Effects of Air Pollution on Human Health
The immediate effects of air pollution are hard to ignore. Watery eyes, coughing and difficulty in breathing are acute and common reactions. An estimated 92 percent of the world’s population live in areas with dangerous levels of air pollution and even at seemingly imperceptible levels. Air pollution can increase risk of cardiovascular and premature death. Air pollution is almost as deadly as tobacco and it might harm you even before you take your first breath. Exposure to high levels of air pollution during pregnancy has been linked to miscarriages as well as premature birth and asthma in children. Air pollution may damage children’s brain development and pneumonia which kills almost 1 million children under the age of 5 every year is associated with air pollution. Children who breathe in higher levels of pollutants also face a greater risk of short-term respiratory infections and lung damage. Other conditions associated with high levels of air pollution include lung canc...