Outdoor Air Quality
Outdoor air quality can negatively affect health. Air pollution has been linked to
many health problems, such as asthma, heart disease, and breathing problems. Two types
of air pollution are ozone and particle pollution. People with lung disease, children,
older adults, and people who are active outdoors can be affected when ozone levels
are unhealthy. The term often used to describe particles is "particulate matter"
and is abbreviated as PM. The diameter of the particle in microns (a micron is a
unit of measurement for distance; there are about 25,000 microns in an inch)
typically follows to indicate how small the particle is: PM10 means that
the particle is ten microns or less in width and PM2.5
(also called "fine particle") means that a particle is two and one half microns or
less in width, for example. Examples of particle pollution include dust, dirt,
soot and smoke. The composition of these particles can vary based on location,
season, and whether they are from primary or secondary sources. Being exposed
to high amount of particle pollution for more than a year is linked to
heart and lung problems
Scientists have done many studies which have linked ground-level
ozone exposure to a variety of problems such as:
- Airway irritation, coughing, and pain when taking a deep breath.
- Wheezing and breathing difficulties during exercise or outdoor activities.
- Inflammation of the airways.
- Aggravation of asthma and a higher chance of getting respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis.
1. Cannon J. 1990. The Health Costs of Air Pollution:
A Survey of Studies Published 1984 1989. New York: American Lung Association.
2. Dockery DW, Pope CA. 1994. Acute respiratory effects of particulate air pollution. Annu Rev Public Health 15:107-132.
3. ALA (American Lung Association). 2004. State of the Air 2004. Available: http://lungaction.org/reports/sota04_full.html.
2. Dockery DW, Pope CA. 1994. Acute respiratory effects of particulate air pollution. Annu Rev Public Health 15:107-132.
3. ALA (American Lung Association). 2004. State of the Air 2004. Available: http://lungaction.org/reports/sota04_full.html.
Ozone
Ozone is a gas that you cannot see or smell. "Good" ozone occurs naturally in the sky about 10 to 30 miles above the Earth's surface. It forms a layer that protects life on Earth from the sun's harmful rays. Ground-level ozone is also called "bad" ozone because it is harmful to human health when it is in the air we breathe. This ozone is formed from the reaction of NOx and VOC pollutants when exposed to heat and sunlight. Many urban areas, like big cities, tend to have higher levels of bad ozone. Rural areas have bad ozone, too, because the wind carries ozone and the pollutants that cause it to form hundreds of miles away from their original sources. Studies have shown that being exposed to bad ozone can:- Cause respiratory symptoms like coughing or pain when you take a deep breath.
- Aggravate asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
- Cause lungs to get inflamed.
- Temporarily decrease the lung capacity of healthy adults.
- Permanently scar lung tissue when it is breathed in at high levels over long periods of time
Particle Pollution Or Particulate Matter
Particle pollution, or particulate matter, consists of particles that are present in the air, such as dust, dirt, soot and smoke, and little droplets of liquid. Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen, like soot, smoke, and dust. Other particles are too small to be seen. Being exposed to high levels of particle pollution for more than a year is linked to heart and lung problems such as:- Breathing problems.
- Reduced lung function.
- Chronic bronchitis.
- Heart and other cardiovascular diseases.
- Make lung disease worse.
- Cause asthma attacks.
- Make it easier to develop bronchitis.
- Make it easier for people to get respiratory infections.
NO2
NO2 is an air pollutant that is generated from vehicle and machinery emissions. These particles contribute to acid rain, as well as the dense haze that may be seen in urban areas. When exposed to light and heat, such as on a summer day in New Mexico, NO2 reacts with VOC particles to generate ozone. For humans, short term exposure can aggravate asthma or cause respiratory distress even in non asthmatics, increasing emergency department visits. Chronic exposure is associated with increased risk of asthma and respiratory infections
People with lung disease, children, older adults, and people who are active
outdoors can be negatively affected when ozone, PM or NO2 levels are high. In people
with heart diseases, short-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 has been linked
to heart attacks and irregular heartbeats. Short-term exposure has also been
linked with premature deaths, usually in people who already have a serious
chronic health problem such as lung or heart disease. Healthy children and
adults usually do not develop serious problems from short-term exposure to
high levels of particle pollution. They may have minor problems, like a
scratchy throat or scratchy eyes, when particle levels are high.
If you have asthma, a chronic lung disease, or cardiovascular disease,
smoke exposure can aggravate these conditions. People with heart or lung
disease should follow their health management plan from their health care
provider. People with asthma should follow a prescribed asthma management
plan. Follow your doctor's advice about medicines if you have asthma or
another lung disease. In smoky conditions, if you develop symptoms which
do not respond to your usual medication, see your health care provider
immediately. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen. Prolonged exposure
to smoke of all kinds is harmful to people of all ages.
- Annual Number of Days With Maximum 8-Hour Average Ozone Concentration Over the NAAQS by County
- Annual Number of Person-days with Maximum 8-hour Average Ozone Concentration Over the NAAQS by County
- Annual Number of Person-days with PM2.5 Levels Over the NAAQS by County
- Annual Percent of Days with PM2.5 Levels Over the NAAQS by County
- Annual Average Concentration of PM2.5 (mcg/m3) by County
- Annual Percent of Days with PM10 Levels Over the NAAQS by County
- Annual Average Concentration of PM10 (mcg/m3) by County
- Annual Percent of Days with NO2 Levels Over the NAAQS by County
- Annual Average Concentration of NO2 (mcg/m3) by County