Air pollution – human health impacts

Since the onset of the industrial revolution, there has been a steady change in the composition of the atmosphere mainly due to the combustion of fossil fuels used for the generation of energy and transportation

Air pollution is a major environmental health problem affecting the developing and the developed countries alike.

Introduction

• Air pollution is the addition of chemical and particulate matter into the atmosphere, that basically cause harm to living organisms.

• These are of two types —• Natural (volcanic eruptions, forest fires, etc.)

• Anthropogenic-• Industrial• Residential• Transport

• An air pollutant is such a substance that is introduced into the atmosphere that causes harm to the components of the biosphere or causes imbalance in the eco-system

•Every day, the average person inhales about 20,000 liters of air.  Every time we breathe, we risk inhaling dangerous chemicals that have found their way into the air.

• Air pollution includes all contaminants found in the atmosphere.  These dangerous substances can be either in the form of gases or particles.

• Air pollution can be found both outdoors and indoors.  Pollutants can be trapped inside buildings, causing indoor pollution that lasts for a long time.

• The effects of air pollution are diverse and numerous.  Air pollution can have serious consequences for the health of human beings, and also severely affects natural ecosystems.

• Because it is located in the atmosphere, air pollution is able to travel easily.  As a result, air pollution is a global problem and has been the subject of global cooperation and conflict.

Anthropogenic Sources(basically comes from burning different kinds of fuel

• Stationary sources(industrial emissions, power plants, waste incinerators, residential fuel combustion, agro-emissions, etc.)

• Mobile sources (all transport, like vehicles, aircrafts, etc.)

• Solvents (like aerosol sprays, fumes from paint, varnish, etc)

• Agro-emissions (e.g. methane from paddy) and Forest controlled-fires

• Waste (deposition) emissions

• Military Pollution (such as nuclear weapons, toxic gases, etc.)

Natural Sources

• Volcanic activity (producing primarily CO2 sulfur, and ash/PM)

• Emissions from wildfires (CO, CO2, PM, etc.)

• Radon Gas emitting from radioactive decay from the earth

The Pollutants• CO & CO2• NOx• SOx• Volatile Organic Compounds

(VOCs) and Aerosols• Methane (CH4)• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)• Particulate Matter (PM)• Ground O3• Peroxyacetyl Nitrate (PAN)• Toxic Metals (Lead, Cadmium,

Copper, etc.)

Indoor pollution

• Causes

• Combustion of fuel• Pesticides• Aerosol sprays, soaps and detergents• Building materials (e.g. asbestos)• Radon emission• Tobacco smoking• Lack of ventilation indoors

Pollutants • CO from combustion of fuel and cigarette smoking

• CH4 & H2S from garbage

• Radon from the soil & wells

• VOCs from paint, paint strippers, aerosol sprays, disinfectants etc.

• Asbestos as building material for insulators, roofs etc.

• Biological Contaminants (like bacteria, moulds, viruses, animal dander, pollen, urine proteins of rats/mice etc.)

Reasons for High Air Pollution in India

• Poor Quality of fuel (coal, petrol, diesel, etc.)

• Use of high ash coal in power generation

• Inadequate pollution prevention and control systems plus poor compliance of standard in small-to-medium scale industry

• Large no. and growth of polluting agents in the commercial area

• Uncontrolled growth of vehicle population and poor inspection/maintenance for current vehicles

Effects of air pollution on Human Health

Polluted air contains one, or more, hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant that creates a hazard to general health. It is usually measured in terms of "particulate matter”.

Particulate matter includes a wide range of pollutants — road dust,

diesel soot, fly ash, wood smoke, nitrates in fertilizers, sulfate aerosols, lead, arsenic, etc. The principal source of such particle emission is the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, gasoline, and wood.

Pollutants in the air cause health defects ranging from unnoticeable chemical and biological changes .

The severity of a person's reaction to pollution depends on a number of factors, including the composition of the pollution, degree and length of exposure and genetics.

Individuals at Risk• While everyone can potentially suffer from air

pollution, there are individuals who are more susceptible than others.

• In general, living in an urban setting where there are lots of cars and buildings releasing pollutants increases a person's risk of health problems.

• Joggers and bikers who exercise on smoggy days expose their bodies to vast amounts of pollution each time they go out.

• Both the elderly and children seem to be especially sensitive to pollutants in the air

Pyramid of Health Effects

The Human Body Under Attack

• The human body is an amazingly complex defense and self-healing system.

• The body has its own fight or flight mechanism that engages quickly when danger is near.

• Air pollution -- toxins, particulate matter and ozone -- is the invader that can break down the body's defenses, or at least contribute to the burden that defense system bears.

The Nose, Mouth and Throat• The main route for air pollutants is

through the nose, mouth and throat.

• The pollutants that accumulate in the nose can cause problems in the nose or be absorbed in mucus membranes, resulting in a number of harmful effects on the body.

• The cell damage puts the body's defense system on alert and initiates an inflammatory response, similar to an allergic response.

The skin

• One of the main concerns for the health of the skin related to air pollution is skin cancer.

• Research shows that for a 1 percent decrease in stratospheric ozone (not to be confused with ground-level ozone), there will be a 2 percent increase in UVB irradiance and therefore, a 2 percent increase in skin cancer is likely.

THE BLOOD• Some air pollutants interfere with

the function of blood, which results in detrimental effects on all organs of the body.

• For example, hemoglobin is the part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body. Carbon monoxide, a product of incomplete combustion, binds over 200 times more firmly to hemoglobin than oxygen, seriously interfering with blood's oxygen-transport capability.

The Lungs• causes inflammation and make

cells more vulnerable to cancer.

•Severe inflammation can cause significant damage including scarring of lung tissue, called fibrosis, and abnormal thickening. These disorders make breathing more difficult.

• exacerbates asthma

The Cardiovascular System

• some researchers are reporting that the worst effects of air pollution are on the cardiovascular system.

• According to the American Heart Association, air pollutants can cause the blood to become thick, increasing its tendency to clot, damaging arteries and promoting atherosclerosis - a buildup of fatty deposits in vessel walls.

The Brain • It is now known that ultrafine

particles are small enough to get past the blood-brain barrier, the membrane between circulating blood and the brain that prevents damaging substances from reaching brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid.

• brain tumors and nervous system tumors have been linked to environmental carcinogens.

• Alzheimer's Disease

Health impact of specific air pollutants• Tobacco smoke. 

• Tobacco smoke generates a wide range of harmful chemicals and is a major cause of ill health, as it is known to cause cancer, not only to the smoker but affecting passive smokers too.

• burning sensation in the eyes or nose, and throat irritation, to cancer, bronchitis, severe asthma, and a decrease in lung function.

Volatile organic compounds

• Volatile compounds can cause irritation of the eye, nose and throat. In severe cases there may be headaches, nausea, and loss of coordination.

• In the longer run, some of them are suspected to cause damage to the liver and other parts of the body.

Formaldehyde•  Exposure causes irritation to the eyes,

nose and may cause allergies in some people.

Lead• Prolonged exposure can cause damage

to the nervous system, digestive problems, and in some cases cause cancer. It is especially hazardous to small children.

Radon. • A radioactive gas that can accumulate

inside the house, it originates from the rocks and soil under the house . Exposure to this gas increases the risk of lung cancer.

Ozone• Exposure to this gas makes our eyes itch, burn, and

water and it has also been associated with increase in respiratory disorders such as asthma. It lowers our resistance to colds and pneumonia.

Carbon monoxide.• combines with haemoglobin to lessen the amount of

oxygen that enters our blood through our lungs.• affects organs such as the brain and the

cardiovascular system, and also the developing foetus

• It can impair our concentration, slow our reflexes, and make us confused and sleepy.

Sulphur dioxide. 

• SO2 (sulphur dioxide) in the air is caused due to the rise in combustion of fossil fuels.

• It can oxidize and form sulphuric acid mist. SO2 in the air leads to diseases of the lung and other lung disorders such as wheezing and shortness of breath.

• Long-term effects are more difficult to ascertain as SO2 exposure is often combined with that of SPM.

SPM (suspended particulate matter• Suspended matter consists of dust, fumes, mist and

smoke. The main chemical component of SPM that is of major concern is lead, others being nickel, arsenic, and those present in diesel exhaust.

• These particles when breathed in, cause lung damage and respiratory problems.

• The importance of SPM as a major pollutant needs special emphasis as a) it affects more people globally than any other pollutant on a continuing basis; b) there is more monitoring data available on this than any other pollutant; and c) more epidemiological evidence has been collected on the exposure to this than to any other pollutant.

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MAJOR INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS and their HEALTH EFFECTS 

• By-products of combustion (such as CO, CO 2 , NO x )•

Eye, nose, and throat irritation, impaired lung function and respiratory function in children, bronchitis, lung cancer, flu-like symptoms.

• Formaldehyde

• Eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, fatigue, rashes, and allergic reactions. Causes cancer in animals. Death at very high concentration.

Environmental tobacco smoke

• Eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, pneumonia. Increased risk of respiratory and ear infections in children. Lung cancer and increased risk of heart disease.

• Other volatile organic compounds

• Eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination; nausea, damage to kidney and central nervous system. Some cause cancer in animals. Some may cause cancer in humans.

Radon• Lung cancer, possibility of stomach cancer

• Pesticides• Eye, nose, and throat irritation, damage to central

nervous system and kidney, cancer

Asbestos• Cancer and lung diseases 

• Heavy metals• Headaches, irritation in mouth, rash, excessive

perspiration, kidney damage

case studies• Bhopal Gas Tragedy• Bhopal Gas tragedy is a catastrophic tragedy, that

happened in the city of Bhopal, in central India. The tragedy occured in December 1984 .

• There are families in Bhopal which are still suffering the after effects of the tragedy. 

• Bhopal Gas Tragedy and Health• According to experts, MIC is considered to be an

extremely reactive chemical and is used to produceinsecticides

•  Since the gas leaked out from a 30 meter chimney, it was not high enough for the people to escape the effects.

•  The death toll rose to more than 20,000 people with more than 5,00,000 people being affected directly and indirectly and many more thousands of families were permanently affected for generations.

•  Two decades later, more than a few lakhs of people are still suffering from the debilitating effects of the gas which includes respiratory problems,cancer, congenital birth defects, blindness and many other diseases

• Some of the symptoms of Methyl Isocynate contamination include cough, dyspnea or disorder of the lungs, chest pain leading to acute lung failure, cardiac arrest and death.

• It has resulted in many children being born with genetic defects and mutations and mental retardation.

• It has also had a long term impact on the reproductive cycle of affected women and the quality of their breast milk.

The effects of Agent Orange

• During the second Indochina War, between 1961 and 1971, millions of litres of toxic chemicals, including a herbicide called Agent Orange - which contained dioxin - were sprayed over large parts of Vietnam.

• According to U.S. defense records, the U.S. Air Force sprayed 72 million litres of toxic chemicals, of which 44 million were Agent Orange - the most toxic chemical discovered so far.

Health effects• Epidemiological studies have shown an elevated

rate of diseases and disorders in people exposed to dioxin.

• These include high rates of cancers, abnormalities during pregnancies, neurological and metabolic disorders, and especially birth defects.

• Most noteworthy are the levels of dioxin in breast milk. The high level of dioxin in nursing mothers shows how contamination spreads and bio-acumulates from mothers to their children.

Mitigation Efforts• Basic measures —

• Control at source• Install control devices

• Dust Cyclones for PM• Scrubbers for acid gases (NOx and SOx)• Adsorption Systems for VOCs

• Plantation of trees• Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)

• Zoning• High-stack chimneys

Social measures (Generating Awareness)

• Promotion of Greener Fuels

• Use of Public Transport

• Use of Energy Efficient Appliances (CFL, etc.)

• Community Drives (Afforestation, etc.)

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Environmental Education

Conclusion• Earth’s atmosphere extremely vulnerable

• Causes are clear and human contribution is immense

• Mitigation is necessary

• Need of action is required , both from administrative authorities and the people

• If technology is the cause, simple fact is that it is also the solution.

THANK YOU

SAVE CHILD…. SAVE TREES….. SAVE NATION…STOP POLLUTION !!!!