Did you know that just breathing Baie-Comeau air can be harmful to your health? You need to become informed about the pollutants that exist in your Baie-Comeau air. You should also learn how to make your indoor air as clean as possible.
Outdoor air pollution is the presence of any chemical, physical, or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. For instance, the air over many large cities is a mixture of natural air plus smoke from automobiles, factories, and hundreds of other sources. The impact of this pollution is most severe on children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems.
The following are some of the primary outdoor air pollutants of concern:
- Ozone (O3) - O3 is a highly reactive and corrosive gas. Burning eyes, sinus headaches and irregular heartbeats have been associated with elevated levels of ozone outdoors. Ozone can also cause considerable damage to crops.
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) - CO is a combustion gas that is colorless and has no smell. Exposure to CO prevents hemoglobin in the blood from carrying oxygen to the tissues of the body. People with cardiovascular or respiratory disease are particularly susceptible.
- Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) - NOx contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone and acid rain. Exposure to NOx has been linked to acute respiratory illness in children, lung irritation, lowered resistance to respiratory infections, asthma, and cardiac arrhythmia.
- Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) - SO2 can change forms in the atmosphere, contributing to acid rain and other pollutant levels. Exposure has been linked to difficulty breathing, lowered resistance to infection, and increased cardiovascular incidents, including heart attacks.
- Lead - Lead is a metal found naturally in the environment, as well as in manufactured products. Lead can affect the nervous system, kidney function, immune system, reproductive and developmental systems, and the cardiovascular system. Exposure can also affect the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
- Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) - HAPs can increase the risk of developing cancer, immune, and neurological damage, reproductive and endocrine disorders, and birth defects in children. For a complete list of the HAPs, along with information about the known health effects associated with each, please view the Health Effects Notebook for HAPs.
For more information on outdoor air pollution, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Six Common Air Pollutants website. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set national air quality standards for these six air pollutants. This webpage provides information on sources of the pollutant, why the pollutant is of concern, health, and environmental effects, efforts underway to help reduce the pollutant, and other helpful resources.
Additional information on air pollution can be found at the following links:
Finally, you may also wish to view the following sites: