Ill Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health

Air pollution is responsible for causing some serious health issues. Air pollution ruins the health of innumerable people every year. Various chemicals in the air have a negative effect on the human body. How much air pollution affects someone depends on the chemical that they are exposed to and for how long. 

Older people are more vulnerable to ill effects of air pollution than the younger ones. Older people with lung or heart disorders are under an even greater risk. It becomes very difficult to know exactly which pollutants are responsible for causing the sickness as people are exposed to numerous harmful pollutants. 

Carbon monoxide is one air pollutant that has harmful effects on the human body. High proportions of this gas cab prove to be fatal. The worse thing is that carbon monoxide cannot be found out by humans as it cannot be seen, smelled or tasted.

Sulfur dioxide is another gas that has many harmful effects on the human body. This gas has a foul, sharp smell. It easily reacts with other substances and forms destructive compounds such as sulfurous acid, sulfuric acid and sulfate particles.

Another pollutant is the nasty smelling nitrogen dioxide gas. Some nitrogen dioxide is produced by water, soil and plants while some is formed naturally in the atmosphere through lightning.

Some common health problems caused by long term exposure to air pollution include lung cancer, bronchitis and heart disease.