Air Quality: What are the impacts of air pollution?

What are the impacts of air pollution?

Ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) have been linked to the following impacts:

Human health impacts

• Difficulty breathing, wheezing and coughing, aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiac conditions, and even premature death.
• Inflammation of the lungs causing respiratory effects such as changes in lung function and impairment of defense mechanisms against infection and other exposures.
• In the case of particulate matter, increased blood clotting, abnormal heart rate and rhythm, and increased tendency for rupture of plaques (a combination of fatty materials, calcium deposits and scar tissue sometimes called hardening of the arteries) that can cause heart attacks.

Environmental impacts

• Ground-level ozone can damage vegetation, crop productivity, flowers, shrubs and forests by interfering with the plants’ ability to produce and store food. This can make them more susceptible to disease, pests and environmental stresses. Ozone can also adversely affect ecological functions such as water movement, mineral nutrient cycling and habitats for various animal and plant species.
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), which are precursors of PM2.5, are the major contributors to acid deposition. Acid rain alters the nutrient and chemical cycles in soils and surface water, and erodes infrastructure (e.g., electrical transmission towers) and buildings, especially those built out of limestone and marble.
• PM2.5 is one of the major contributors to reduced visibility, creating the kind of haze that is often noticeable in parks and wilderness areas, with periods of poor visibility resulting in lost tourist revenues.

Economic impacts

• The health effects of ground-level ozone and PM2.5 can lead to reduced work attendance and overall participation in the labour force and increased health care costs. Increased ozone levels also reduce the growth of trees, plants and crops, leading to economic losses in the forestry and agriculture industries.

Courtesy Environment Canada