Diseases

Associated with Air Pollution

Chronic Bronchitis•Occurs when cilia that lines the bronchial tubes are damaged

•Normally sweep mucus with trapped particles and germs out of the bronchial tubes

•Cells produce more and sometimes thicker mucus than normal

•Mucus interferes with the exchange of air

Bronchial Asthma•Allergic reaction of the membranes lining the bronchial tubes

•Membrane wells causing passage to narrow

•Smooth muscles in the walls of the bronchial tubes sometimes spasm

•The spasms close the tube, causing an asthma attack

Emphysema•Results after years of irritation•Air sacs of the lungs lose their elasticity•No longer have the ability to push air out of the lungs•Oxygen and carbon dioxide cannot diffuse across the damaged membranes as easily

Pneumonia•Infections occur more often when pollutants kill the bacteria-destroying cells, which normally line the respiratory tract

•More mucus is produced in response to the pollutant

•Excess mucus limits the exchange of air and prevents the cilia from sweeping bacteria and other particles out of the lungs

Lung Cancer•Cell division goes haywire

•Inhaled smoke and other pollutants cause normal cells to develop into cancerous cells

•Cells grow and divide in an unusually fast rate

•Air cannot easily diffuse across the cancer cells

Healthy Lung Vs Smokers Lung