Week 1: environmental and Iatrogenic disease Flashcards
What is air pollution?
A dynamic and complex chemical mixture of gases and small particulate matter.
What is meant by particulate matter?
Particulate matter is made from many different compounds, normally a central carbon core with adsorbed organic chemicals, ions and metals around the outside
What are the different classifications of particulate matter?
PM10 diameter less than 10 micrometers
PM2.5 or fine diamter less than 2.5micrometers
PM0.1 or ultrafine - diameter less than 0.1 micrometers
What types of gases are included as air pollution?
Carbon monoxide
Sulphur dioxide
Nitrogen oxides
Ammonia
Volatile organic compounds
Ground level ozone
How does areodynamic diameter affect particulate toxicity?
Fine and ultrafine PM are considered a greater health hazard
1.Greater number of smaller PM in a given weight of material
2.Their larger SA:V ratio means there is more room to adsorb potentially harmful substances
3.Also small enough to reach the thin respiratory membrane
Why do larger PM not affect the respiratory membrane?
Larger than PM2.5 do not reach the alveoli
Are trapped in bronchial mucus and cleared via the mucociliary escalator.
What are the main sources of air pollution emission?
Classified as natural e.g wildfires or anthropogenic
PM2.5 - mainly from small combustion such as log burners
NOx - from road transport and power stations
SO2 - power station, small combustion and manufacturing
VOCs - industrial
Ammonia - from agriculture
What are the health effects of SO2?
Headache and anxiety
Cardiovascular disease
What health effects can potentially all air pollutions cause?
Irritation and inflammation and infection of the lungs
Irritation of eyes, nose and throat
What are the health effects of nitrous oxide gases?
Asthma and reduced lung function
Breathing problems
Impacts on the liver, spleen and blood
What are the health effects of particulate matter?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Lung cancer
Impacts of reproductive system
Breathing problems
What are the health effects of ozone?
Breathing problems
Cardiovascular diseases
Give a summary of the effects of air pollution on health
Indoor and outdoor air pollution is responsible for many premature deaths
Causes problems in the respiratory and cardiovascular system, can also affect unborn foetus and early development.
Is a risk for cancers, endocrine disorders and neurological problems
Is the 2nd leading risk factor for global burden of disease
What was air pollution link during 1952 The Great London SMog?
Very cold winter increased brungin of cheap low quality sulphurous coal
Temperature inversion led to pollutions being trapped in the colder air closer to the ground
Pollutants included more sulphurous gas
Results in 3,000 extra deaths in three weeks, alongside increase in hospital (especially respiratory) emission.
Inspiration for the clean air act
What are the trends in air pollution levels since 1970 in the UK?
Since 1970 most air pollutatns have decreased - thought to be due to changing technologies and regulations
Recently levels have remained constant or showed small increase
Levels plummeted during COVID-19
Ammonia has only decreased slightly and remains significantly higher than other pollutants.
What causes air pollution levels to fluctuate on a regular basis?
Level of emission - demand, rush hour traffic, heating bills in winter
Proximity to source of emission
Ambient conditions - direction of wind, temperature
What people are most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution?
Older people (65 plus)
Pregnant women
Children
Cardiovascular disease or respiratory disease sufferers
Communities with poorer air quality such as near roads.
What are the effects of air pollution on pregnancy?
Low birth weight