The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) claims that 223,000 lung cancer worldwide is from air pollution. And there os also convincing evidence that air pollution increases the risk of bladder cancer. IARC reviewed thousands of studies on air pollution tracking populations over decades and classified air pollution and "particulate matter" as Group 1 human carcinogens. That ranks them alongside more than 100 other known cancer-causing substances in IARC’s Group 1, including asbestos, plutonium, silica dust, ultraviolet radiation and tobacco smoke.
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six common air pollutants. These commonly found air pollutants (also known as "criteria pollutants") are found all over the United States. They are particulate matter, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and lead. Of the six pollutants, particle pollution and ground-level ozone are the most widespread health threats.
LEARN ABOUT AQI
The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you about the unhealthiness of your air.
AQI of 100 or below is decent. Anything above is dangerous. AQI of 200+ is infrequent. It also changes per the seasons.
You can find about AQI value for your city at www.airnow.gov
WHO IS AFFECTED BY POOR AIR QUALITY
· People with lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema, can be particularly sensitive to ozone.
· Children are at higher risk from ozone exposure because they often play outdoors in warmer weather when ozone levels are higher, they are more likely to have asthma (which may be aggravated by ozone exposure), and their lungs are still developing.
· Pregnant women.
· And Elderly adults
WHAT DOES POOR AQI DO?
· Irritate the respiratory system
· Reduce lung function
· Cause lung tumors
· Aggravate Asthma
· Make lungs susceptible to lung infection
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT?
OTHER RESOURCES:
Source: EPA, Reuters and Others
