant. The effects of PM on the public health occur at experienced levels of exposure currently by most urban and rural inhabitants in both developed and developing countries. (Bhola Gurjar, 2010) The major toxic elements of PM included sulfates, nitrates; ammonia, sodium chloride, and carbon, mineral organic and inorganic substances are inhaled toxic air with every breath. Chronic exposure of these particles can increase the chances for the public to develop the following medical issues:

Do you know 3.3 million people die each year due to air pollution? According to Borenstein, “Air pollution kills more than HIV and malaria combined.” Both of these diseases have caused worry from many people. How come people do not seem as worried about air pollution? In a study conducted by Harvard University, they found that “the yearly death total will double to about 6.6 million a year by 2050” because of air pollution. Something needs to be done in order to control air pollution. Even though some people believe air pollution does not affect humans, the government should have stricter pollution laws because air pollution is a huge influence to human health, results from the burning of fossil fuels, and it affects people who are already sick.

The idea that we, as a global community, are destroying the very earth we commonly share is something that takes time for people to fully understand. It takes research and a open mind to be knowledgeable about the environmental issues the human race is causing to planet earth, as well as the issues that it is causes to our personal health. Air pollution is a large problem that exists in the United States. However, the challenge that America faces is the inescapable necessities of modern life (driving to work, cooking food, etc.). These technologies are directly linked to air pollution and therefore affect our health and sustainability. BusinessDictionary.com defines air pollution as, “the condition in which air is contaminated by foreign substances, or the substances themselves.” Air pollution is something that is having a direct affect on Americans and their health. The United States must do two things: consciously take action in the way we live our lives, so that we do not contribute to the already existing problems we face; and find ways to live a life that is less contributive to the dilemma of air pollution to sustain a healthy and productive life.

The atmosphere which is a gaseous envelope around the earth is divided into several concentric zones. Troposphere is the lowest region of the atmosphere containing 80% of the total mass of air and almost all of the water vapors. In addition to nitrogen and oxygen which make up about 99% of the atmosphere, there are small amounts of other gases, minute droplets of various liquids and tiny particles of varieties of solids. We breathe various gases and particles in addition to nitrogen and oxygen. When due to some natural processes or human activities the concentration of substances other than oxygen is increased in the air, it causes pollution of the atmosphere. Air pollution is the degradation in the quality of air contaminants in sufficient quantity which may be injurious to human health or may damage property. The contaminants which degrade the quality of air are known as air pollutants. Air pollutants can be classified as primary and secondary pollutants. The primary air pollutants are harmful chemicals which enter directly into the air due to natural human activities. Complete burning of any carbon containing substance produces CO2, whereas carbon monoxide is produced when burned partially. Another primary air pollutant is SO2 which is emitted to the air by volcanic eruption or burning of fuels which contain sulphur impurities. A secondary air pollutant is a harmful chemical produced in the air as a result of chemical reaction between two or more components with a primary

We used to think that air we breathe is oxygen, and that is 21% true; 78% is Nitrogen and the remaining 1% is a compound of Helium, Hydrogen, Argon, Neon, Krypton and Carbon dioxide (CO2). All this mix is call atmosphere and those percentages were taken in 1987. Today thirty years later the production of CO2 and Ozone as result of burned fossil combustibles and other gases produced through natural sources and human activities, including the decomposition of wastes in landfills, and agriculture, is increasing, even until toxic levels, the air around the planet.

With the growth of number of factories, transportation and various exhaust gases today, a level of air pollution has significantly increased in the environment. The smog enveloping the city is the most visible and obvious sign of urban pollution. However, even invisible harmful particles can have a big impact on the quality of airspace. In general, any substance released into the environment and having an adverse effect, is an air pollution. Hazardous substances present in the air, not only affect the environment but to a greater extent on the person who breathes it.