Four different symptoms in the human body caused by air pollution include:
- Respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and chest tightness. Air pollution irritates the respiratory system and can worsen asthma and other lung diseases.
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation including dry or irritated eyes, sneezing, and increased mucus production. These are common short-term reactions to poor air quality.
- Headache and dizziness, likely due to the effects of pollutants like carbon monoxide and other gases on the brain and nervous system.
- Fatigue or tiredness, a symptom reported after exposure to high levels of air pollution, likely due to systemic inflammation and reduced oxygen delivery.
These symptoms can appear within minutes to hours of exposure and tend to improve after leaving polluted areas. However, long-term exposure can lead to chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People with pre-existing conditions, children, older adults, and those who spend time outdoors are most vulnerable to these effects.
Thus, air pollution affects multiple body systems, primarily through respiratory tract irritation and systemic inflammation, causing a diverse array of symptoms from irritation to serious disease risks.
