Air Pollutants and their Effects

POLLUTANT

SOURCE

EFFECT

Benzene

Motor vehicle exhausts and petrol evaporation

Human carcinogen

1-3 Butadiene

Motor vehicle exhausts and chemical industrial processes.

Human carcinogen

Carbon Monoxide

Incomplete combustion of organic materials (Carbon containing). Wood, coal, oil, gas. Outdoors: vehicle exhausts, heating appliances. Indoors: smoking, heaters (unvented).

Reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood leading to headache, nausea, vomiting, eventually collapse and death.

Lead

Outdoors: motor vehicle exhausts. Indoors: may be present in water pipes and/or old paint.

Cumulative effects on the nervous system that may impair children's intelligence and concentration.

Nitrogen Dioxide

Combustion of fossil fuels, road vehicles' power generation, industrial processes. Indoors: unvented gas cookers and other appliances.

Throat and eye irritation (also involved in photochemical smog formation).

Ozone

Product of chemical reaction between other pollutants (Nitrogen Oxide and hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight).

Running eyes, throat irritation, breathing difficulties.

PM10 (particles less than 10 micrometres in diameter)

Combustion processes and natural sources such as dust, diesel and smoke.

Small particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and cannot be expelled. They may cause irritation and/or carry with them toxic or carcinogenic substances.

Sulphur Dioxide

Domestic and industrial burning of coal.

Irritation of the nerves in the nose, throat and airways. May also lead to constriction of the airways.

Asbestos

Building material, wall cladding, insulation, brake linings. Exposure usually indoors during building work and car maintenance.

Scarring of the lungs and increased risk of lung, chest and abdominal cancer.

Volatile Organic Compounds, e.g. Formaldehyde

Paints, varnishes, glues and preservatives used in wood products. Foam insulation. Exposure indoors during decoration or construction.

Breathing difficulties, eye and skin irritation, nausea and dizziness.

Radon

Rocks which contain naturally occurring radioactive material emit Radon gas.

Increased risk of lung cancer.

Cigarette smoke, Nicotine, tar, formaldehyde, oxides of nitrogen and Carbon Monoxide

Smoking

Eye, throat and lung irritation. Increased liability to respiratory illness. Increased risk of lung cancer. Non-smokers breathing in others' smoke are also at risk.

Micro-organisms and allergens

Biological contaminants, moulds, spores, viruses and bacteria

Pneumonia-like respiratory illnesses, allergic reactions.