Air Pollution

It is important to differentiate between causative factors and environmental triggers.

 

air pollution ,which already causes 17k admissions and 60k ER visits in

Health Canada says close to 6000 deaths per year due to ap

• nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, CO, ground level ozone

eye irritation

inflammation of resp tract

• increased airway reactivity
• lower resistance to pathogens
• reduced lung efficiency
• aggravation of respiratory or CV conditions

children are particularly susceptible to air pollution due to higher intake, physiologic vulnerability, more risk of obstruction, and increased exposure to ground level pollutants

 

Indoor air pollution

by far the bigger of the threats.

we spend ~22 hours per day indoors

energy-efficient, airtight buildings, especially those with poor ventilation, can be very bad.

 

sick building syndrome

a constellation of symptoms affecting multiple workers, without a specific cause

astham, EAA, Legionnaire's

• irritation of skin and mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth)
• neuropsychiatric sympotms: headache, fatigue, dizziness, difficulty concentrating

 

Outdoor Air Pollution

The 1970 Clean Air Act lists air pollutants

regional smog reports

ozone

N20

SO2

CO

lead

respirable particulate matter

microbes

inorganic dust

VOCs

radon

 

after the WTC collapse

World Trade Centre Syndrome: frequent aerodigestive problems, including occupational asthma, RADS, RUDS, inflammatory lung parenchymal inflammation