How does pollution in large cities affect human health?
How does pollution in large cities affect human health?
Pollution, a worldwide problem which has been concerned with since 1972 (Seitz 2008:156), has significant effects on human health in large cities. It may be defined as several different types of pollutant in environment mainly caused by industry and agriculture, having a harmful impact on public health. It is because cities, most of which, have depended on the two types of industry to develop the economy that the problems of urban pollution are serious. For example, the percentage of inhabitants in Calcutta with respiratory diseases is 20 times as much as that of India average (Bashkin 2002: 70). There are 4 main kinds of pollution: air, water, and land pollution. This essay will examine how the pollutions mentioned above affecting human health in large cities.
It is acknowledged that air pollution affects public health in large cities. For instance: it is suggested that in London hospital 2 percent of myocardial infarctions will be induced by air pollution(Poloniecki et al.,1997 sited in Ayres 2006: 24). This paragraph will introduce 3 main pollutants: sulphur oxides, lead, and carbon monoxide. Firstly, sulphur oxides may trigger heart diseases and asthma (American Thoracic Society, 1996; Pope and Kockery, 1999; Pope,2000 sited in Romieu and Hernandez-Avila, 2003). It is estimated that in London more than 4000 people died of sulphur oxides in 1952 (Seitz 2008:159; Patz and Balbus, 2001). Lead, as a pollutant caused by industry, does harm to human bodies, especially to children’s brains (Seitz 2008: 162). Bashkin (2002) states that “ in Bangkok lead pollution could cause 200,000 to 500,000 cases of hypertension, 300 to 900 cases of heart attack and stroke, and 200 to 400 deaths per year (ESCAP, 1995). Furthermore, it also could cause average loss of 3.5 IQ points per child before the age of seven, i.e., an estimated total loss of 400,000 to 700,000 IQ points per year.” On the other hand, Outdoor air
Pollution, a worldwide problem which has been concerned with since 1972 (Seitz 2008:156), has significant effects on human health in large cities. It may be defined as several different types of pollutant in environment mainly caused by industry and agriculture, having a harmful impact on public health. It is because cities, most of which, have depended on the two types of industry to develop the economy that the problems of urban pollution are serious. For example, the percentage of inhabitants in Calcutta with respiratory diseases is 20 times as much as that of India average (Bashkin 2002: 70). There are 4 main kinds of pollution: air, water, and land pollution. This essay will examine how the pollutions mentioned above affecting human health in large cities.
It is acknowledged that air pollution affects public health in large cities. For instance: it is suggested that in London hospital 2 percent of myocardial infarctions will be induced by air pollution(Poloniecki et al.,1997 sited in Ayres 2006: 24). This paragraph will introduce 3 main pollutants: sulphur oxides, lead, and carbon monoxide. Firstly, sulphur oxides may trigger heart diseases and asthma (American Thoracic Society, 1996; Pope and Kockery, 1999; Pope,2000 sited in Romieu and Hernandez-Avila, 2003). It is estimated that in London more than 4000 people died of sulphur oxides in 1952 (Seitz 2008:159; Patz and Balbus, 2001). Lead, as a pollutant caused by industry, does harm to human bodies, especially to children’s brains (Seitz 2008: 162). Bashkin (2002) states that “ in Bangkok lead pollution could cause 200,000 to 500,000 cases of hypertension, 300 to 900 cases of heart attack and stroke, and 200 to 400 deaths per year (ESCAP, 1995). Furthermore, it also could cause average loss of 3.5 IQ points per child before the age of seven, i.e., an estimated total loss of 400,000 to 700,000 IQ points per year.” On the other hand, Outdoor air
References: Ayres,J. (2006) ‘Health Effects of Gaseous Air Pollutants’. In Hester, R. E and Harrison, R. M. (ed) Air Pollution and Health. River Edge, NJ, USA: World Scientific. Bashkin, V. N. (2002) Environmental Chemistry: Asian Lessons. Moscow: Kluwer academic publishers Hu, H. (2002) ‘Human Health and Heavy Metals Exposure’ In Mccally, M. Life Support : The Environment and Human Health. London: The MIT Press Hill, M.K. (2004) Understanding Environmental Pollution: a Primer. New York: CUP McGranahan, G. and Murray, F. (eds) (2003) Air Pollution and Health in Rapidly Developing Countries. London: Earthscan "Minamata disease" Concise Medical Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2007. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. University of Nottingham. 30 December 2009 < http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t60.e6296 > Patz, J. A. and Balbus, J. M. (2001) ‘Global Climate Change and Air Pollution: Interactions and Their Effects on Human Health’ In Aron, J. L. and Patz, J. A. (ed) Ecosystem Change and Public Health: A Global Perspective. London: John Hopkins University Press Romieu, I. and Hernandez-Avila, M. (2003) ‘Air pollution and Health in Developing Countries: A Review of Epidemiological Evidence’ In Gordon, M. and Frank, M. (ed) Air Pollution & Health in rapidly developing countries. London: Earthscan Publications Ltd Seitz, J.L. (2008) Global Issues, 3rd Edition. Malden MA: Blackwell