Environmental Health: Air Pollution

• The presentation discusses environmental health with a focus on air pollution.
• The goals include understanding the nature of the atmosphere, major air pollution problems, and ways to address air pollution.
• Also covers Climate change, its warmer atmosphere effects, slowing it down, stratospheric ozone depletion, and solutions.
• The presentation includes both a lecture, a break, and an activity.

Composition and Need for Air

• Exhaled air is composed of 78% nitrogen, 16.4% oxygen, >1% other gases, >1% argon and 4.4% carbon dioxide.
• Humans need 15kg of air, more than water (1.5kg) and food (0.75kg).

Defining Air Pollution

• Air pollution is the presence of contaminants in the atmosphere that can harm human health, welfare, and the environment.
• Air pollution causes 3 million deaths.
• 90% of these deaths occurring in low or middle-income countries.
• The countries with the most deaths are China (1,032,833), and India.
• Main fatal diseases attributable to air pollution are Stroke (36%), Ischaemic heart disease (36%), Lung cancer (8%), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 14% and Acute lower respiratory disease (6%).

Types and Sources of Air Pollution

• Air pollution can be natural or manufactured.
• Natural sources include forest fires, ultra-fine dust particles, volcanoes, and dust storms.
• Forest fires emit particulates, gases, and volatile organic compounds.
• Ultra-fine dust particles are created by soil erosion.
• Volcanoes spew out sulfur dioxide and pulverized lava rock known as volcanic ash.
• Dust storms in desert areas and smoke from forest fires and grass fires contribute to chemical and particulate pollution of the air
• Human (anthropogenic) sources are mobile (transportation like cars, trucks, airplanes) and stationary (storage tanks).
• Stationary sources can further be divided into point sources (storage tank) and area source (community).
• Air pollution can be categorized by location as indoor or outdoor.
• Indoor air pollution: cigarette smoke, vapors from certain construction materials like asbestos, and cleaning products.
• Outdoor air pollution: volcanoes, fire and automobile exhaust.

Indoor Air Pollution Facts

• Indoor air pollution leads to 700,000 of the 2.7 million deaths annually from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• ~15% of lung cancer deaths are due to indoor air pollution.
• It is associated with asthma, cataracts, and TB.
• Can cause low birthweight and ischemic heart disease.
• 59% of deaths attributable to indoor air pollution are among females.
• 56% of all deaths attributable to indoor air pollution are among children under 5 years old.

Urban (Outdoor) Air Pollution

• Urban outdoor air pollution represents 1.5% of annual deaths and 0.5% of the total burden of disease.
• Particulate matter causes ~ 5% of global lung cancer cases, 2% of cardiovascular and respiratory condition deaths, and 1% of respiratory infections.

Types of Pollutants

• Primary pollutants are harmful substances emitted directly into the atmosphere.
• Secondary pollutants are harmful substances formed as a result of chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

Causes of Air Pollution

• Causes include industry and energy supply, dust, agricultural practices, transport, waste management, and household energy.

Air Pollutants and Health Effects

• Sulfur oxides and particulates from coal and oil power plants cause bronchoconstriction, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive lung disease.
• Carbon monoxide from motor vehicle emissions and fossil fuel burning leads to asphyxia, heart and nervous system damage, and death.
• Oxides of nitrogen from automobile emissions and fossil fuel power plants cause airway injury, pulmonary edema, and impaired lung defenses.
• Ozone from automobile emissions and ozone generators has similar effects as nitrogen oxides.
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aircraft cabins, diesel exhaust, cigarette smoke, and stove smoke are linked to lung cancer.
• Radon from natural sources is linked to lung cancer.
• Asbestos from asbestos mines, mills, insulation, and building materials can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
• Arsenic from copper smelters and cigarette smoke can cause lung cancer.
• Allergens from pollen, animal dander, and house dust can cause asthma and rhinitis.
• Other air pollutants include Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrocarbons, Chloroflorocarbons (CFC), NO2 and Lead.

Health Effects

• Short-term exposure can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat along with upper respiratory infections, headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions in addition to aggravating pre-existing conditions.
• Long-term exposure can cause serious and irreversible respiratory problems, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and lung cancer.
• Other health harms include skin ageing, stroke, issues with brain development, mental health and dementia, Lung diseases, asthma, insulin resistance and diabetes, blood clots, heart disease, premature birth, low birthweight, decreased sperm quality and pregnancy issues.
• Air pollution affects the lungs by causing muscles to contract, airways to narrow, and difficulty in breathing.

Pyramid of Effects from Air Pollution

• From the most to least severe: Death -> ER visits, Hospital admissions, Heart attacks -> Doctor visits, School absences, Lost work days -> Respiratory symptoms, Medication use, Asthma attacks -> Lung function decrements, Inflammation, Cardiac effects.

Environmental Effects of Air Pollution

• The greenhouse effect prevents heat from escaping the atmosphere.
• Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen act like the glass of the greenhouse.
• Other gases contributing to the problem include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), nitrous oxides, and ozone.
• Acid rain forms when moisture interacts with nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide released by factories, power plants, and motor vehicles.
• This interaction forms sulfuric acid and nitric acids.
• On plants, particulates on leaves can form encrustations, plug the stomata, and reduce the availability of sunlight, leading to death.
• Damage to the ozone layer is primarily caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• Ozone, a form of oxygen in the earth's upper atmosphere, absorbs UV rays, making life possible.
• Depletion of ozone causes higher levels of UV radiation, endangering plants and animals.

Reducing Air Pollution

• Encourage your family to walk to the neighborhood market and take your bicycle whenever possible.
• Use public forms of transport or school bus
• Encourage your family to form a car pool to office and back.
• Reduce the use of aerosols in the household.
• Look after the trees in your neighborhood and begin a tree-watch group to ensure that they are well tended and cared for.
• Switch-off all the lights and fans when not required.
• If possible share your room with others when the air conditioner, cooler or fan is on.
• Do not burn leaves in your garden, put them in a compost pit.
• Make sure that the pollution check for your family car is done at regular intervals, with catalytic converters fitted and use only unleaded petrol.
• Write to your MP and let them know.
• Ask your school to run bikeability classes.
• Walk, bike, or scoot to school.
• Ask friends to share lifts to parties, sports matches and clubs.
• Plant a tree because leaves help clean the air.
• Plant a wall of trees between the road and your playground if your school is next to a busy road.

Activity

• Instructions:
• Start with a strong opening shot that highlights the issue of air pollution.
• Introduce the Clean Air Pledge and explain its importance.
• Discuss the impact of air pollution on health and the environment.
• Suggest at least three ways individuals can reduce air pollution, such as carpooling, using public transportation, and reducing energy consumption.
• Use engaging visuals and creative editing to enhance the viewing experience.
• Keep the video within the allotted time of one minute.
• Conclude with a call to action, encouraging viewers to take action and make a difference in reducing air pollution.