how air pollution affects your health quality/airaware... · • shortness of breath • aggravate...

How Air Pollution Affects Your Health

Air Pollution Affects Your Lungs Air Pollution Affects

Your HeartSymptoms•Cough•Shortnessofbreath•Aggravateasthma•Mucus•Chesttightness•Wheezing

Symptoms•Chesttightness•Chestpain(angina)• Irregularheartbeats(palpitations)

•Shortnessofbreath

Normal Rupture-prone plaque

Blood Vessel

KNOW THE CODE! Air Quality Forecast System - 1-888-RU4NCAIR (784-6224)www.ncair.org/airaware/knowthecode

Effects•Unusualfatigue•Lowoxygeninredbloodcells•Vascularinflammation• Increasedriskofbloodclot•Narrowingofvessels(vasoconstriction)• Increasedriskofplaqueruptureinarteries

Meaning

Everyone is likely to be affected. Avoid all outdoor exertion.

Older adults, children, active people and those with heart or lung disease may experience more serious health effects. Everyone may experience health effects. Limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

Older adults, children, active people and those with heart or lung disease may experience health effects. Limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

There may be a moderate health concern for people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no concern. Go outside and enjoy the day!

Air Quality Code

Very Unhealthy

Unhealthy

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Moderate

Good

Effects•Chronicbronchitis&otherlungdiseases

•Prematureagingofthelungs

•Narrowingofairways(bronchoconstriction)

•Decreasedairflow• Increaseinwhitebloodcells•Abnormalmucusproduction•Fluidaccumulationandswelling(edema)

•Deathandsheddingofcellsthatlinetheairways

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