The Effects of Air Pollution on Health

There is no doubt that air pollution is a serious problem in today's society.   It is almost impossible to escape and has negative effects on the health and well-being of the human race.   Air pollution has become such a problem over the years that an Air Quality Index was established to warn people when to stay inside.   Although people unwittingly cause air pollution every day, there are many types, having negative short term and long term effects on the overall health of the human race.

Both indoor and outdoor pollution are generated by people every day, many times unknowingly.   According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, indoor pollution is caused by "cigarette smoking, the use of certain construction materials, cleaning products, and home furnishing".   Many people do not even realize they are contributing to the air pollution problem.   Outdoor pollution is not always man made, but sometimes occurs in nature in volcanoes and fires.   The most detrimental form of outdoor pollution is smog.   Smog is most common in urban areas caused by factories and cars.

Air pollution has many negative effects on the   environment and people's health.   The burning of fossil fuels create a dense layer of gas around the planet, keeping the sun's heat from escaping into the atmosphere.   Many scientist believe this is the cause of global warming.   Air pollution is also the reason for acid rain.   Chemicals released by factories and power plants can get into the clouds and travel thousands of miles before raining back down to earth.  

Due to the fact that air pollution is almost unavoidable, there are many long term effects on the health of society. Some very deadly problems arise from the prolonged exposure to pollutants.   According to the Lawrence Berkley Laboratory the consequences of breathing tainted air include lung cancer, heart disease, nerve damage and chronic respiratory problems.   Breathing toxins from factories, traffic and especially...