HEALTH: Help our skin fight the battle of air pollution with a better understanding of its danger.
By Madison Harris, Staff Writer
Many get into their cars and go to their jobs unaware of the impact that such actions have on air quality. What exactly does air pollution refer to? There are two categories that air pollution is separated into: indoor and outdoor. Indoor air pollution deals with carbon oxides, and other pollutants brought inside due to indoor air or dust substances. Common indoor air pollutants are household chemicals and tobacco. Outside air pollution is mainly caused by man made activities such as smog, exhausts, manufacturing processes, chemical and petroleum refineries, and cigarette smoke. Not only do these pollutants impact the earth’s environmental conditions, but it also affects the well being of the human body.
Scientists have been able to link conditions such as respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, complications with pregnancy, aging skin, and death with air pollution. The easiest exposure point for the body is entrance through the respiratory system, specifically the lungs. A 2013 study included in a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences article, Air Pollution, showed that air pollution can be linked to cancer.
One can witness the effects of air pollution on the surface of their skin. Skin is made up of multiple layers each serving as a protective shield of the body, acting as a physical barrier between the person and their environment. The exposure of skin to air pollution results in the skin’s healthiness being compromised and the pollution infiltrating into breaking down skin. Some signs to look out for are brown spots, excessive wrinkles, uncomfortable dry skin, itchy skin, sensitive reddened skin, pore breakdown, and uneven skin tones.
The best way to keep safe and with minimal contact with these air pollutants is to always keep one’s home well ventilated and clean. As for outdoor air pollutants, one should check their local Air Quality Index (AQI), avoid heavy traffic when possible, and avoid secondhand tobacco smoke. In this world today, air pollution will not be getting better anytime soon; therefore, it is best to know what and how to protect oneself from the underestimated dangers of air pollution.