effects of common air pollutants - azdeq.gov · how pollutants cause symptoms reduce your risk by...

Normal Lung with respiratory infection How Pollutants May Cause Symptoms Symptoms: • Chest tightness • Chest pain (angina) • Palpitations • Shortness of breath • Unusual fatigue Increased sickness and premature death from: • Coronary artery disease • Abnormal heart rhythms • Congestive heart failure How Pollutants Cause Symptoms Reduce your risk by using the Air Quality Index (AQI) to plan outdoor activities – www.airnow.gov CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS RESPIRATORY EFFECTS 0-50 51-100 101-150 151-200 201-300 Enjoy Activities People unusually sensitive to air pollution: Plan strenuous outside activities when air quality is better Sensitive Groups: Cut back or reschedule strenuous outside activities Particle Pollution: People with heart or lung disease (including diabetics), older adults, and children Ozone: Active children and adults and people with lung disease Sulfur Dioxide: Active children and adults with asthma Carbon Monoxide: People with heart disease and possibly fetuses and infants Everyone: Cut back or reschedule strenuous outside activities Sensitive groups: Avoid strenuous outside activities Everyone: Significantly cut back on outside physical activities Sensitive groups: Avoid all outside physical activities Symptoms: • Cough • Wheezing • Phlegm • Shortness of breath • Chest tightness Increased sickness and premature death from: • Asthma • Bronchitis (acute or chronic) • Emphysema • Pneumonia Development of new disease • Chronic bronchitis • Premature aging of the lungs Normal Heart Rhythms Abnormal Heart Rhythms AQI Levels of Health Concern AQI Values What Action Should People Take? Effects on Cardiovascular Function • Low oxygenation of red blood cells • Abnormal heart rhythms • Altered autonomic nervous system control of the heart Vascular Inflammation • Increased risk of blood clot formation • Narrowing of vessels (vasoconstriction) • Increased risk of atherosclerotic plaque rupture Effects on Lung Function • Narrowing of airways (bronchoconstriction) • Decreased air flow Airway Inflammation • Influx of white blood cells • Abnormal mucus production • Fluid accumulation and swelling (edema) • Death and shedding of cells that line airways Increased Susceptibility to Respiratory Infection Effects of Common Air Pollutants Normal heart rhythm Abnormal heart rhythm Alveoli filled with trapped air Normal Rupture-prone vulnerable plaque Good Moderate Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Mucus White blood cell Airway lining Netter illustrations used with permission from Icon Learning Systems, a division of MediMedia USA, Inc. All rights reserved. EPA-452/F-04-001

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Page 1: Effects of Common Air Pollutants - azdeq.gov · How Pollutants Cause Symptoms Reduce your risk by using the Air Quality Index (AQI) to plan outdoor activities – RESPIRATORY EFFECTS

Normal Lung with respiratory infection

How Pollutants MayCause Symptoms

Symptoms:• Chest tightness • Chest pain (angina) • Palpitations• Shortness of breath• Unusual fatigue

Increased sickness and premature death from:• Coronary artery disease• Abnormal heart rhythms• Congestive heart failure

How Pollutants Cause Symptoms

Reduce your risk by using the Air Quality Index (AQI) to plan outdoor activities – www.airnow.gov

C A R D I O V A S C U L A R E F F E C T SR E S P I R A T O R Y E F F E C T S

0-50

51-100

101-150

151-200

201-300

Enjoy Activities

People unusually sensitive to air pollution:Plan strenuous outside activities when air quality is better

Sensitive Groups: Cut back or reschedule strenuous outside activitiesParticle Pollution: People with heart or lung disease (including diabetics), older adults, and children Ozone: Active children and adults and people with lung disease Sulfur Dioxide: Active children and adults with asthma Carbon Monoxide: People with heart disease and possibly fetuses and infants

Everyone: Cut back or reschedule strenuous outside activitiesSensitive groups: Avoid strenuous outside activities

Everyone: Significantly cut back on outside physical activitiesSensitive groups: Avoid all outside physical activities

Symptoms:• Cough • Wheezing• Phlegm • Shortness of breath• Chest tightness

Increased sickness and premature death from:• Asthma• Bronchitis (acute or chronic)• Emphysema• Pneumonia

Development of new disease• Chronic bronchitis• Premature aging of the lungs

Normal Heart Rhythms

Abnormal Heart Rhythms

AQI Levels of Health Concern AQI Values What Action Should People Take?

Effects on Cardiovascular Function

• Low oxygenation of red blood cells• Abnormal heart rhythms• Altered autonomic nervous system control of the heart

Vascular Inflammation

• Increased risk of blood clot formation• Narrowing of vessels (vasoconstriction)• Increased risk of atherosclerotic plaque rupture