Urban air pollution is the introduction of harmful chemical into the atmosphere.

Transcription

1 Abstract Urban air pollution is the introduction of harmful chemical into the atmosphere. Air pollution causes harm to humans, other living organisms and the environment. Air pollution has many effects, such as respiratory disease, and cardiovascular disease. It is evident that the most polluted place in Australia is the urban area. The cities tend to be more polluted because of emissions of carbon dioxide, through the use of automobiles. Australia, a well-known place for media and communications; finance, tourism, entertainment and the arts, provides a desirable environment for living, working, investment and tourism. All urban systems in Australia are dependent on the operation of fossil fuels. There have been policy recommendations to reduce the fossil fuel emissions.

2 Table of Contents Pollutants Health Effect o List of Heart and Lung Diseases Policy Recommendations

3 Pollutants Urban air pollution can be categories into two categories. Primary and Secondary. Primary pollutants are those emitted in the atmosphere by sources such as fossil fuel combustion from power plants, Vehicle engines and industrial production, by combustion of biomass for agricultural or land clearing purposes. The secondary pollutants are formed within the atmosphere when primary pollutants react with sunlight, oxygen, water and other chemicals present in the air. 1 Primary and secondary pollutants consist of chemical compounds in solid, liquid or vapor phases. Outdoor air pollution in the context of public health is characterized by several major airborne pollutants. Particulate Matter (PM), Tropospheric Ozone (O3), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) are some of the most commonly monitored pollutants. 2 Cities in Australia, solemnly depends on the operation of fossil fuels. Motor vehicle transportation is the main cause of air pollution in urban Australia. Traffic contributes majority of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, including the emissions of organic compounds. The particulate load from vehicles, especially diesels, includes a range of very fine particles that contribute to urban haze and are implicated in adverse health effects. 3 1 Worst Polluted 2 Health Canada 3 Urban Air Pollution in Australia, 25

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5 Health Effects: Pollutants brings damage to health, degradation of the built and natural environment and loss of amenity. 4 It affects the body s respiratory system and the cardiovascular system. The respiratory system is built in a way that we inhale oxygen (O2) into our bodies and exhale carbon dioxide (CO2). The human body is built in a way that it is easily injured by air pollutants such as ozone, metals and free radicals. Ozone damages the alveoli, the air sacs in the lung where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. 5 Urban air pollutants affect the cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular system has two components: the heart and a network of blood vessels. 6 Responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and cellular waste products throughout the body. The strongest hardest working organ is the heart. The inhalation of air pollutants leads to the absorption into the blood stream and to the heart. Some pollutants may alter the effect the rhythmicity and contractility of the heart 7. 4 Health Canada 5 Ibid 6 Ibid 7 Ibid

6 Heart and Lung Disease Although some of the heart and lung disease can be related to genetics, these are lists of heart and lung disease that are mainly caused by air pollution: Minor Lung Illnesses - the common cold is the most familiar of these, with symptoms including sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, coughing and sometimes irritation of the eyes. Lung Infections - croup, bronchitis, and pneumonia are caused by viruses or bacteria and are very common. Symptoms may include cough, fever, chills and shortness of breath. Asthma - is an increasingly common chronic disease among children and adults. It causes shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing or whistling in the chest. Asthma attacks can be triggered by a variety of factors including exercise, infection, pollen, allergies and stress. It can also be triggered by sensitivity to non-allergic types of pollutants present in the air such as smog.

7 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - is also known as chronic obstructive lung disease and encompasses two major disorders: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is a chronic disorder in which the walls and elasticity of the alveoli are damaged. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by inflammation of the cells lining the inside of bronchi, which increases the risk of infection and obstructs airflow in and out of the lung. Smoking is responsible for approximately 80% of COPD cases while other forms of air pollution may also influence the development of these diseases. Symptoms include cough, production of mucous and shortness of breath. It is important to note that no cure exists for people suffering from COPD although healthy lifestyle and appropriate medication can help. Lung Cancer - is the most common cause of death due to cancer in women and men. Cigarette smoke contains various carcinogens and is responsible for most cases of this often fatal disease. The symptoms of lung cancer begin silently and then progress to chronic cough, wheezing and chest pain. Air pollution has been linked somewhat weakly to lung cancer. Coronary Artery Disease - refers to the narrowing or blocking of the arteries or blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. This disease includes angina and heart attack which share similar symptoms of pain or pressure in the chest. Unlike angina, the symptoms caused by heart attack do not subside with rest and may cause permanent damage to the heart. Smoking, lack of exercise, excess weight, and high cholesterol levels in the blood, family history and high blood pressure are some of the factors that may contribute to this disease. Heart Failure - is a condition in which the heart is unable to cope with its work load of pumping blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. The most common cause is severe coronary artery disease. The main symptoms are shortness of breath and swelling of the ankles and feet. 8 Heart-Rhythm Problems - are irregular or abnormal rhythms of the heartbeat. In some cases 8 Ibid

8 heart-rhythm problems are caused by coronary artery disease. Symptoms of heart-rhythm problems influttering in the chest (palpitation) and feeling light-headed. Some heart-rhythm problems are life-threatening and need emergency treatment. 9 Policy Recommendations The government at Commonwealth, State and municipal level should promote air quality through educational and information programs. For transportation, the applications of new technology Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to the management and control of urban transport should be pursued as a major priority in Australia. 10 Furthermore, the government and agency should secure the environmental amenity management and outcomes. So far, there has been monitoring stations in each city to observe the air shed. However, this monitoring stations lack standardisation in measurement and monitoring, data management and reporting, across the States and Territories. 11 Monitoring station coverage of the major zones of the air shed need to be in place in order to properly analyse air shed behaviour. Location should be determined and verified by air shed modelling and data analysis. The result of information from the monitoring stations should be effective as possible on a national basis and efforts should not be needlessly duplicated Ibid 10 Urban Air Pollution in Australia, Urban Air Pollution in Australia, Ibid

9 Bibliography Green Vehicle Guide. (2010). Air Pollution Emission. Accessed January 29, 2013, from Health Canada. Health Effects of Air Pollution. Accessed January 22, 2013, from National Geographic. (n.d). Air Pollution. Accessed January 20, 2013, from Urban Air Pollution in Australia. (1997). Australia: Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. Accessed, January 27, 2013, from Worst Polluted. (2008).Urban Air Quality. Accessed January 21, 2013, from