As this old song goes, where do we begin to tell a story? There are so many ways in which polluted air endangers our health. It’s not just that air needs to be seriously polluted, smaller scale pollutions are enough for serious damage.
PM 2.5 (product of smoke, traffic gases or combustion of solid fand liquid fuels) are tiny particles or droplets which are 2.5 microns or less in width. When inhaled, they penetrate deeply into your lungs and can cause serious deprivation of lung function or worsen your pre-existing condition such as asthma or COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). PM 10 are also rather dangerous particles which, given they are bigger, tend to cause problems on the outside: nose and eye irritation, coughing, etc.
Air pollution also plays an important role in strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. People with atherosclerosis may end up having a heart attack (as air pollution particles may cause plaque in a blood vessel to rupture) or inflammatory processes on the heart itself.
Numerous research have proven that in countries with high air pollution (Mongolia, China or India) a number of babies are born prematurely due to this factor. Some of them may end up having other health issues such as problems with thyroid.
