ozonce and air pollution
...culates are inhaled into the small air sacs of our lungs called alveoli. With densities such as 100,000 per milliliter a single alveolus may receive 1,500 particulates per day. These particulates cause the inflammation of the alveoli. The inflammation causes the body to produce agents in the blood that in crease clotting ability, which leads to the decreased functionality of the cardiovascular system, resulting in diseases and increased mortality. In the blood, carbon monoxide interferes with the supply of oxygen to all tissues and organs, including the brain and heart. Particulates accumulate on the mucous linings of the airways and lungs and impair their functioning. Continued exposure to particulates damages the lungs and increases an individual's chances of developing such conditions as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Inside the alveoli of the lungs, particulate air pollution irritates and inflames them. While you may see pollutants such as particulates, other harmful ones are not visible. Amongst the most dangerous to our health are Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur dioxide, and Ozone. If you have ever been in an enclosed parking garage or a tunnel and felt dizzy or light-headed then you have felt the effect of carbon monoxide(CO). This odorless, colorless, but poisonous gas is produced by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels, like gasoline or diesel fuel. Carbon Monoxide comes from cars, trucks, gas furnaces and stoves, and some industrial processes. CO is also a toxin in cigarettes. Carbon Monoxide combines with hemoglobin in the red blood cells, so body cells and tissues cannot get the oxygen they need. Carbon Monoxide attacks the immune system, especially affecting anyone with heart disease, anemia, and emphysema and other lung diseases. Even when at low concentrations CO affects mental function, vision, and alertness. Nitrogen Oxide is another pollutant that has been nicknamed a jet-age pollutant because it is only apparent in highly advanced countries. Sources of this are fuel plant, cars, and trucks. At lower concentrations nitrogen oxides are a light brown gas. In high concentrations they are major sources of haze and smog. They also combine with other compounds to help form ozone. Nitrogen Oxides cause eye and lung irritation, and lowers the resistance to respiratory illness, such as chest colds, bronchitis, and influenza. For children and people with asthma, this gas is can cause death. Nitrogen Oxides maybe the most dangerous of these pollutants because it also makes nitric acid, when combine with water in rain, snow, fog, or mist. This then becomes the harmful acid rain. Sulfur Dioxide is a heavy, smelly, colorless gas which comes from industrial plants, petroleum refineries, paper mills, and chemical plants. When combined with water it becomes sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid dissolves marble, turns plants yellow, and eats away at iron and steel, you can imagine the possible damage to human tissue. It's effect on people with asthma, heart disease, and emphysema is devastating. It is also a major contribute to acid rain. How serious of a thereat is it to our health? There are numerous cases displaying the grave danger of particulate air pollution. One popular example occurred in London, England in the year 1952. In this case excessive deaths were caused as a result of respiratory and cardiovascular problems in that year. The research at that time revealed an association between particulate and sulphur dioxide concentrations in the air and risk of respiratory disease and death. The excessive problems are thought to have been caused by "winter smogs". Winter smogs were frequent problem during the 1940s through the 1950s when coal was the main fuel for both domestic and commercial use. Winter smogs are caused by temperature inversions which trap particulates close to the ground. The air and smoke trapped contained high concentrations of soot, sulphur dioxide, and other pollutants. This winter smog took the lives of over 3,500 people. A similar incident in the United States came about as a result of the same type of temperature changes and smog. In 1948 six thousand people became drastically ill and twenty died as a direct result of winter smog in Pennsylvania. More recently an even greater tragedy occurred. One of the great human and environmental disasters of the 1980s occurred on December 3, 1984, in Bhopal, India. About 50 tons of methyl isocyanate esca...