Six Common Air Pollutants and Its Health Impact

Air Pollution

Six Common Air Pollutants and Its Health Impact

Avlon Inc, an supplier of cyclone dust collector Philippines

We are the supplier of cyclone dust collector Philippines and other air pollution control equipment’s. In this blog we will be discussing on six common air pollutants of concern. These pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. This section includes a brief description of the most common air pollutants, their possible health effects from exposure, and how to limit or avoid exposure.

Clean, dry air consists primarily of nitrogen and oxygen—78 percent and 21 percent respectively, by volume. The remaining 1 percent is a mixture of other gases, mostly argon (0.9 percent), along with trace (very small) amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, helium, and more. Water vapour is also a normal, though quite variable, component of the atmosphere, normally ranging from 0.01 to 4 percent by volume; under very humid conditions the moisture content of air may be as high as 5 percent.

1.Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas and one of six criteria pollutants for which Philippines DENR has established protective standards. CO forms when the carbon in fuels does not completely burn. Vehicle exhaust contributes roughly 60% of all CO emissions nationwide and up to 95% in cities. Other sources include fuel combustion in industrial processes and natural sources such as wildfires. CO concentrations typically are highest during cold weather because cold temperatures make combustion less complete and cause inversions that trap pollutants low to the ground.

Health Impacts of Exposure:

CO enters the bloodstream through the lungs and binds chemically to hemoglobin, the substance in blood that carries oxygen to cells. In this way, CO interferes with the ability of the blood to transport oxygen to organs and tissue throughout the body. This can cause cyclone dust collector Philippines slower reflexes, confusion, and drowsiness. It can also reduce visual perception and coordination and decrease the ability to learn. People with cardiovascular disease, such as angina, are most at risk from exposure to CO. These individuals may experience chest pain and more cardiovascular symptoms if they are exposed to CO, particularly while exercising.

2.Lead

Lead is a metal found naturally in the environment as well as in manufactured products. It is one of six criteria pollutants for which Philippines DENR has established protective standards. Exposure to lead can occur through multiple pathways, including inhalation of air and ingestion of lead in food, water, soil, or dust. Historically, the major sources of lead emissions were motor vehicles (such as cars and trucks) and industrial sources. The major source of lead emissions today is metals processing and the highest levels of lead in air are generally found near lead smelters, waste incinerators, utilities, and lead-acid battery manufacturers.

Health Impacts of Exposure:

Excessive lead exposure can cause seizures, brain and kidney damage, mental retardation, and/or behavioral disorders. Children that are 6 years of age and under are most at risk because their cyclone dust collector Philippines bodies are growing quickly. Research suggests that the primary sources of lead exposure for most children are deteriorating lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust, and lead-contaminated residential soil.

3.Ozone

Ozone is a gas that forms in the atmosphere when three atoms of oxygen are combined. It is not emitted directly into the air but is created at ground level by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. Ozone has the same chemical structure whether it occurs high above the earth or at ground level and can be good or bad, depending on its location in the atmosphere.

Ozone occurs in two layers of the atmosphere. The layer surrounding the earth’s surface is the troposphere. Here, ground-level or bad ozone is an air pollutant that damages human health, vegetation, and many common materials. It is a key ingredient of urban smog. The troposphere extends to a level about 10 miles up, where it meets the second layer, the stratosphere. The stratospheric, or good ozone layer, extends upward from about 10 to 30 miles and protects life on earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

Health Impacts of Exposure:

The reactivity of ozone causes health problems because it damages lung tissue, reduces lung function, and sensitizes the lungs to other irritants. Scientific evidence indicates that ambient levels of ozone not only affect people with impaired respiratory systems, such as cyclone dust collector Philippines asthmatics, but healthy adults and children as well. Exposure to ozone for several hours at relatively low concentrations has been found to significantly reduce lung function and induce respiratory inflammation in normal, healthy people during exercise. This decrease in lung function generally is accompanied by symptoms including chest pain, coughing, sneezing, and pulmonary congestion.

4.Nitrogen Dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide is a brownish, highly reactive gas present in all urban atmospheres. Nitrogen dioxide is a criteria pollutant that can irritate the lungs, cause bronchitis and pneumonia, and lower resistance to respiratory infections. Nitrogen oxides contribute to formation of both ozone and acid rain and may affect both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The major mechanism for the formation of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere is the oxidation of the primary air pollutant nitric oxide. Nitrogen oxide forms when fuel is burned at high temperatures. The two major emission sources of nitrogen oxides are automobiles and stationary fuel combustion sources such as electric utility and industrial boilers.

Health Impacts of Exposure:

Health effects of exposure to nitrogen dioxide include the following cyclone dust collector Philippines:
In children and adults with respiratory disease such as asthma, nitrogen dioxide can cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Even short exposures to nitrogen dioxide can affect lung function.
In children, short-term exposure can increase the risk of respiratory illness.
Animal studies suggest that long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide may increase susceptibility to respiratory infection and may cause permanent structural changes in the lungs.

5.Particulate Matter

Particulate matter (PM) is the term for small particles found in the air including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. Particles can be suspended in the air for long periods of time. Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke. Others are so small that individually they can only be detected with an electron microscope. Some particles are directly emitted into the air while others are formed in the air through chemical reactions. Sources of PM include cars, trucks, buses, factories, construction sites, tilled fields, unpaved roads, construction, wood burning, agricultural burning, wildfires, prescribed fires, and natural windblown dust.

Particulate matter is a criteria pollutant that comes in a wide range of sizes. Particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter tend to pose the greatest health concern because they can be inhaled into and accumulate in the respiratory system. Particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter are referred to as fine particles. Sources of fine particles include all types of combustion (e.g., motor vehicles, power plants, and wood burning) and some industrial processes. Particles with diameters between 2.5 and 10 micrometers are referred to as coarse. Sources of coarse particles include crushing or grinding operations and dust from paved or unpaved roads.

Health Impacts of Exposure:

Both fine and coarse particles can accumulate in the respiratory system and are associated with numerous health effects. Coarse particles can aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma. Exposure to fine particles is associated with several serious health effects, including cyclone dust collector Philippines premature death. Adverse health effects have been associated with exposures to PM over both short periods (such as a day) and longer periods (a year or more).

When exposed to PM, people with existing heart or lung diseases—such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart disease, or ischemic heart disease—are at increased risk of premature death or admission to hospitals or emergency rooms.
Older persons are especially sensitive to PM exposure. They are at increased risk of admission to hospitals or emergency rooms and premature death from heart or lung diseases.

When exposed to PM, children and people with existing lung disease may not be able to breathe as deeply or vigorously as they normally would, and they may experience symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.
PM can increase susceptibility to respiratory cyclone dust collector Philippines infections and can aggravate existing respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic bronchitis, causing more use of medication and more doctor visits.

6.Sulfur Dioxide

Sulfur dioxide is a colorless, reactive gas produced during burning of sulfur-containing fuels such as coal and oil, during metal smelting, and by other industrial processes. Sulfur dioxide emitted to the atmosphere results largely from stationary sources such as coal and oil combustion, steel mills, refineries, pulp and paper mills, and nonferrous smelters. Generally, the highest concentrations of this criteria pollutant are found near large industrial sources, such as power plants and industrial boilers.

Health Impacts of Exposure:

High concentrations of sulfur dioxide affect breathing and may aggravate existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Sensitive populations include asthmatics, individuals with bronchitis or emphysema, children, and the elderly. Sulfur dioxide is also a primary cyclone dust collector Philippines contributor to acid rain, which causes acidification of lakes and streams and can damage trees, crops, buildings, and statues. In addition, sulfur compounds in the air contribute to visibility impairment in large parts of the country. This is especially noticeable in national parks.

Avlon inc takes into consideration all these pollutants and its effects and thus They make the Best Clean Air Products in the industry. Avlon Inc is the Best cyclone dust collector Philippines. Dealing in Air, Water & Energy Products. Know more about us on www.avlon-php.com

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