Atmospheric air and health. Sources of air pollution

Atmospheric pollution can cause non-infectious diseases in humans; in addition, they can worsen the sanitary living conditions of people and cause economic damage.

Biological effects of atmospheric pollution

Damage to health is the most dangerous consequence of air pollution, since most xenobiotics enter the body through the respiratory system, behind which there is no chemical barrier. In addition, it is necessary to take into account that a person consumes a significant amount of air every day (an adult – 12 m 3 of air).

The body's response to the effects of atmospheric pollution will depend on individual characteristics, age, gender, health status, and weather conditions. The most vulnerable are the elderly, children, the sick, people working in hazardous working conditions, and smokers.

Atmospheric pollution can have acute and chronic effects.

Acute impact. The acute impact of air pollution occurs only in special situations associated with unfavorable meteorological conditions or an accident at an enterprise that is a source of air pollution. Acute exposure may be accompanied by an increase in mortality from chronic diseases, general morbidity, frequency of visits for exacerbation of chronic cardiovascular, pulmonary and allergic diseases, as well as physiological and biochemical changes in the body of a nonspecific nature. During periods of sharp increases in pollution levels, the severity of these violations increases sharply. The components of air pollution in these cases, as a rule, play the role not of etiological, but of provoking factors that contribute to an increase in morbidity.

Chronic exposure

Chronic exposure to air pollution is the most common and unfavorable.

· annoying. The upper respiratory tract may be affected with the development of laryngitis, tracheitis, and rhinitis. The lungs are affected - chronic bronchitis, pneumonia with the development of emphysema, respiratory and cardiovascular failure. Damage to the mucous membrane of the eyes is observed with the occurrence of conjunctivitis, keratitis, as well as skin diseases (dermatitis).

reflex reactions. Atmospheric air pollution can cause various reflex reactions due to irritation of reflex zones. These reactions are manifested by cough, nausea, headache, the severity of which correlates with the level of air pollution. Reflex reactions affect the regulation of breathing, the activity of the cardiovascular system and other systems. Irritation of the receptors of the nasal mucosa can cause narrowing of the bronchi and glottis, bradycardia, and lead to a decrease in cardiac output. Reflexes from the pharynx can cause strong contraction of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles. When the larynx and trachea are irritated, a cough reflex occurs, the smooth muscles of the bronchi contract, and irritation of the receptors of the intrapulmonary bronchi can cause hyperpnea, bronchoconstriction, and contraction of the laryngeal muscles.

· allergenic. Diseases of the respiratory system (bronchial asthma, allergic bronchitis), skin (allergodermatoses), and mucous membranes of the eyes (allergic conjunctivitis) occur. “Yokohama bronchial asthma” is described, based on the location of industrial emissions. The occurrence of this disease is due to the action of biphenyls. Allergens include organic (BVK), inorganic substances, and PAHs.

· carcinogenic. Carcinogens are 3,4 - benzopyrene, arsenic, asbestos, benzene, nickel and other compounds. When these substances enter the human body, malignant neoplasms of various localizations may occur.

· teratogenic. Air pollutants can cause birth defects in the fetus.

· mutagenic. Generative (occur in germ cells and in this case are passed on to subsequent generations) and somatic (occur in somatic cells, are inherited during vegetative reproduction and can cause the development of malignant tumors) mutations occur.

· embryogenic. Atmospheric pollution can cause miscarriage and early pregnancy termination.

· general toxic. As a result of exposure to atmospheric pollution, general morbidity increases in humans, including diseases of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal system, endocrine system, and life expectancy decreases.

· photosensitizing. Air pollutants increase skin sensitivity to UVR. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays can have a carcinogenic, mutagenic, general toxic effect, cause photoophthalmia and photochemical burns.

· specific diseases. Fluorosis has been described as a result of inhalation of fluorine compounds in the population living in the zone influenced by emissions from aluminum and superphosphate plants. The raw materials of these plants (bauxite, nepheline, apatite) contain fluorine compounds, which are present in large quantities in the emissions of enterprises into the atmospheric air.

Measures for sanitary protection of atmospheric air

1. Legislative

There are a large number of regulatory documents regulating the protection of atmospheric air. The Constitution of the Russian Federation proclaims human rights to health protection (Article 41) and a favorable environment (Article 42). The Federal Law “On Environmental Protection” states that every citizen has the right to a favorable environment and its protection from negative impacts caused by economic and other activities. The Law “On the Protection of Atmospheric Air” regulates the development and implementation of measures to eliminate and prevent air pollution - the construction of gas cleaning and dust collection devices at industrial enterprises and thermal power plants.

2. Technological

Technological measures are the main measures for the protection of atmospheric air, since only they can reduce or completely eliminate the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere at the place of their formation. These measures are directly aimed at the source of emissions.

a) A radical measure to reduce emissions is the use of a closed technological process, i.e. this is the complete absence of emissions of tail gases into the atmosphere at the final stages of formation or exhaust gases (these are gases formed at intermediate stages of production) and their removal through special exhaust gas chambers. However, at the present stage of scientific and technological progress, there are no examples of the creation of technological processes operating on the principle of completely closed systems.

b) A more promising method is the method of integrated (maximum) use of raw materials, intermediate products and production waste, such as the creation of industries with “waste-free” or low-waste technology (in the construction industry - the use of production waste).

c) Non-radical measures that reduce the risk of pollution include:

Replacement of harmful substances in production with harmless or less harmful ones (transfer of boiler houses from burning solid fuel and fuel oil to gas, replacement of gasoline in internal combustion engines with hydrogen and other compounds);

Pre-treatment of fuel or raw materials in order to reduce the content of harmful impurities;

The use of wet technological processes for processing dust-producing materials instead of dry ones;

Sealing of technological equipment and equipment;

Use of hydraulic and pneumatic transport when transporting dust-producing materials;

Replacement of intermittent processes with continuous ones (the continuity of the process eliminates burst emissions of pollution).

3. Sanitary

The purpose of sanitation measures is to remove or neutralize emission components in gaseous, liquid or solid form from organized stationary sources. For this purpose, various gas and dust collection systems are used.

Types of gas and dust collection installations:

a) to remove suspended particles;

b) to remove gaseous and vaporous substances.

a) Facilities for removing suspended solids include:

Dust settling chambers, dust collectors, cyclones, multicyclones for removing coarse dust. Dust particles are removed using mechanical force;

Filters that retain dust when passing through one or another filter material (fabric, fibrous, granular). A special feature of electrostatic precipitators is that dust is retained under the influence of electrostatic forces. Electrostatic precipitators are especially effective at capturing fine dust.

Wet cleaning devices (scrubbers, wet dust collectors). Dust particles are separated from the gas by washing with some liquid, mainly water.

b) To purify industrial emissions into the atmosphere from gas components, absorption by liquid and solid matter, catalytic conversion of harmful gaseous components of the emission into harmless compounds are used. The choice of method depends on the characteristics of the technology.

4. Architectural and planning

This group of events includes:

Functional zoning of the city territory, that is, the allocation of functional zones - residential, industrial, external transport zone, suburban, utility and warehouse;

Rational planning of the residential area;

Prohibition of the construction of enterprises that pollute the air in the residential zone of a populated area and their location in an industrial zone, taking into account the prevailing wind direction in the given territory;

Creation of sanitary protection zones. A sanitary protection zone is an area around an industrial enterprise or other facility that is a source of environmental pollution, the size of which ensures that the levels of exposure to industrial hazards in a residential area are reduced to the maximum permissible values.

Depending on the expected nature and range of contamination, SPZs can have different lengths (class 1 – 1000 m, class 2 – 500 m, class 3 – 300 m, class 4 – 100 m, class 5 – 50 m). Under certain conditions, it is possible to reduce or increase the size of the SPZ.

Rational development of streets, construction of transport interchanges on main highways with the construction of tunnels;

Greening the city area. Green spaces play the role of unique filters, affecting the dispersion of industrial emissions in the atmosphere, changing the wind regime and the circulation of air masses.

Selection of a plot of land for the construction of an enterprise, taking into account the terrain, aeroclimatic conditions and other factors.

5. Administrative

Rational distribution of traffic flows according to their intensity, composition, time and direction of movement;

Restriction of movement of heavy vehicles within the residential area of ​​the city;

Monitoring the condition of road surfaces and the timeliness of their repair and cleaning;

System for monitoring the technical condition of vehicles.

One of the leading factors of anthropogenic impact on health is aerogenic impact. In this case, the impact on the human body can manifest itself mainly in three types of pathological effects.

• 1. Acute intoxication occurs when a toxic inhalation dose is received simultaneously. Toxic manifestations are characterized by an acute onset and pronounced specific symptoms of poisoning.
• 2. Chronic intoxication is caused by long-term, often intermittent, intake of chemicals in subtoxic doses, and begins with the appearance of low-specific symptoms.
• 3. Long-term effects of exposure to toxicants:
  • a) gonadotropic effect - manifests itself by influencing spermatogenesis in men and oogenesis in women, as a result of which disturbances in the reproductive function of a biological object occur;
  • b) embryotropic effect - manifested by disturbances in the intrauterine development of the fetus:
    • - teratogenic effect - the occurrence of disorders of organs and systems that manifest themselves in postnatal development,
    • - embryotoxic effect - death of the fetus or a decrease in its size and weight with normal tissue differentiation;
  • c) mutagenic effect - a change in the hereditary properties of the body due to DNA violations;
  • d) oncogenic effect - the development of benign and malignant neoplasms.

The significance of long-term effects can be judged by the statistics of mortality from cardiovascular pathologies (about 50%) and malignant tumors (about 20%) in industrialized cities. According to experts, air pollution reduces life expectancy by an average of 3-5 years.

The organs of the respiratory system are most sensitive to the effects of atmospheric pollution. Toxification of the body occurs through the alveoli of the lungs, the area of ​​which (capable of gas exchange) exceeds

100 m2. During gas exchange, toxicants enter the blood. Solid suspensions in the form of particles of various sizes settle in different parts of the respiratory tract.

Atmospheric aerosols can also have a pathogenic effect on humans, since metal-containing and organic particles are carcinogenic.

A person consumes about 1.5 kg of food, 2.5 liters of water and approximately 15 kg of air per day. Thus, most toxicants enter the human body through the air, airborne droplets and airborne dust routes. The huge alveolar area of ​​the lungs, a humid environment and good blood supply to the respiratory organs lead to the fact that chemical elements are actively absorbed into the blood. For example, lead in the air is absorbed by approximately 60% of the blood, while lead in water is absorbed by 10%, and in food by only 5%. Among all diseases among the population of cities and industrial centers, respiratory diseases take first place.

The main source of atmospheric toxicants is motor transport. The personal fleet of the population, which has grown 10 times over the past 28 years, is the source of half of the air pollutants.

The main health hazard is caused by carbon monoxide, but the human body is also negatively affected by hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides contained in exhaust gases, and photochemical oxidizers. Exhaust gas emissions are the main reason for exceeding permissible concentrations of toxic substances and carcinogens in the atmosphere of large cities and the formation of smog, which is a common cause of poisoning in confined spaces.

The greatest danger is posed by nitrogen oxides, which are approximately 10 times more dangerous than carbon monoxide; the share of aldehyde toxicity is relatively small and amounts to 4-5% of the total toxicity of exhaust gases. The biotransformation of nitrogen oxides in the body begins in the lungs, the moist environment of which promotes the conversion of oxides into acids that irritate the mucous membranes, causing coughing, breathing problems, and in severe cases, pulmonary edema. The next derivatives are nitrates and nitrites, which convert oxyhemoglobin into methemoglobin, which causes oxygen deficiency - hypoxia. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in gases are strong carcinogens.

Prolonged contact with an environment poisoned by car exhaust gases causes a general weakening of the body - immunodeficiency. In addition, gases themselves can cause various diseases, such as respiratory failure, sinusitis, laripgotracheitis, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, and lung cancer. In addition, exhaust gases cause atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels. Various disorders of the cardiovascular system can also occur indirectly through pulmonary pathology.

Although cars are the main source of air pollutants, a significant number of acute and chronic respiratory diseases occur under the influence of sulfur oxides and a variety of small particles (mixtures of soot, ash, dust, droplets of sulfuric acid, asbestos fibers, etc.) that enter the atmosphere from heat and power plants, industrial facilities, residential buildings.

Sulfur oxides and dust particles tend to concentrate in places where coal is burned the most, and are especially dangerous in the winter when more fuel is burned. Photochemical smog, on the contrary, is denser in the summer.

The presence of particulate matter in the air significantly affects the occurrence of cancer - lung, stomach and prostate cancer. Residents of megacities and industrial centers are 20-30% more likely to suffer from this pathology than the population of small towns and villages. In addition to solid particles, nitrosamines, substances formed by the interaction of nitrogen oxides with other toxicants, have a carcinogenic effect. Every year, up to 120 thousand tons of nitrogen oxides enter the Moscow atmosphere.

In addition to respiratory diseases, the connection between air pollution and an increase in mortality from heart failure has been proven: difficulty breathing and a significant concentration of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere negatively affect cardiac activity.

With intense air pollution with chemicals that have a mutagenic effect (benzo(a)nirene, formaldehyde, dioxins), the number of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, developmental abnormalities of newborns, and perinatal fetal death increases. Pathological pregnancy, difficult childbirth and further residence in areas with a polluted atmosphere cause changes in the rate of growth and development. Thus, a high degree of air pollution causes an increase in disharmony of physical development due to obesity, and low concentrations of harmful substances activate acceleration processes, with a simultaneous weakening of the functions of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Numerous studies have revealed the relationship between the concentration of toxic substances in the tissues and secretions of people and the degree of their negative impact on the body. Relationships have been identified between the levels of cadmium and lead in the hair of schoolchildren and their mental development and such psychological characteristics as aggressiveness, anxiety, and frustration. Airborne nickel, cadmium, beryllium and mercury in some industrial areas (the cities of Bratsk, Dzerzhinsk, Nikel, etc.) pose a serious threat. The ability of these metals to accumulate in the body is especially dangerous, starting from a level of pollution in the atmosphere that is significantly lower than the established MPCs.

In addition to the presence of toxicants, severe air pollution leads to a decrease in its transparency, especially in large cities. Fine air pollutants absorb short wavelengths of sunlight, reducing the amount of natural ultraviolet radiation. An artificial deficiency of UPI in mid-latitudes and an additional deficiency of UPI in northern latitudes lead to a decrease in the body's resistance to adverse factors, secondary immunodeficiencies, an increase in general morbidity and psychological discomfort.

A certain amount of ultraviolet radiation is vital for growing organisms and is a prerequisite for the normal functioning of an adult. With a lack of ultraviolet radiation, children develop rickets, phosphorus-calcium metabolism is disrupted, sensitivity to infectious diseases and colds increases, and functional disorders of the central nervous system occur. A person needs to receive at least 45 “portions of the Sun” per year, i.e. erythema (erythema - redness of the skin) doses of ultraviolet radiation. Naturally, the further north the area is located, the more time you have to spend to reach this norm.

The least comfortable for living in a large industrial city are urban microdistricts with high transport and industrial pressure, irrational planning, without sufficient sanitary protection zones between industrial and residential buildings, and a reduced potential for self-purification of the atmosphere. “Environmental risk zones” usually include areas adjacent to major transport communications - highways.

Medical ecology as a branch of applied ecology

Medical ecology- a branch of science located at the intersection of medicine and ecology, studying the general patterns of interaction between the environment and people in the field of their health; its object is the environment, spatial-territorial anthropo(medical)-ecological systems, and its subject is their properties, manifested in their impact on health, environmental prerequisites for human health and illness; its goal is to develop measures to ensure the preservation (restoration) of an optimal ecological balance for human health in specific territories, considers the interaction between environmental risk factors and human health and all aspects of the impact of the environment on public health, with a focus on environmental diseases.

The importance of medical ecology in the work of a doctor

Environmental and hygienic knowledge is necessary for every medical worker (including dentists). The deeper the knowledge in the field of prevention, the more effective their professional activities will be.

The influence of atmospheric air pollution on human health and living conditions.

Silicon dioxide and free silicon contained in fly ash are the cause of severe lung disease that develops in workers in “dusty” professions, for example, in miners, workers in coke, coal, cement and a number of other enterprises. The lung tissue is replaced by connective tissue and these areas cease to function. Children living near powerful power plants that are not equipped with dust collectors show changes in the lungs similar to forms of silicosis. Heavy air pollution with smoke and soot, which continues for several days, can cause fatal poisoning.

Air pollution has a particularly detrimental effect on humans in cases where meteorological conditions contribute to air stagnation over the city.

Harmful substances contained in the atmosphere affect the human body upon contact with the surface of the skin or mucous membrane. Along with the respiratory system, pollutants affect the organs of vision and smell, and by affecting the mucous membrane of the larynx, they can cause spasms of the vocal cords. Inhaled solid and liquid particles measuring 0.6-1.0 microns reach the alveoli and are absorbed in the blood, some accumulate in the lymph nodes.

Polluted air mostly irritates the respiratory tract, causing bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. The irritants that cause these diseases include SO2 and SO3, nitrogen vapors, HCl, HNO3, H2SO4, H2S, phosphorus and its compounds. Dust containing silicon oxides causes a severe pulmonary disease - silicosis. Research conducted in the UK has shown a very close connection between air pollution and mortality from bronchitis.

Street eye injuries caused by fly ash and other atmospheric pollutants in industrial centers reach 30-60% of all cases of eye diseases, which are very often accompanied by various complications, conjunctivitis.

Signs and consequences of air pollutants on the human body manifest themselves mostly in a deterioration in general health: headaches, nausea, a feeling of weakness, decreased or lost ability to work. Certain pollutants cause specific symptoms of poisoning. For example, chronic phosphorus poisoning initially manifests itself as pain in the gastrointestinal tract and yellowing of the skin. These symptoms are accompanied by loss of appetite and slow metabolism. In the future, phosphorus poisoning leads to deformation of bones, which become increasingly fragile. The body's resistance as a whole decreases.

CO. Colorless and odorless gas. Affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems, causing suffocation. Primary symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning (headache) occur in a person after 2-3 hours of exposure to an atmosphere containing 200-220 mg/m3 CO; at higher concentrations of CO, a sensation of pulse in the temples and dizziness appear. The toxicity of CO increases in the presence of nitrogen in the air; in this case, the concentration of CO in the air must be reduced by 1.5 times.

Nitrogen oxides. NO N2O3 NO5 N2O4. Mainly nitrogen dioxide NO2 is released into the atmosphere - a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that irritates the respiratory system. Nitrogen oxides are especially dangerous in cities, where they interact with carbon dioxide in exhaust gases and form photochemical fog - smog. The air poisoned by nitrogen oxides begins to act with a slight cough. When NO concentration increases, severe coughing, vomiting, and sometimes headache occur. When in contact with the moist surface of the mucous membrane, nitrogen oxides form acids HNO3 and HNO2, which lead to pulmonary edema.

SO2 is a colorless gas with a pungent odor; even in low concentrations (20-30 mg/m3) it creates an unpleasant taste in the mouth and irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract. Inhalation of SO2 causes pain in the lungs and respiratory tract, sometimes causing swelling of the lungs, pharynx and respiratory paralysis. The effect of carbon disulfide is accompanied by severe nervous disorders and mental impairment.

Hydrocarbons (vapors of gasoline, methane, etc.) have a narcotic effect, in small concentrations they cause headaches, dizziness, etc. Thus, when inhaling gasoline vapors at a concentration of 600 mg/m3 for 8 hours, headaches, coughs, and discomfort in the throat occur.

Aldehydes. With prolonged exposure to humans, aldehydes cause irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract, and with increasing concentrations, headache, weakness, loss of appetite, and insomnia are noted.

Lead compounds. Approximately 50% of lead compounds enter the body through the respiratory system. Under the influence of lead, hemoglobin synthesis is disrupted, causing diseases of the respiratory tract, genitourinary organs, and nervous system. Lead compounds are especially dangerous for preschool children. In large cities, the lead content in the atmosphere reaches 5-38 mg/m3, which is 10,000 times higher than the natural background.

Signs of sulfur dioxide poisoning are noticed by the characteristic taste and smell. At a concentration of 6-20 cm3/m, it causes irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, eyes, and moisturized areas of the skin. Particularly dangerous are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as 3,4-benzopyrene (C20H12), which are formed during incomplete combustion of fuel. According to some scientists, they have carcinogenic properties.

The dispersed composition of dust and mists determines the overall penetration capacity of harmful substances into the human body. Particularly dangerous are toxic fine dust particles with a particle size of 0.5-1.0 microns, which easily penetrate the respiratory system.

Finally, various manifestations of discomfort due to air pollution - unpleasant odors, decreased light levels and others have a negative psychological effect on people.

In addition, along with emissions into the air, the national economy loses many valuable products. Some emitted substances destroy metal structures, concrete, natural stone building materials, etc., thereby causing damage to industrial facilities and architectural monuments.

How does indoor air affect health?

How does city air affect health?

The ones that need oxygen the most are:

In our difficult time of stress, heavy loads, and constantly deteriorating environmental conditions, the quality of the air we breathe is of particular importance. The quality of air and its effect on our health directly depends on the amount of oxygen in it. But it is constantly changing.

We will tell you about the state of the air in big cities, about the harmful substances that pollute it, about the effect of air on health and the human body on our website www.rasteniya-lecarstvennie.ru.

About 30% of urban residents have health problems, and one of the main reasons for this is air with low oxygen content. To determine the level of oxygen saturation in the blood, you need to measure it using a special device - a pulse oximeter.

People with lung disease simply need to have such a device in order to determine in time that they need medical help.

How does indoor air affect health?

As we have already said, the oxygen content in the air we breathe is constantly changing. For example, on the sea coast its amount averages 21.9%. The volume of oxygen in a large city is already 20.8%. And even less indoors, since the already insufficient amount of oxygen is reduced due to the breathing of people in the room.

Inside residential and public buildings, even very small sources of pollution create high concentrations of it, since the volume of air there is small.

Modern man spends most of his time indoors. Therefore, even a small amount of toxic substances (for example, polluted air from the street, finishing polymer materials, incomplete combustion of household gas) can affect its health and performance.

In addition, an atmosphere with toxic substances affects a person, combined with other factors: air temperature, humidity, background radioactivity, etc. If hygienic and sanitary requirements are not met (ventilation, wet cleaning, ionization, air conditioning), the internal environment of rooms where people are located can become hazardous to health.

Also, the chemical composition of the indoor air atmosphere significantly depends on the quality of the surrounding atmospheric air. Dust, exhaust gases, toxic substances located outside penetrate into the room.

To protect yourself from this, you should use an air conditioning, ionization, and purification system to purify the atmosphere of enclosed spaces. Carry out wet cleaning more often, do not use cheap materials that are hazardous to health when finishing.

How does city air affect health?

Human health is greatly affected by the large amount of harmful substances in urban air. It contains a large amount of carbon monoxide (CO) - up to 80%, which “provides” us with motor vehicles. This harmful substance is very insidious, odorless, colorless and very poisonous.

Carbon monoxide, entering the lungs, binds to hemoglobin in the blood, interferes with the supply of oxygen to tissues and organs, causing oxygen starvation, and weakens thought processes. Sometimes it can cause loss of consciousness, and with strong concentration, it can cause death.

In addition to carbon monoxide, city air contains approximately 15 other substances hazardous to health. Among them are acetaldehyde, benzene, cadmium, and nickel. The urban atmosphere also contains selenium, zinc, copper, lead, and styrene. High concentrations of formaldehyde, acrolein, xylene, and toluene. Their danger is such that the human body only accumulates these harmful substances, which is why their concentration increases. After some time, they already become dangerous to humans.

These harmful chemicals are often responsible for hypertension, coronary heart disease, and kidney failure. There is also a high concentration of harmful substances around industrial enterprises, plants, and factories. Studies have proven that half of the exacerbation of chronic diseases of people living near enterprises is caused by bad, dirty air.

The situation is much better in rural areas, “dormitory urban areas”, where there are no nearby enterprises or power plants, and there is also a low concentration of vehicles.

Residents of large cities are saved by powerful air conditioners that clean the air masses of dust, dirt, and soot. But you should know that when passing through the filter, the cooling-heating system also cleanses the air of useful ions. Therefore, as an addition to the air conditioner, you should have an ionizer.

The ones that need oxygen the most are:

* Children, they need twice as much as adults.

* Pregnant women - they spend oxygen on themselves and on the unborn child.

* Elderly people and people with poor health. They need oxygen to improve their well-being and prevent exacerbation of diseases.

* Athletes need oxygen to enhance physical activity and accelerate muscle recovery after sports activities.

* For schoolchildren, students, everyone who is engaged in mental work to increase concentration and reduce fatigue.

The influence of air on the human body is obvious. Favorable air conditions are the most important factor in maintaining human health and performance. Therefore, try to ensure the best indoor air purification. Also, try to leave the city as soon as possible. Go to the forest, to a pond, walk in parks and squares.

Breathe the clean, healing air you need to maintain your health. Be healthy!

Svetlana, www.rasteniya-lecarstvennie.ru

Environmental problems in large cities are directly related to the high concentration of road transport and industrial enterprises located in relatively small areas. As a result, the fragile ecological balance is disrupted.

Studies conducted at different times confirm the fact that there is a direct connection between emissions of a mixture of various pollutants into the atmosphere and a wide range of diseases. However, it is not often possible to link a disease to any one pollutant. Health is mainly affected by a complex of harmful emissions.

How does air pollution affect your health?

As scientists have established, about 10% of harmful substances enter the air atmosphere due to natural phenomena. For example, due to volcanic eruptions, accompanied by ash emissions, as well as the release of acids, including sulfur, and toxic gases harmful to health into the atmosphere.

In addition, sulfuric acid is supplied into the air atmosphere by decomposing plant remains. In addition, forest fires contribute to air pollution. They are sources of smoke that envelop large areas of the earth's surface. Dust storms also make a negative contribution.

It must be said that the air we breathe is saturated with various microorganisms, including pollen, bacteria, and mold fungi. This significantly affects the health of many people, causing allergies, asthma attacks, and infectious diseases.

The remaining 90% of air pollutants are industrial products. Their main sources are emissions and smoke from fuel combustion at power plants, numerous open storage areas for MSW (municipal solid waste), as well as various mixed sources.

Harmful substances that enter the atmosphere are carried over considerable distances, after which they fall to the ground in the form of solid particles and chemical compounds that are dissolved in precipitation.

Ways of exposure of dirty air to human health

Harmful substances have a negative impact on human health in several ways:

Harmful substances and poisonous gases enter directly into the human respiratory system.

Pollution increases the acidity of precipitation. Falling as rain and snow, harmful substances disrupt the chemical composition of soil and water.

When they enter the atmosphere, they cause certain chemical reactions in the air, which provoke longer exposure to solar radiation on living organisms.

They globally change the chemical composition and air temperature, thus creating unfavorable conditions for survival.

What diseases are caused by air pollution?

Harmful substances in the atmosphere affect people differently. This depends on the degree of health of the person, the volume of his lungs, as well as the length of time spent in a polluted atmosphere.

Inhaled large particulate matter has a negative impact on the upper respiratory tract. Small particles and toxic substances enter the small respiratory tract, as well as the alveoli of the lungs.

Constant, long-term and regular exposure to harmful substances from inhaled air and tobacco smoke disrupts the human defense system. As a result, diseases of the respiratory system occur: allergic asthma, chronic bronchitis, cancer and emphysema. Moreover, people who constantly breathe polluted air may experience all the consequences of this not immediately, but in the long term.

As scientists have found, dirty air in cities significantly increases the number of citizens calling for emergency services and subsequent hospitalization due to diseases of the lungs, heart and strokes.

Previously, studies were carried out exclusively on the negative impact of a dirty atmosphere on the human respiratory system, since it is the organ of primary contact with pollutants. However, recently more and more facts have appeared showing that not only the respiratory organs, but also the human heart suffer from this.

Diseases caused by harmful substances in the air atmosphere are being recorded more and more often. These, first of all, include acute and chronic bronchitis with sputum production, infectious diseases of the lungs, oncological diseases of the respiratory system, heart disease, strokes and heart attacks.

In addition, research data has confirmed the fact that toxic substances contained in exhaust gases have a negative impact on pregnant women. They can cause delayed fetal development and can also provoke premature birth.

Atmospheric air and public health

Finally:

According to a report provided by ETC/ACC (a European thematic center for air quality and climate change), there are 455,000 early deaths from air pollution every year in the 27 EU member states.

In general, approximately 85% of all diseases of modern man are associated with constantly deteriorating environmental conditions that arise through his own fault.

But besides this, in addition to diseases known to science, new, unknown and unstudied ailments appear, the causes of which are very difficult to establish. In this regard, we must not forget that human health is the most important of his capital. It was given to him by nature initially, and if it is lost, it will be very difficult to make up for it later. Remember this and be healthy!

Svetlana, www.site