Poor Air Quality Effects

Poor Air Quality Effects Summary

Poor air quality can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, cause shortness of breath, aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions, and affect the heart and cardiovascular system. Long-term exposure can result in accelerated aging of the lungs, loss of lung capacity and decreased lung function, development of diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly cancer and a shortened life span.

Recent studies have shown links to dementia and other age related brain functions.

Those most susceptible include:

  • Individuals with heart disease, coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure
  • Individuals with lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Pregnant women
  • Outdoor workers
  • Older adults and the elderly
  • Children under age 14
  • Athletes who exercise vigorously outdoors

For more specific effect information see the NIH bulletin:

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2011/07/bad-air-day

 

Free Air Quality App

Thanks to thousands of personal air quality monitors world wide, you get link to the latest readings from a location very close to your phone location…at home, in the car, on public transit, walking.

This app is the Blueair Friend app and you can download it for free here:

https://www2.blueair.com/ae/accessories/blueair-friend-app

You do not have to own a blueair product to use it to dial up air quality readings in your local.

Note: the readings are outdoor air quality only.  However you can assume when outdoor air is poor, you want to prevent it from coming indoors.  Use of air handlers with special filters will prevent this and is discussed at several other links on this site.

Air Quality Threat Levels

Chart of Air Quality Effects
Air Quality Level Data is Available from a Variety of Sources. See our free app link for one option.