These are the worst everyday air pollutants

The Clean Air Act of 1970 along with other measures helped with the improvement of the air we breathe. However, more than four out of 10 Americans have unhealthy air in their communities.

A report from the American Lung Association cites: “While most of the nation has much cleaner air quality than even a decade ago, many cities reported their highest number of unhealthy days since the report began, including some that experienced extreme weather events.”

Air pollution is still a major death factor, considering that a report from the World Health Organization released in 2014 estimated that 7 million people died from it in 2012.

According to MNN, these are the worst air pollutants that continue to impact our atmosphere and our bodies.

1. Particulate matter

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes it as a complicated mixture of small particles and liquid droplets, it is made up of the soot created by our industrial world. It is produced by cars and factories. Natural events, like forest fires and dust storms, also cause it. Particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller make their way through your nostrils into your lungs and even your bloodstream. The side-effects can be aggravated asthma, irregular heartbeats, decreased lung function, increased coughing, nonfatal heart attacks and premature death, according to the EPA. Furthermore, it may cause sleep disturbances, that can further lead to an increased likelihood of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Sleep Foundation.

2. Carbon monoxide

Moving engines emit nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Our everyday transportation vehicles, like cars and trucks, are one of the largest emitters of carbon monoxide. When we breathe it in, it replaces the oxygen in our blood. Breathing in too much carbon monoxide can render you unconscious and it can even kill you.

3. Ozone

The ground-level ozone comes, indirectly, from industrial sources. Burning fossil fuels produces nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, which react with heat and sunlight and produce a type of ozone also known as smog. Breathing it causes shortness of breath, asthma, chest pain and premature death.

4. Sulfur dioxide

It has industrial origins, with 73% of it coming from combustion at coal-fired power plants. It is a major factor in creating acid rain. It acts as an extreme lung irritant that causes shortness of breath and wheezing. Long-term exposure might impair the lungs’ capacity to function. Those who are most at risk are children and older adults.

5. Lead

This metal is usually emitted by cars. Its emissions have declined majorly in the last twenty years, as EPA reports, but lead smelters and piston-engine aircraft that rely on leaded gasoline still emit lead into the air. Lead can affect the nervous system, kidney function, immune system, reproductive and developmental systems and the cardiovascular system, depending on the exposure level, according to EPA.