Reuters AlertNet Lite - FACTBOX-How major air pollutants can affect your health

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FACTBOX-How major air pollutants can affect your health

02 Nov 2006 05:02:09 GMT
Source: Reuters

Nov 2 (Reuters) - Thick haze from annual Indonesian forest and brush fires has choked much of Southeast Asia since August, forcing some airports and schools to close and bringing complaints of headaches, nausea and respiratory problems.

The smoke emits particulates, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone, all of which can injure the heart and lungs.

Here are some facts on major air pollutants and their potential impact on health. NAME l DESCRIPTION l MAJOR SOURCE l HEALTH EFFECTS Particulate l Tiny particles l Car exhausts, l Aggravation matter l that can penetratel coal-burning l of respiratory (under 10 l a surgical mask l power plants l cardiovascular micrometres l and lodge deep l l diseases; diameter) l in the lungs l l changed lung

l l l functioning ---------------------------------------------------------------- Nitrogen l Yellow-brown gas, l Car emissions; l Airway dioxide l part of l power plants l resistance (NO2) l photochemical l l in asthmatics,

l smog l l reduced lung

l l l functioning ---------------------------------------------------------------- Sulfur l Colourless gas l Coal-burning l Reduced lung dioxide l with sharp, l power plants; l function/chest (SO2) l irritating odour l heavy l tightness;

l l industry l shortness of

l l l breath ---------------------------------------------------------------- -Carbon l Colourless, l Gasoline- l Slows oxygen monoxide l odourless gas l burning cars l flow from (CO) l l l blood to

l l l tissues ---------------------------------------------------------------- -Ozone l Colourless gas, l Vehicles with l Chest pain;

l distinctive odour l bad combustion l coughing;

l formed by reactionl eg:two-stroke l shortness of

l of volatile l engines l breath;

l organic compounds l l aggravation

l with sunlight l l of asthma ---------------------------------------------------------------- - Source: Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities. ((Writing by the Singapore Editorial Reference Unit, editing by David Fogarty; gill.murdoch@reuters.com, Reuters Messaging gill.murdoch.reuters.com@reuters.net; +65 6870 3922))

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Last updated:Thu Nov 2 05:03:47 2006