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What does air pollution do to your health?

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What is the Real Air Pollution Index?


Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health and is estimated to cause approximately two million premature deaths worldwide per year.
-- World Health Organization

Research shows that public health problems caused by air pollution are costing Hong Kong HK$11 billion annually. The government must stop hiding the truth about Hong Kong’s air pollution. It must upgrade the Air Quality Objective to meet World Health Organization standards and amend the Air Pollution Index accordingly so that everyone in Hong Kong can breathe clean air again.
-- Greenpeace



Know the health risks of breathing polluted air:
Major Air Pollutants in Hong Kong: Particulate matter | Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) | Ozone

Particulate matter

What is it?
    - Tiny particles suspended in the air
    - Particles with a diameter less than 10 micrometers are called respiratory suspended particulates (RSP) or PM10.
    - Those less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter are called PM2.5
What can it do to you?
    - This is the air pollutant that poses the biggest threat to human health
    - It can make it difficult to breathe
    - It can damage lung tissue
    - It can aggravate existing cardiovascular diseases and lung problems
    - Some particles may cause cancer
    - Particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers（PM2.5）are able to penetrate deep into the lungs
    - The elderly and children are especially vulnerable
Where does it come from?
    - Power plants
    - Car exhausts
    - All kinds of atmospheric chemical air pollutants and fine particles suspended in the air such as construction dust, soil, ash and soot.


Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

What is it?
    - A corrosive light brown gas
    - In sunlight, nitrogen dioxide can react with compounds in the air to make another hazardous pollutant, ozone (see below)
What can it do to you?
    - It can irritate the lungs
    - It can lower resistance to respiratory diseases such as influenza
    - People already suffering from respiratory problems, such as asthma, are especially vulnerable
    - It may impair child lung development
    - It can increase chances of children developing asthma
    - It may lead to structural changes in the lungs
Where does it come from?
    - Power plants
    - Car exhausts


Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)

What is it?
    - A colourless gas
    - It has a pungent smell at very high concentrations.

What can it do to you?

    - The latest research shows that even low concentrations of SO2 can be harmful to your health
    - It can make it difficult to breathe and affect lung functions
    - It can irritate the eyes
    - It can aggravate existing respiratory problems
    - People sensitive to SO2 may develop symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing
    - Asthmatics and individuals with cardiovascular disease or chronic lung disease (such as bronchitis or emphysema) as well as children and the elderly are especially vulnerable
Where does it come from?
    - Power plants that burn fossil fuels
    - Vehicles running on sulphur-containing fuels (eg diesel)


Ozone

What is it?
    - Called a secondary pollutant because it is not directly emitted, it is produced by reactions of other pollutants
    - People are often exposed to ozone pollution in everyday life
    - Ozone concentrations are especially strong in times of weak wind and bright sunlight.
What can it do to you?
    - It can cause breathing problems, trigger asthma
    - It can cause coughing and chest pains, and can irritate the throat and eyes
    - It can lower resistance to respiratory diseases
    - It can cause inflammation and malfunction of the lungs
    - People already suffering from respiratory problems, such as asthma, are especially vulnerable
Where does it come from?
    - From the reaction of other polluting gases (such as nitrogen oxides) with oxygen in sunlight