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Pollution impact on human health
February 2005
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Car exhausts are the major culprit for damages to health. They contain a significant number of toxic substances which are released in the air. |
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Air pollution is thought to be the cause for 1 in 10 deaths due to lung cancer. Additionally it is responsible for 24.000 premature deaths in the UK every year. |
Environmental pollution threatens human health. Air pollution in cities causes a shorter lifespan for city dwellers.
The major factor contributing to air pollution is vehicle emissions.
Air pollution is thought to be the cause for 1 in 10 deaths due to lung cancer. Additionally it is responsible for 24.000 premature deaths in the UK every year.
Additionally, pollution is a significant cause of environmental destruction and loss of wildlife.
Recent ecological disasters, caused by oil tankers which sank recently and spilled heavy viscous oil, contaminated pristine sites and beaches inducing enormous damage to marine wildlife and to some endangered species.
Pollution caused by humans is a constantly increasing danger for people and the environment alike.
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Traffic pollution has been found to be a
major killer across Europe. According to a research published in
2000, 6% of deaths per year in France, Austria and Switzerland are due
to air pollution. Traffic fumes were responsible for at least 500.000 asthma attacks and more than 25.000 new cases of chronic bronchitis each year. |
Additionally other studies demonstrated that
death rates increased almost in direct proportion to the level of pollution.
There is concern that the threat to public health posed by cities' air
pollution is more important than smoking.
There is an emerging criticism that governments are giving more
importance to antismoking campaigns than facing the real political
challenges set by a comprehensive strategy for combating pollution.
Car exhausts are the major culprit for damages to health. They
contain a significant number of toxic substances which are released in the
air. These toxic agents, once breathed, cross the lung exchange surfaces and
arrive in the bloodstream. They then reach all body systems and organs and
cause damage.
Amongst the most common dangerous substances emitted by the cars is
carbon monoxide. It enters easily into the bloodstream from the air
breathed in the lungs. As a result it reduces the ability of the red blood
cells to transport and deliver oxygen to the organs and tissues of the body.
Other pollutants such as lead, can interfere with the normal
production of red cells and can induce anemia. Lead may damage the nervous
system, impair mental function, impair memory, affect learning and cause
behavioral changes.
Benzene, nitrogen dioxide and small particulate matter
can cause damage to the bone marrow and the immune system. Benzene was found
to be linked to leukemia especially after long term exposure. Polycyclic
hydrocarbons emitted from the cars have as well a carcinogenic potential.
| According to recent estimates the cost of treating illness associated with traffic pollution amounts to up to 1,7% of the gross domestic product of certain European countries. This amount exceeds the costs generated by the car accidents. |
Pollution of the environment, in the cities,
in the seas and in the atmosphere is increasing world wide. Traffic
pollution kills every year many thousands of people. Additionally
environmental pollution is a cause of cancer.
There is a lot to be done by politicians and governments for controlling
this increasingly threatening situation.
Public health actions should be undertaken based on pollution control
measures with the primary target being the diminution of
the death toll that we
witness today.
Bibliography:
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