FAQ air Frequently Asked Questions

Where can we come in contact with air pollutants?

Air is one of the most important substances for humans, together with water. To survive, humans need oxygen. We breathe air every day and consequentially it is very important that the air around us is clean. Air pollutants can cause health problems when we breathe them in.

In the past century we have performed very extensive research to bring to light the health and environmental effects of air pollutants. This research has provided us with a lot of information. We now know, for example, that people that live near highways or industrial areas are more susceptible to diseases such as cancer and asthma. This may increase their chances to an earlier death.
People may not only come in contact with air pollutants when they are outside, in the workplace environment, people may come in contact with air pollutants as well. This is likely to happen to people that work with dangerous chemicals, but it can also happen to people in offices. In the office the air that is circulated through the ventilation system may be contaminated with pathogenic microrganisms.
At home the air can be contaminated with all kinds of chemicals that may be damaging to our health. These contaminants can come from household equipment, such as carpets and curtains. Carpets and curtains can cause bromines to end up in indoor air, which is a carcinogen. Carcinogens are contaminants that can cause cancer.
Indoor air may also be contaminated with microrganisms, which are known to cause all kinds of rashes and allergies. When a house is not properly aerated, contaminants may accumulate in the indoor air.

What are the health effects of air pollutants on humans?

Air pollutants usually act upon the respiratory tract, first. Air pollutants can enter a human body through several entranceways, such as the skin, mouth and lungs. Gaseous pollutants can deeply penetrate the respiratory system and absorb on wet body tissues on the way. This may cause the pH of the body fluids to change, causing irritations. Organic solvents can easily be absorbed by blood, transporting them through the entire body rapidly.

The chances of penetration of a human body by contaminants mainly depend upon the size of the particles. Larger particles stay behind in the nose or are swallowed, but smaller particles can penetrate the lungs. Smaller particles absorb more toxic material, which they can take deeper into the body. When contaminants are water-soluble, they can immediately be absorbed by human blood.

What health effects do air pollutants have on animals?

The health effects that pollutants cause with animals are similar to the health effects they cause with humans. However, there are some effects that do not occur with humans. For example, acid rain can cause serious health effects for water organisms, such as reproduction failure, or even death.

What health effects do air pollutants have on plants?

Plants are much more susceptible for gaseous air pollutants than humans and animals. Examples of gaseous air pollutants are hydrogen fluoride (HF), ozone (O₃) and ethene. Air pollutants mainly penetrate a plant through skin pores. These are in connection with the intercellular spaces in the leaves of a plant. Through the skin pores gasses can penetrate cell walls, to be absorbed by the cell fluids. Some of the gaseous air pollutants directly damage plant leaves when they penetrate plant cells. This can cause the leaves of plants and trees to lose their colour, or even die off. It can also cause plant growth to stagnate. The leaves and stems may slacken and curl up.
In some cases however, a plant can restore itself after fresh air is added to its location.

What are specific health effects of separate air pollutants?

Health effects of air pollutants do not occur until a certain dose has penetrated a plant, animal or human body. This dose differs for each air pollutant. When the concentrations of air pollutants increase, the risk of health effects will be higher. Air pollutants can cause acute effects, such as coughing and throat pains, but there are air pollutants that only cause cronic effects, such as asbestos. Here, we will sum up some commonly known air pollutants and give a brief description of their health effects.

Carbon monoxide (CO)

Carbon monoxide is a gas that is absorbed by haemoglobin in the blood after it has entered a human body, causing the blood to be less able to transport oxygen.
When carbon monoxide is absorbed in low concentrations, people will experience tiredness. People that have heart conditions often experience chest pains. Higher concentrations of carbon monoxide cause bad vision, decreases in concentration, headaches, dizziness, nausea and confusion. When carbon monoxide concentrations are very high, it can be mortal.
Carbon monoxide is likely to fashion during incomplete combustion. To prevent the fashioning of carbon monoxide in your house, you may want to clean your chimneys and heaters once a year. It is also recommended to have water heaters checked out.

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)

The effects of sulphur dioxide mainly take place when it is converted to sulphuric acids. This acid has some negative effects on the respiratory tract. Sulphur dioxide is fashioned during fossil fuel combustion.

Ozone (O₃)

Ozone causes mucous membrane irritation, respiratory infections and lung infections. Ozone consists during thunderstorms, through electrolyses of oxygen. Ozone is generated through the same principle. Ozone is also shaped in traffic. It exists naturally in the atmosphere, under the influence of UV-radiation.

Nitrogen oxides (NO_x)

The health effects of nitrogen oxides are similar to those caused by ozone. However, health effects of nitrogen oxides only occur when higher concentrations are absorbed. Nitrogen oxides are fashioned during high-temperature combustion.

Asbestos

Asbestos has no acute health effects. Long-term exposure to asbestos can cause breast, peritoneum and lung cancer, along with various lung infections. Asbestos is a very persistent contaminant, it is hardly biologically degradable and it can withstand heat, acids and basics. This makes asbestos suitable for many different applications. Due to the fact that asbestos is a carcinogen, it is now banned from all applications in many countries.

Lead (Pb)

Cars that use lead-containing gasoline, will emit lead. High lead concentrations in air can cause disturbances in physical and mental development of children. Lead is commonly known to cause a decrease in coordination and mental capacities, as well as kidney damage, damage to the nervous system and a lack in red blood cells.

Benzene (C₆H₆)

Benzene is a carcinogenic contaminant. It causes leukaemia.

PAH's (Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons)

PAH's are potentially carcinogenic contaminants. They are fashioned during several industrial processes and they are emitted by traffic.

Cigarette smoke

Cigarette smoke can cause mucous membrane irritation, eye, nose and respiratory infections, bronchitis and lung cancer.

Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons cause mucous membrane irritations, headaches, a loss of coordination, nausea and liver damage. Some hydrocarbons are potentially carcinogenic to humans, as well as animals.

There are many more air pollutants that can cause toxic effects. Examples are acronytrile, carbon sulphide, dichloromethane, styrene, toluene, poly vinyl chloride (PVC), hydrogen sulphide, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, manganese, mercury, nickel and vanadium.

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