Protecting Your Health

Air pollution affects everyone. The average adult breathes over 3,000 gallons of air every day. Children breathe even more air per pound of body weight and are more susceptible to air pollution. Especially sensitive groups include: children, the elderly, people with heart and lung diseases, and in the summer, adults who exercise or work outside.

Ozone

In the short-term, exposure to high levels of ozone irritates the lung's airways and causes inflammation, much like a sunburn. Other symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest pain and headaches. It can aggravate chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis and can lead to increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Long-term, prolonged exposure to even low levels of ozone can cause asthma in children and lead to permanent lung damage.

Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Particulate matter is the term used for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Coarse particles (larger than 2.5 micrometers) come from a variety of sources including windblown dust and grinding operations. Fine particles (less than 2.5 micrometers) often come from fuel combustion, power plants, and diesel buses and trucks.

These fine particles are of health concern because they easily reach the deepest recesses of the lungs. Batteries of scientific studies have linked particulate matter, especially fine particles (alone or in combination with other air pollutants), with a series of significant health problems, including:

• Premature death;
• Respiratory related hospital admissions and emergency room visits;
• Aggravated asthma;
• Acute respiratory symptoms, including aggravated coughing and difficult or painful breathing;
• Chronic bronchitis;
• Decreased lung function that can be experienced as shortness of breath; and
• Work and school absences.

Who is Most at Risk?

The Elderly
Studies indicate that exposure to fine particles is associated with thousands of hospital admissions each year. Many of these hospital admissions are elderly people suffering from lung or heart disease.

Individuals with Preexisting Heart or Lung Disease
Breathing fine particles can also adversely affect individuals with heart disease, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis by causing additional medical treatment. Inhaling fine particulate matter has been attributed to increased hospital admissions, emergency room visits and premature death among sensitive populations.

Children

• The average adult breathes 13,000 liters of air per day; children breathe 50 percent more air per pound of body weight than adults.
• Because children's respiratory systems are still developing, they are more susceptible to environmental threats than healthy adults.
• Exposure to fine particles is associated with increased frequency of childhood illnesses, which are of concern both in the short run, and for the future development of healthy lungs in the affected children.
• Fine particles are also associated with increased respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function in children, including symptoms such as aggravated coughing and difficulty or pain in breathing. These can result in school absences and limitations in normal childhood activities.

Asthmatics and Asthmatic Children

• More and more people are being diagnosed with asthma every year. Fourteen Americans die every day from asthma, a rate three times greater than just 20 years ago. Children make up 25 percent of the population, but comprise 40 percent of all asthma cases.
• Breathing fine particles, alone or in combination with other pollutants, can aggravate asthma, causing greater use of medication and resulting in more medical treatment and hospital visits.

Protect Your Health

Reducing pollution levels helps reduce these health effects. So think of clean air as preventative medicine, on a grand scale. See what you can do!

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Smog-Who Does It Hurt? Brochure
Learn more about ozone and your health.

American Lung Association
News and information to help you.

Pennsylvania Medical Society
Asthma is the focus of the current Health Highlight.