the environment and its effects on health: air quality Flashcards
What percentage of the population lives in areas of unsatisfactory air quality?
91%
What are the two main types of air pollution?
Ambient (outdoor) air pollution and household air pollution.
What are natural causes of ambient air pollution?
Forest fires and dust storms.
Name some anthropogenic sources of ambient air pollution.
Fossil fuel combustion from motor vehicles, heat, and power generation.
Industrial facilities like factories, mines, and oil refineries.
Waste sites or waste burning.
Use of polluting fuels in homes for cooking or heating.
Why is ambient air pollution especially dangerous in urban areas?
Urban areas concentrate pollutants, leading to higher illness and death rates.
What causes household air pollution?
Burning of polluting fuels inside households without proper ventilation.
Non-combustion-related pollutants like mould and building materials (e.g., asbestos).
Why is household air pollution more common in LICs (Low-Income Countries)?
Lower housing standards often lead to inadequate ventilation.
What pollutants are commonly emitted through burning fuels inside households?
Smoke, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and other harmful pollutants.
What are some health effects of air pollution?
Lung disease.
Strokes.
Heart attacks.
Cancer.
Respiratory problems such as bronchitis and asthma.
What proportion of deaths worldwide is caused by air pollution?
1 in 9 worldwide
