Medical consultation: 9 health risks due to environmental pollution

Environmental pollution can cause many serious health problems. The younger the age, the greater the danger level.

Environmental pollution is always a problem causing worldwide pain, scarcity of resources, disease spread, ecological imbalance ... This situation also costs waste treatment as well as impact. to the future of future generations.

Not only affecting the quality of the living environment, environmental pollution also causes serious harm to human health. By understanding the harmful effects of environmental pollution on health, you will raise awareness in protecting health and the environment.

The following are some scary health risks that may be the result of environmental pollution that you should be aware of early to prevent.

1. Cancer
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) says particulate matter (PM) is one of the major air pollutants classified as a human carcinogen group 1. Long-term exposure to polluted air is a direct cause of lung cancer. This is because lung tissues are particularly sensitive when exposed to carcinogens in the air.

In addition, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air are also among the substances that can cause cancer. VOCs can occur in higher concentrations indoors from household products and materials such as paints, carpets, detergents, pesticides, etc.

VOCs have the potential to increase the risk of developing leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and melanoma. This can occur because airborne pollutants damage DNA, inflammation and oxidative stress.

2. Respiratory disease
Studies show that air pollution can increase the frequency of respiratory allergies, especially those living in urban areas compared to rural residents. Children who grow up in heavily polluted areas are more likely to suffer from irregular structural changes in the nasal mucosa. This can cause airway weakness, lung infections and inflammation.

Ozone is a common strong oxidizing pollutant, formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with nitrogen oxides in sunlight. High levels of ozone have the potential to damage respiratory and lung tissue as well as more severe asthma symptoms, which can even be fatal.

Traffic pollutants such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide are very toxic. They can develop respiratory complications including pulmonary obstruction, fluid accumulation in lung tissues and lung infections.

3. Brain damage

NO2 (the exhaust gas of gasoline) is one of the components that can cause air pollution that can slow mental development in newborn babies. This is because the mother is exposed to NO2 during pregnancy. Pregnant women exposed to polluted air can alter brain function and reduce IQ levels in children born. Similarly, adults exposed to high levels of NO2 also reduced neurocognitive performance.

Besides, you inhale other heavy metals can cause mental weakness. For example, mercury is toxic to brain cells, neurological disorders, and manganese cause neurological defects. Pregnant women who are exposed to cadmium can reduce the cognition in children, especially in terms of language, ability to perform and develop common awareness.

4. Cardiovascular disease
The pollutants generated in the air include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, lead and fine dust particles. These substances can increase the rate of hospitalization and death from heart disease, especially in patients with congestive heart failure and arrhythmia.

This health risk can occur due to pollutants that promote vascular dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress, blood clot formation and hypertension. In addition, ozone and fine dust can stimulate neuronal reflexes causing abnormal heart rhythms.

5. Insulin resistance
Air pollution is one of the leading causes of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. High levels of fine dust impairs energy metabolism and glucose homeostasis. It also increases inflammation in insulin-responsive organs - factors that cause type 2 diabetes, which increases the risk of other dangerous diseases like heart disease and stroke.

In addition, increased environmental pollution can increase the body mass index in children. Air pollutants have the ability to trigger inflammation, promote diabetes and store fat. In addition, some contaminants can cause hormonal disorders (e.g., PCB, BPA and phthalates), suppress thyroid activity and cause weight gain.

6. Reproduction problem

Environmental pollutants can cause hormonal disorders and interfere with the activity of hormones that control growth, development and fertility. These toxic chemicals affect estrogen, androgen and progesterone receptors. This will lead to reproductive problems in humans and animals, such as premature birth, miscarriage, birth defects, low sperm count and prostate cancer.

Air pollution also has a negative impact on semen quality. A number of studies in men have shown that high levels of air pollution can reduce sperm quality and quantity.

Children are your future, so you need to raise awareness about protecting the environment, limiting plastic and artificial cleaning products containing VOC.

7. Kidney disease
The kidneys are parts of the body that are easily affected by harmful chemicals in the environment. Although the kidneys only receive about 25% of blood flow from the heart, large amounts of chemicals and drugs in the body's circulation are delivered to the kidneys. When the kidneys form urine, toxic contaminants accumulate in the tubular fluid. From there, the concentration of pollutant buildup to a high level will increase the likelihood of tissue injury in the kidney.

8. Liver damage
Air pollutants have been shown to be toxic to the liver, aggravate hepatitis and accumulate fat, such as diesel waste particles, fine dust, etc. The liver is a metabolite and detoxifier. of body.

When the amount of pollutants is high and prolonged exposure will impair liver function, damaging liver cells. Since then, the risk of causing liver diseases to different degrees depending on the health status of each person.

9. Skin disease
Exposure to airborne particles can cause signs of skin aging, especially pigmented spots and wrinkles. Therefore, city dwellers in highly polluted areas are more likely to suffer from atopic dermatitis and urticaria than those living in rural areas.

The damage to the skin can be caused by many pollutants passing through the skin, triggering an inflammatory reaction and stimulating melanin production from melanocytes, which causes darkening. In addition, skin damage due to contact with pollutants also affects collagen, causing wrinkles on the skin.

You need to raise awareness in protecting your health and the environment with a botanical cleaning product. You can also opt for recycled plastic products to minimize environmental waste.

Current health risks from the environment become even more urgent during the COVID-19 epidemic season when resistance is weakened. Therefore, the habit of cleaning your house and clean personal hygiene is an important key to keeping you healthy!