Health Matters (13); Air Pollution

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From both regions of urban and rural settings, I'll say that burning of fuels, refuse and smoke from the local kitchen can contribute to air pollution. But the urban area has diverse sources of air pollution. These sources ranged from car exhaust, factory smoke generation, and other sources can lead to air pollution.

Normally, the air we breathe in is a composition of different gases fused into a heterogenous mixture. But what differentiates it is that the oxygen concentration in this mixture is high making it safe for human beings. But in a situation where the air is polluted, the carbon dioxide concentration is increased thereby reducing oxygen concentration. With that, breathing won't be possible because the oxygen is nearly eliminated. In the case of the elderly, children and vulnerable groups, the breathing process will be much harder because their organelles are either weak or trying to develop.

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When one is exposed to polluted air, there are a lot of risks and symptoms that will be visibly noticed. Let's explore these risks and symptoms.

• Coughing: This is the most visible sign because the person involved will cough because of inadequate air. Since oxygen concentration is low in polluted air, the person will be scrambling for air.
• Chest pain: It's a symptom of a polluted air and it has to be taken care of
• Risk of Chronic lungs disease: Since the lungs is trying its best to keep the person active during the polluted air era, the person might contact a high risk lung disease. That can happen in the process of breathing that polluted air.

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Human beings can help reduce the chance of polluted air if they do the following

• Avoid open space burning
• Use of incinerator to burn waste products
• Employ the use of clean power generation like solar technology

As I mentioned earlier in the second subtopic, the air pollution in the urban is different from that of rural areas. The fact that most industries and industrial buildings are built in the urban area makes the rate of air pollution high. This is the opposite in the rural area as industries and motor vehicles are not readily seen.

I invite @bossj23, @nsijoro and @mile16 to this contest.