Air Pollution Air pollution cause serious health problems

Air Pollution • Air pollution cause serious health problems, especially: • Very young, • Very old, • People w/ heart or lung problems.

The American Lung Association • Americans pay tens of billions of dollars a year in health costs to treat respiratory diseases caused by air pollution.

Short-Term & Long-Term Effects of Air Pollution on Health • • Short-term headache nausea irritation to the eyes, nose and throat • coughing • bronchitis and pneumonia • • Long-Term Emphysema lung cancer heart disease

Sick-building syndrome- buildings that have very poor air quality • Common in hot places where buildings are tightly sealed to keep out the heat • Ventilation is key • Symptoms; – – Headache Fatigue Eye irritation Dizziness

Indoor Air-Pollution • The quality of air inside a home or building is sometimes worse than the quality of air outside. Formaldehyde can be found in your home: Plywood, Furniture, Carpets, Foam insulation, Gas stoves, Tobacco smoke, Dry Cleaned Clothes Other Indoor air pollution Chalk dust, cooking oils, paints, glues, copier machines, space heaters, gas appliances, fireplaces, & many other items

Radon Gas • Radon gas is colorless, tasteless, odorless, and radioactive • It seeps through cracks and holes in foundations into homes, offices, and schools, where it adheres to dust particles.

Radon Gas • Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. • Smoker are more susceptible

Asbestos • Asbestos is a fire resistant fiber that is used for insulation • It was banned in the 1970’s • Cuts & Scars lungs

Noise Pollution • Decibels • The quietest sound that a human ear can hear is represented by 0 d. B. For each increase in decibel intensity, the decibel level is 10 times higher than the previous level. • Can effect marine ecosystems ABC news

Noise Pollution Facts: • One study found that people living in a quiet environment in Africa had better hearing at the age of 80 than most Americans do at 30. • In Europe MP 3 players must produce no more than 100 d. B of noise • According to the National Institutes of Health, the safe threshold for personal listening devices is 85 d. B for 8 hours. • A sound of 120 d. B is at the threshold of pain

The basic problem: Sky Glow • Light from fixtures reflects off particles in the sky— ”Sky Glow. ” • Large cities visible from tens of miles. • The stars are not brighter in the country—the sky is darker!

The Earth from Space at Night

Light Pollution is Uplight