Effects of Air Pollution
Air quality is shockingly poor
According to the World Health Organization (WHO):
91% of the world’s population lives in places where air pollution exceeds safe limits.
Around 7 million people die each year as a result of air pollution.
Ambient air pollution alone caused some 4.2 million deaths in 2016, while household air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels and technologies caused an estimated 3.8 million deaths in the same period.
Air pollution annually causes:
1.4 million deaths from strokes
2.4 million deaths from heart disease
1.8 million deaths from lung disease
Air pollution has been one of Europe's main political concerns since the late 1970s. The EU has stated that air pollution is still the number one environmental cause of premature deaths in Europe. Comprehensive European legislation on fighting air pollution exists, however, most member states are having difficulties in achieving compliance. Put simply, what they do, is not enough. Therefore, air pollution is not just a problem for the politicians, it concerns us all.
The EPA in the US state “Ozone can increase the frequency of asthma attacks, cause shortness of breath, aggravate lung diseases, and cause permanent damage to lungs through long-term exposure. Elevated ozone levels are linked to increases in hospitalizations, emergency room visits and premature death.”
Nitrogen Dioxide
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is one of a group of highly reactive gases known as oxides of nitrogen or nitrogen oxides (NOX).
NO2 primarily gets in the air from the burning of fuel. NO2 forms from emissions from cars, trucks and buses, power plants, and off-road equipment. It is also produced at home by a gas stove for example.
Breathing air with a high concentration of NO2 can irritate airways in the human respiratory system. Such exposures over short periods can aggravate respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, leading to respiratory symptoms (such as coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing), hospital admissions and visits to emergency rooms. Longer exposures to elevated concentrations of NO2 may contribute to the development of asthma and potentially increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. People with asthma, as well as children and the elderly are generally at greater risk for the health effects of NO2.
NO2 and other NOX interact with water, oxygen, and other chemicals in the atmosphere to form acid rain. Acid rain harms sensitive ecosystems such as lakes and forests. The nitrate particles that result from NOX make the air hazy and difficult to see though. NOX in the atmosphere contributes to nutrient pollution in coastal waters.
NO2 along with other NOX reacts with other chemicals in the air to form both particulate matter and ozone (O3). Both are also harmful when inhaled due to effects on the respiratory system.
Ozone (O3) can travel far and cause harm further away from the actual source of pollution.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.
Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products. Paints, varnishes and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing and hobby products. Fuels are made up of organic chemicals. All these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored.
Direct human exposure to VOCs can have severe effects on health.
Meet airSniffler
airSniffler monitor can become your personal air pollution alert device. It measures NO2, ozone and VOCs and calculates a colour coded index that makes it easy to understand how polluted the air is.
You can quickly check current pollution levels or look at the charts to see how the measurements have changed over time during a walk, for example.