The dangers of air pollution for health, outdoors and indoors

WHO as the World Health Organization states, at least a quarter of all deaths of children under 5 years of age are caused by bad air pollution. The dangers of bad air pollution, among others, affect the quality of cleanliness of water and air, both of which are essential elements of basic human life.

What is air pollution?

Air pollution or polluted air is one of the results of the influence of the elements of the burning substance. These substances can be physical, chemical, or biological substances that burn in the atmosphere (the layer of gas that covers the earth). So, the burning of these substances can harm the health of humans and other living things on earth.

This air pollution is generated by the impact of using vehicles, industrial air waste, or the residual gas from burning substances that are used for human interests.

How do the dangers of air pollution affect health?

The dangers of air pollution on human health are very complex. The problem is, from the source of pollution that is inhaled, the impact and health problems will also differ from one another. The dangers, among others, can affect the respiratory system (lungs), and the body's circulatory system, such as diarrhea, malaria, and pneumonia or pneumonia.

Margaret Chan, as the Director General of WHO, stated that air pollution is one of the deadliest dangers for humans, especially children. Children, basically, don't have a strong immune system. In addition, the airways are short, making it easier for them to accept the impact of the dangers of air pollution itself.

In fact, even a fetus that is being conceived can be exposed to air pollution that is inhaled. This bad air exposure, will continue into the age of children. Not infrequently, someone's respiratory illness has been detected in infancy, for example, such as pneumonia and asthma. Acute exposure to pollution can cause the lung's response to clean air to be reduced, and ultimately block the passage of incoming air.

In addition, carbon monoxide compounds produced by air pollution can affect oxygen levels in the blood, where oxygen is important for blood circulation to the heart to the nervous system throughout the body. As a result, humans today are susceptible to bone marrow damage, damage to function, kidneys and nerves. The intensity and length of time exposed to air pollution also affects the level of health hazards received.

Air pollution is not only outside, but can be generated from indoors as well

Maybe all this time, you thought that air pollution only exists on the road or in the open space outside your home. In fact, the danger of air pollution from inside the home can be 5 times higher to produce. Some examples are the smoke from using firewood when cooking, when you inhale mattress dirt while sleeping, the use of household products (gas-based sprays, glue, color paint) made of chemicals, cigarette smoke, and when you like heating a vehicle in the house.

The dangers of pollution from households as above are vulnerable to being accepted by children because they are a group that spends a lot of time indoors. What's more, if the resulting carbon emissions are high and the ventilation of the house is poor, it will greatly affect indoor air quality.

How to reduce the dangers of air pollution

It may be difficult to close the factory, or not to use public transportation on a daily basis. That way, that doesn't mean you can't reduce air pollution at all. Here is a small step to try, which will make a big difference to health in reducing the resulting air pollution: