Why should I care about the quality of the air?

Published on November 14, 2024

Each day, you breathe in more than 3,000 gallons of air as an adult. That’s a lot. And children breathe more than adults. If the air has unhealthy amounts or types of pollutants, then those air pollutants enter our body when we breathe and our body can have negative reactions to these unwanted visitors.

How does air pollution impact health?

Health effects from breathing air pollution can develop immediately or years later. Health impacts from air pollution depend on many factors, including what you’re exposed to, how you’re exposed and how much, how long, and how often you are exposed.

Short-term exposures (minutes to hours) can lead to eye irritation, wheezing and coughing, difficulty breathing, and nausea. Long-term exposures (70 years or more) can be associated with lung disease, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Maternal exposure to air pollution is related to adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight and preterm birth. Repeated childhood exposure to air pollution can impact lung function and cause the development of asthma.

Who is most at risk of health impacts from air pollution?

It is unpredictable how air pollution will impact an individual. Not all people have the same risk. Age, lifestyle, genetics, and health status can make certain individuals more at risk for health impacts. These sensitive groups include:

• People with health conditions, such as asthma, lung disease, or heart disease.
• Children and older adults.
• People who exercise or work outdoors.
• Pregnant people.

Find out more on this and other frequently asked questions at https://air.weld.gov/FAQ.