Air pollution
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Air pollution is due to human influences that contaminate the air with chemicals, particulate matter, and biological matter. There are two types of air pollution:ozone (i.e., smog) and particulate matter (i.e., soot). Both types of air pollution pose health risks and environmental dangers to people, plants, and animals. Ozone is an invisible gas that vapors emitted from fuel (e.g., cars, trucks, factories, power plants) interacts with sunlight. Particle pollution is comprised up of ash, soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols released into the atmosphere. Of the two forms of air pollution, particle pollution is more dangerous.
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[edit] American Lung Association: State of the Air Report
Each year, the American Lung Association releases a nationwide report that documents the amount of ozone and particulate-matter pollution in the atmosphere. In their report, they list the most cleanest and most polluted cities in the U.S. Below is a list of the top-5 cities in both categories.
[edit] Most Polluted Cities
Most polluted cities by short-term particulate pollution:
- Pittsburgh-New Castle, PA
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA
- Fresno-Madera, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, AL
Most polluted cities by year-round particulate pollution:
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA
- Pittsburgh-New Castle, PA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, AL
- Visalia-Porterville, CA
People at risk for most ozone pollution:
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Visalia-Porterville, CA
- Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, TX
- Fresno-Madera, CA
Several cities, including Los Angeles, CA and Atlanta, GA, frequently report smog alerts when conditions are particularly dangerous to children and adults suffering from diabetes, heart disease, or sensitive lung conditions.
[edit] Cleanest Cities
Cleanest cities for short-term particle pollution:
- Alexandria, LA
- Amarillo, TX
- Bismarck, ND
- Brownsville-Harlingen-Raymondville, TX
- Cheyenne, WY
Cleanest cities for year-round particle pollution
- Cheyenne, WY
- Santa Fe-Espanola, NM
- Honolulu, HI
- Great Falls, MT
- Farmington, NM
[edit] Health Risks
People with asthma and other chronic lung diseases, senior citizens, and children are particularly vulnerable to experiencing negative effects from exposure to smog. Prolonged exposure to smog can cause asthma attacks, coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling deeply, and even premature death. Breathing high levels of smog over the long term can also lead to impaired lung function, inflamed lung lining, and increased breathing problems.
Breathing particle pollution also poses very serious consequences to one's health. Breathing particle pollution year-round can shorten life by one to three years. Particle pollution can trigger heart attacks, strokes, irregular heartbeats. It also causes lung cancer, premature births, and can worsen serious respiratory disorders, including asthma and causes wheezing and coughing. "Ambient particulate matter and nanoparticles have been shown to translocateto the brain, and potentially influence the central nervous system. No data are available whether this may lead to functional changes in the brain."Particle and Fibre Toxicology 2008, 5:4 [1]
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