Aromatic compounds serve as the basis for many drugs, antiseptics, explosives, solvents, and plastics (e.g., polyesters and polystyrene). The two simplest unsaturated compounds—ethylene (ethene) and acetylene (ethyne)—were once used as anesthetics and were introduced to the medical field in 1924.

Some hydrocarbons can cause other effects, including coma, seizures, irregular heart rhythms or damage to the kidneys or liver. Examples of products that contain dangerous hydrocarbons include some solvents used in paints and dry cleaning and household cleaning chemicals.

The four general classes of hydrocarbons are: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and arenes.

US ranks 24th in the world on environmental performance | Environment | The Guardian.

5 Major Outdoor Air Pollutants

• Ozone (O3)
• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
• Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5)

Long-term health effects from air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people’s nerves, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. Some scientists suspect air pollutants cause birth defects.

We have listed 10 common air pollution causes along with the effects that have serious implication on your health on a daily basis.

• The Burning of Fossil Fuels.
• Industrial Emission.
• Indoor Air Pollution.
• Wildfires.
• Microbial Decaying Process.
• Transportation.
• Open Burning of Garbage Waste.
• Construction and Demolition.

Exposure to high levels of air pollution can cause a variety of adverse health outcomes. It increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer. Both short and long term exposure to air pollutants have been associated with health impacts. More severe impacts affect people who are already ill.

Air pollution is considered as the major environmental risk factor in the incidence and progression of some diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, ventricular hypertrophy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, psychological complications, autism, retinopathy, fetal growth, and low birth weight.

Children, the elderly, people with existing diseases, and minority and low-income communities are particularly vulnerable to adverse health outcomes and economic impacts, such as missed work days, from exposure to air pollution.

What symptoms are often linked to poor indoor air quality?

• Dryness and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin.
• Headache.
• Fatigue.
• Shortness of breath.
• Hypersensitivity and allergies.
• Sinus congestion.
• Coughing and sneezing.
• Dizziness.

High air pollution levels can cause immediate health problems including: Aggravated cardiovascular and respiratory illness. Added stress to heart and lungs, which must work harder to supply the body with oxygen. Damaged cells in the respiratory system.

The groups most affected by air pollution are people of color, elderly residents, children with uncontrolled asthma, and people living in poverty. Vulnerable populations may experience more health effects because these populations already have higher rates of heart and lung conditions.