Air Pollution

Effects of Air PollutionChapter 19 Section 2Health Effects from Air PollutionAir pollution can have health effects depending on the age of a person, the concentration of the pollutants, and the exposure timeEffects of PollutantsShort term stinging, watery eyes, scratchy sore throat, cough, pneumonia, & headache Long term - brain damage, liver disease, kidney disease, lung cancer, & heart diseaseCarbon dioxide affects the bloods ability to carry oxygen; very high levels can be fatal

Effects of PollutantscontinuedSmall particulate pollutants can damage lungs, and toxic substances can harm many body systemsHumid acid rain can be inhaled & irritate sensitive lung tissue; over time the heart can be stressed & weakUV radiation can cause skin cancer & cataracts, a form of eye damage that makes the lens of the eye cloudyAir pollution harms plants & animalsBiomagnification process in which pollutant levels increase through the food chainAcid rain in lakes and streams can kill fish and damage plantsAcid rain moving through soils can strip away nutrients needed by vegetation

Air pollution harms plants & animalscontinuedSmog irritates animal respiratory systems and weakens plantsAs the ozone layer thins, increased UV radiation harms organisms such as phytoplankton & affects agricultural crops such as rice, the main food source for more than half the worlds populationDamage to buildings and structures

Damage to buildings and structures