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Keywords

Air pollutant, Human health, Environment

Abstract

Hazardous chemicals escape to the environment by a number of natural and/or anthropogenic activities and may cause adverse effects onhuman health and the environment. Increased combustion of fossil fuels in the last century is responsible for the progressive change in the atmosphericcomposition. Air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds(VOCs), ozone (O3), heavy metals, and respirable particulate matter, differ in their chemical composition, reaction properties,emission, time of disintegration and ability to diffuse in long or short distances. Air pollution has both acute and chronic effects on humanhealth, affecting a number of differentsystemsandorgans.Itranges from minor upper respiratory irritation to chronic respiratory and heartdisease, lungcancer,acuterespiratoryinfections in children and chronic bronchitis in adults, aggravating pre-existing heart and lung disease,or asthmatic attacks. In addition, short- and long- term exposures have also been linked with premature mortality and reduced life expectancy. This paper discussed about effects of air pollutants on human health.



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