Long-Term Health Effects of Air Pollution

People rely on clean air for their health, so it is important to consider the long-term health effects of air pollution. Exposure to pollutants can cause respiratory ailments and affect the heart and kidneys. Pollution not only causes new ailments, it can make preexisting conditions worse. Seniors, youth and those who are already in a weakened physical condition are most susceptible to the long-term health effects of air pollution.

Respiratory System

• Because the job of the respiratory system is to take in air, it is especially prone to the long-term effects of air pollution. Sensitive membranes located in the lungs take in air and prevent unwanted particles from moving throughout the body. When the lungs become overwhelmed by these particles, or when the particles become blended too closely with the needed oxygen, negative health consequences occur. Serious and sometimes fatal long-term consequences include chronic respiratory disease and lung cancer.

Organ Damage

• While the lungs and respiratory system are the first to come into contact with air pollution, other organs can suffer damage, too. The heart, which is closely tied to the respiratory system, can be damaged by contaminated oxygen. Kidneys, which cleanse the body, are also particularly vulnerable to air pollution. Damage to these organs can be directly tied to long-term effects such as poor blood circulation and oxygen flow.

Exacerbation of Current Conditions

• For many people with chronic conditions, the long-term health effects of air pollution often include the exacerbation of the preexisting conditions. People suffering from asthma or heart ailments have seen their conditions worsen with continuous exposure to air pollution because their vulnerable systems are forced to work harder. According to the Berkeley National Laboratory, which studies the long-term effects of air pollution, young children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to increased risk related to preexisting conditions.