Effects of environmental pollution

Public health experts warn: those who live in Mexico City, have a chronic exposure to atmospheric pollutants that propitiate, in the medium or long term, a reduction in lung function.

What does this mean? That the breathing of the capital is not as deep or vigorous as in a person who is not exposed.

According to Ana Rosa Moreno Sánchez, of the Department of Public Health of the Faculty of Medicine (FM) of the UNAM, this is more evident when visitors arrive to the Federal District and feel bad because they are not used to ozone levels: " Those of us who are accustomed, we have a slower response to high concentrations. "


The specialist points out that hot flashes and environmental contingencies, typical of the Mexican spring, represent serious health problems, especially that of the elderly and children.

It is enough to remember the European summer heat (summer) of 2003 that caused thousands of deaths, especially among the elderly.

 

The effects of ozone on respiratory function


Everyone talks about it, but few know its impact on respiratory activity. Ozone, according to the environmental health specialist, is an irritant gas that has effects on the throat, produces nasal congestion, discomfort in the eyes and, in sensitive people, can cause coughing.

In addition, when the levels of contamination are higher, the rate of asthmatics that suffer attacks and require medical attention or the intake of more drugs increases.

Ozone also makes people more sensitive to allergies because it increases the presence of allergens, different pollens or organisms that cause an impact on health; to this factor, adds, pollution.

The latter also reduces the resistance to colds or any other type of infection in the respiratory tract and can accelerate, in the long term, the aging of the lung tissue.


As for heat stroke, Dr. Moreno abounds, they are an additional stress to the body; People may suffer from headaches, dehydration, metabolic problems or fainting.

Similarly, adults who exercise outside are at risk, because they breathe faster and deeper. Therefore, in cases of environmental contingency, it is recommended to avoid physical activity in the open air, and if it is done indoors, it is better to keep the windows closed.


Video Medicine: Environmental pollution overview || Chapter - 8 (March 2024).