INFLUENCES OF AIR POLLUTANTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

Awareness of the health effects caused by exposure to various pollutants is constantly increasing as a result of research studies and the growing interest and awareness of the health aspects of air pollutants.Even relatively low concentrations of pollutants can cause certain health effects in vulnerable categories of citizens. Therefore, improved air quality can reduce exposure to air pollutants and thus the negative health effects caused by pollutants. The table shows the main health effects of different pollutants.

Table. Main health effects of various air pollutants

Polluting substance	Health effects
Particulate Matter (PM)	It can cause worsening of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, heart attacks and arrhythmia. It can cause cancer. It can lead to arteriosclerosis, adverse outcomes in newborns and respiratory diseases in children. The outcome can be premature death.
Ozone (O₃)	May cause decreased lung function. May worsen asthma and lung disease. May lead to premature death.
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)	Increased mortality caused by cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and morbidity of respiratory diseases.
Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)	It worsens asthma and can reduce lung function and cause inflammation of the respiratory tract. It can cause headaches, general discomfort and anxiety.
PAHs, especially benzo(a)pyrene	Carcinogenic
Carbon Monoxide (CO)	It can cause heart disease and damage to the nervous system. It can cause headaches and fatigue.
Arsenic (As)	Carcinogenic. May cause lung cancer.
Cadmium (Cd)	Carcinogenic
Lead (Pb)	It can affect almost every organ and system, especially the nervous and cardiovascular systems. It can have negative cognitive effects in children and can lead to increased blood pressure in adults.
Mercury (Hg)	Nickel (Ni)
Nickel (Ni)	Carcinogenic
Benzene (C6H6)	Carcinogenic

Of the polluting substances in the air, suspended particles represent the greatest health risk. There is no identified threshold for the concentration of suspended particles below which no health hazard is noted.The effects of PM on health appear when exposed to the concentration to which the population is exposed in most urban and rural areas in developed countries and in developing countries.

Short-term and long-term exposure to suspended particles can affect health. The health effects of PM occur after inhalation of the particles.Depending on their size, suspended particles can penetrate into the white intestines and bloodstream and cause negative effects on the respiratory, cardiovascular, immune and nervous systems. The finer the particles, the deeper they soak into the white guts.

Mortality caused by the effect of suspended particles is clearly related to the fraction of PM2.5, which represents 40-80% of the concentration of PM10 in Europe. An increased mortality rate of 15 to 20% was recorded in cities with a high level of pollution compared to relatively clean cities. Even in the EU, the average life expectancy is 8.6 months lower as a result of exposure to PM2.5 particles caused by human activities.