| credits: adelaidenow.com.au
Many
of us are so conscious of our heart health that we are ready to go the
extra mile to protect it. From eating wisely to engaging in regular
cardio exercises, there seems to be no end to what we do to maintain our
heart’s wellbeing.
Those are wise moves. But beyond this,
experts are saying that what we expose our heart to by way of
environmental pollution matters as much as the diet we feast on.
Since the Power Holding Company of
Nigeria has failed irretrievably to provide electricity for domestic and
industrial use, everybody has taken to alternative sources of power
supply — such as generator use — that have done more damage to the
environment than we can ever suspect.
What about dangerous fumes (especially
nitrogen dioxide) from old vehicles that ply our roads? Except for those
who have air conditioners in their vehicles, the majority of the people
are exposed to these fumes, and their nostrils, lungs and throats take
the bashing. All these may lead to simple health issues such as
coughing, temporary watery eyes, and catarrh.
But beyond these simple ailments, experts
are now warning that exposure to nitrogen dioxide poses myriads of
health risks, not only to the living but also to children yet unborn!
Heart injury
A new scientific research has revealed
that long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide — a family of highly
reactive gases that can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and cause
shortness of breath — is associated with a 13 per cent increase in the
risk of heart attacks and angina (chest pain due to restricted blood
flow to the heart).
In this new study, researchers from the
University of Washington Medical Centre note that traffic pollution
seems to affect the structure and functioning of the heart. Led by Dr.
Peter Leary of the University of Washington Medical Centre in Seattle,
the researchers express concern that regular exposure to traffic air
pollution can lead to increased risk for heart failure and
cardiovascular death (a sudden, unexpected death caused by loss of heart
function).
Brain damage in kids
A study published in the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders warns that there is increasing
concern about the potential effects of traffic-related air pollution on
the developing brain. The scientists say research in animals and humans
demonstrates that the brain may be affected by traffic-related air
pollution, particularly ultra-fine particles.
Lead researcher, Nicholas C. Newman,
warns that exposure to black carbon and diesel exhaust may lead to
hyperactivity (a common psychiatric diagnosis) and neuro-cognitive
outcome among school children.
Asthma in children
Epidemiologists at the School of
Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver,
also say mounting evidence indicates a causal effect between exposure
to air pollution from traffic and the development of asthma in children
and adults. Again, diesel exhaust is a causative factor here.
The scientists, led by Michael Brauer,
note that traffic-related air pollution has increased in recent times,
not just in big or industrial cities but even at the grass roots, with
its attendant negative health effects, especially among growing
children.
Premature death
A research led by Murray M. Finkelstein
and published in Oxford Journals states: “Chronic exposure to air
pollution is associated with increased mortality rates. The impact of
air pollution relative to other causes of death in a population is of
public health importance.”
These scientists express concern that
“long-term exposure to the particulate and gaseous air pollution common
to many metropolitan areas is an important risk factor for mortality.”
They warn that in order to guard against premature death from air
pollution, we must try as much as possible to reduce our exposure to
gaseous fumes.
Infertility
Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology,
Oladapo Ashiru, warns that exposure to air pollution can wreak havoc in
both male and female, contributing to cases of infertility.
He advises that men exposed to air
pollution have been known to have poor semen quality. The problem can
lead to low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and a host of other
problems that can affect a man’s ability to impregnate his partner, the
scientist states.
Ashiru, who also doubles as the Medical
Director of MART Life Detox Centre, expresses fear that women who
regularly breathe polluted air may be at a disadvantage when it comes to
becoming pregnant through in vitro fertilisation. He says women who
regularly breathe in traffic fumes are 25 per cent less likely to have a
baby than those who live in less polluted areas.
Indeed, researchers from Penn State
College of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania hypothesise that
traffic fumes may either damage a woman’s reproductive cells or obstruct
the blood flow to the uterus or a developing placenta, resulting in IVF
failure.
Detoxify, stay clean
Ashiru says those who may have been
exposed to traffic air pollution have the opportunity to clean their
system by submitting to detoxification programmes that are capable of
restoring them to excellent state of health.
Air pollution facts
•Inhaling air pollution takes away at least one or years of a typical human life.
•It has effects as small as burning eyes and itchy throat to as large as breathing problems and death.
•Pollutants that are more dangerous are released in the air, than in water or land.
•Electric vehicles produce less air pollutants. They stir up dirt but without producing gases.
•Producing heavy crude oil increases chances of air pollution by 40 per cent than producing light crude oil.
•According to the Lancet journal, air
pollution caused by waiting in traffic increases the chances of death
caused due to heart attack.
•Toxic air pollution is more likely to affect kids, as they breathe more quickly than adults as compared to their size.
•Travels at Grand Canyon are unable to see the other side due to air pollution, is 1000 miles away.
•The most hazardous pollutants are released from the air and less from the water and land together.
•Outdoor air pollution ranks in the top 10 killers on earth.
•80 per cent of lung diseases are caused due to pollution from other cars, buses, trucks and other vehicles.
•Heavy crude oil increases air pollution by 40 per cent more than light crude oil.
•Air pollution caused in traffic increase the chances of heart attack.
Source: eschooltoday.com
No comments:
Post a Comment