Air quality and health
How does the quality of the air affect our health?
A variety of air pollutants have known or suspected harmful effects on human health and the environment.
Public health as well as all living beings can be threatened by often visible but harmful air pollution. Air pollution in general can result into one or a combination of effects on human health:
- Chest pain and tightness
- Coughing and wheezing
- Dry throat
- Fatigue
- Headache Impairment of lung function
- Irritation of mucous membranes
- Nausea
- Pain during deep breaths
- Shortness of breath
For example, excessive ground level ozone and particulate matter do not cause, but can aggravate chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis.
In Portsmouth the pollutants which may have an impact on human health are principally the products of combustion from traffic. This is mainly nitrogen dioxide and also very fine particles with a diameter of less than 10 microns (known as PM10).
External health links
Air quality in Porsmouth - current background levelsBBC news story on air pollution
Clean air for kids
Government information on air quality and health
Government leaflet on air quality and health
Portsmouth Primary Care Trust
Portsmouth health atlas