Air pollution is defined as air containing large amounts of pollutants that affect humans, animals, plants, or structures. This is a significant risk factor for the well-being of people around the world. Air pollution caused an estimated 3.7 premature deaths worldwide in 2012.

Pollutants in the air:

Lung damage caused by air pollution varies depending on the type and amount of pollutant. The most common types of air pollutants are:

Particulate matter (PM) is a term used to describe microparticles that irritate and damage the airways.

Nitrogen dioxide is a gas that irritates the airways, triggering asthma or COPD fires.

Ozone is an irritant to the airways and reduces the capacity of the lungs.

Sulfur dioxide is a gas that irritates the airway epithelium, especially in patients with asthma.

When it comes to particles, the smaller the particles, the more likely they are to enter the airways and the higher the risk of lung injury. PM2.5 refers to cells with a diameter of 2.5 m or less.

Air pollution can vary greatly depending on the amount, as well as their concentration, location, season, and season.

Acute Consequences:

When people are exposed to high levels of air pollution, they may experience severe symptoms that appear immediately after exposure. Among the signs and symptoms:

• Irritating airways
• Snoring
• In addition, air pollution can contribute to asthma attacks in people at risk.

How do cells accumulate in the respiratory system?

The particle diameter is determined by water solubility and chemical reaction when specific air pollutants touch the respiratory system.

14 Sulfur dioxide and aldehydes, which are highly water-soluble and cause mild irritation, dissolve rapidly in the water around the nasal mucosa and induce an inflammatory response with great effect on the upper respiratory tract. 14 Low-solubility gases such as nitrogen dioxide can bypass the protective properties of the respiratory mucosa and reach the bronchioles and alveoli, but ozone, which is capable of dissolving in moderate water, reaches the trachea and windpipe.

Particulate matter accumulates in one of the three areas of the lung:

• Extrathoracic region (nose, pharynx, and larynx)
• Tracheobronchial
• Alveolar esophagus (pulmonary)
• Respiratory type (mouth, nasal or oronasal), respiration (tidal volume, respiration frequency) and cell characteristics are important determinants in deposition (size, shape, mass, hygroscopicity, and solubility).

Who is in danger?

Some are more sensitive to the effects of air pollution than others. People who already have respiratory disease (such as asthma symptoms) are more likely to get problems and serious side effects from pollution. Inhalation of air pollutants has also been shown to have detrimental effects on children and the elderly.

How can the damage be minimized?

Some things can be done daily to help people living in areas with high levels of air pollution reduce the effects of day-to-day activities. Here are some of them:

• Limit strenuous exercise in polluted public spaces (use a gym or well-ventilated room instead)
• Avoid polluted areas such as major roads.
• During peak hours, when pollution levels peak, spend less time outside.
• If an inhaler is indicated, make sure it is easily accessible.
• Use suppressive inhaler regularly (for asthma patients)
• While driving, keep windows closed and set the air conditioner to recycle air.
• These strategies may be beneficial to those who are concerned about air pollution and its health effects. In addition, government agencies are now working to address the issue of air pollution, which is critical to ensuring maximum possible outcomes for the health of current and future generations.