Ambient air particularly in densely populated urban environments contain variety of known particulate materials (human carcinogens) including organic compounds such as benzopyrene, benzene and inorganic compounds such as arsenic, chromium and radionucleides. While breathing in larger sizes of particle pollution can be harmful to our health, smaller particles are more dangerous. Bigger particles can irritate your eyes, nose and throat, but our natural defenses help us to cough or sneeze them out of our bodies. Unfortunately, those defenses don't keep out smaller particles, which get trapped deep in the lungs and can even get into the bloodstream, causing damage to our health.
The major components of Particulate Material are sulfate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water.
These organic and inorganic particles are emitted from
1. Combustion of fuels for power generation.
2. Transportation.
3. Mining operations.
WHO estimates that in 2016, 6% of outdoor air pollution-related premature deaths were due to lung cancer.A 2013 assessment by WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that outdoor air pollution is carcinogenic to humans, with the particulate matter component of air pollution most closely associated with increased cancer incidence, especially lung cancer.
Air quality measurements are typically reported in terms of daily or annual mean concentrations of PM10 particles per cubic meter of air volume (m3).
causes:
- decreased lung function capacity
- increased cardiopulmonary mortality
- increased hospitalisation for respiratory problems
- exacerbation of asthma
- lung cancer
protective measures:
1.Improving the technologies in industries to trap carcinogenic particles and setting emission criteria and monitoring the industries.
2. Transport emission should be controlled by encouraging E-vehicles, walking,cycling,planning good urban transit infrastructure
3. The renewable energy(solar,wind, hydropower) and sustainable mode of power generation should be encouraged rather than using fossils.
4. Check the air quality index forecast for the day and limit your activity if pollution levels are high. Avoid exercising along heavily traveled highways regardless of the overall forecast.
As individuals, we can take steps to limit our contributions to local pollution sources by not burning wood or trash and not idling vehicles, especially diesel engines.
Policies and investments supporting cleaner transport, energy-efficient homes, power generation, industry and better municipal waste management would reduce key sources of outdoor air pollution.
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