Air pollution v s s nair - nov 24

Air Pollution

V. S. S. Nair

Nov 24, 2010Institution of Engineers

DRINK 2 liters of water

BREATHE 15,000 liters of airMore than 10 liters every

minute!

In one day, we…

We can …

Live without food for more than 10 days

Survive without water for 3 days

NOT MORE THAN 3 MINUTES WITHOUT AIR

BUT…

AIR

Supplies the Oxygen necessary for all functions of the body including

brain

AIR

reaches 100 sq. meters of surface area of the lungs

Exercise & Breathing Exercise improves the body’s ability to deliver

oxygen It can increase the intake of air by as much as 10

times When we exercise in polluted air, we increase our

contact with pollutants; and increase our vulnerability to health damage

Air pollution is a key risk factor for a number of diseases andpoor general health

Air PollutionWho is at risk?

Children Elderly Prior heart or lung disease patients Diabetics Persons who work/exercise outdoors Otherwise healthy adults and children

Air PollutionHealth Problems

Impaired fertility Birth defects Respiratory infections Asthma Emphysema Lung Cancer Heart attacks Strokes Premature death

Air PollutionPyramid of effects

Lung function changes, immune cell responsesHeart rate or heart rate variability responses

Asthma attacks, medication use,symptoms

Doctor Visits

Hospital Admissions

Death

Air PollutionMain Pollutants

Ozone Particulates, especially PM 2.5 Air-borne toxics Mercury

Air Pollutants:Ground level Ozone

Ultra-violet light

Volatile Organics

Nitrogen oxides

Air Pollutants:Ground level Ozone

Nitrogen oxides

50% From Traffic

50% From Power plants

and Industry

Air Pollutants:Ground level Ozone

Seasonal variationDaily variation

OutdoorsDoes not penetrate buildings

Air Pollutants:Ground level Ozone

Caustic Gas – clear, colourless, odourless Oxidises proteins, lipids in the mucosal fluid

layer Highly irritating to lung linings Increases lung secretions, decreases

oxygenation Sets off airway bronchospasm Recruits inflammatory cells Increases responses to allergens Damages infection fighting responses Chronic lung damage/remodeling

Asthma Epidemic

50% in Children

100% in Adults

Ozone and Asthma attacks

Hundreds of published studies conducted

around the world all show the same results:

More Ozone Pollution exposure leads to more asthma attacks

Dose = Response relationship

Airway Obstruction

Ozone reduces Lung function

FEV

1,

% C

HA

NG

E

BASELINE 2HR 4HR-60

-40

-20

0

Ozone causes Asthma

Exercising children exposed to Ozone:A cohort study

Time Outdoors = Asthma

McConnell, et al. Lancet 2002: 359: 386-91

Ozone: Asthma effects

More people with Asthma More asthma attacks More asthma medicine usage More doctor, Casualty and Urgent Care

visits More children and elderly in hospitals More school absences More lost work days

Ozone: other effects

Allergy symptoms

Respiratory infections

Ear infections

Emphysema attacks

Overall death rates

Air pollutants: Particulates

SulfatesNitratesPolycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

(PAH)Soot/ CarbonDust

Particulate Physiology

Penetrate deeply into lungs to alveoli

Irritate lung linings – more AsthmaStimulate immune system

inflammatory proteins

Air pollutants: Particulates

Year round exposures

Penetrate buildings

Particulates: Cardiac effects

Vascular inflammation

Blood clotting protein levels

Cardiac arrhythmias

Blood pressure

Heart rate variability

Alters Cardiac conduction

Particulates: Cardiac effects

Vascular inflammation is more important than cholesterol in the development of cardio-vascular disease

Air Pollution andNext-day Heart attacks

Short-term exposure to particulates (PM 2.5) increases the incidence of heart attacks for one day following exposure

As air pollution goes up, the risk of heart attack goes up

Increased particulate air pollution and the triggering of Myocardial infarctionPeters et al.; Circulation, June 12, 2001, vol. 103

Air Pollution andStroke deathsFine Particulate matter and

gaseous pollutants are significant risk factors for acute stroke death

Women and the elderly are most susceptible to the effects of particulate air pollutants

More air pollutionexposure

More acutestroke deaths=

Effect of Air Pollutants on Acute Stroke Mortality. Hong et al.Feb.,2002; Environmental health perspectives, v. 110. no.2

Effects on otherwise healthy people

Asthma rates in adults

Pneumonia & respiratory infections

Lung cancer rates similar to

living with a smoker

Overall death rates

Faster decline in lung function with age

Effects on children – A generation at risk

Multiple birth defects – heart, neural tube

Higher infant mortalityMore asthma Impaired lung developmentPremature emphysema Increased respiratory infectionsHigher health care expenditures

Final thoughts

Health and economic issue Prioritise air quality improvement in

decision-making Over half the problem is traffic Massive hidden health costs in

transportation and power pollution Imposed risk on all population groups,

especially our children and elderly