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In an effort to distract myself and procrastinate, I'm going to talk a little about air pollution, and how poor #AirQuality can impact disabled people.
I guess this is also a good way to stretch out my #scicomm skills.
Weâll see how this goes.
I guess this is also a good way to stretch out my #scicomm skills.
Weâll see how this goes.
So, when ppl think of the atmosphere, they usually think of compounds such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide (CO2), & methane (CH4).
That makes sense! These guys make up the majority of the atmosphere, & CO2 + CH4 contribute to climate change /2
https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/
That makes sense! These guys make up the majority of the atmosphere, & CO2 + CH4 contribute to climate change /2
https://climate.nasa.gov/causes/
However, these gases don't contribute much to the chemistry of the atmosphere. They're actually pretty inert.
In fact, the impact of gases like CO2 is caused by their ability to live a long time & build up in the atmosphere, trapping in heat (aka the greenhouse effect) /3
In fact, the impact of gases like CO2 is caused by their ability to live a long time & build up in the atmosphere, trapping in heat (aka the greenhouse effect) /3
What does contribute to the chemistry of the atmosphere? Well, many things! But I'm going to focus on a group of compounds called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted into the atmosphere by natural sources (e.g. plants) or man-made sources (e.g. car exhaust) /4
In high concentrations, some VOCs are toxic. Thatâs why regulations exist to prevent man-made VOCs from being freely released into the atmosphere.
Long, repeated exposure to these toxic compounds can cause chronic health effects or aggravate existing chronic illness. /5
Long, repeated exposure to these toxic compounds can cause chronic health effects or aggravate existing chronic illness. /5
Even if some VOCs arenât ~that~ toxic on their own, they can also undergo chemical transformations with other chemicals in the air to form new products, which can end up impacting human health too. /6
Their products take the form of aerosols or gases, like ozone. Aerosols, ozone, and other VOC products come together to form smog.
Smog is an all too common sight on poor air quality days here in Los Angeles. /7
Image source: https://www.ccair.org/how-scary-is-la-smog/
Smog is an all too common sight on poor air quality days here in Los Angeles. /7
Image source: https://www.ccair.org/how-scary-is-la-smog/
Components of smog, like aerosols & ozone have already been linked to many long-term health effects. For example, thereâs evidence that smog increases rates of asthma in children, and is responsible for millions of premature deaths every year according to the @WHO. /8
What, I feel, is less talked about is that poor air quality can also worsen the health of disabled folks with pre-existing conditions, esp those with conditions that affect heart & lungs.
It can also cause increased fatigue, irregular heartbeat, decreased immune system, etc. /9
It can also cause increased fatigue, irregular heartbeat, decreased immune system, etc. /9
Itâs really important to check your local air quality index (AQI) before doing outdoor activity if you are sensitive to poor air quality.
You can learn about AQI here: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/
And check your local AQI here: https://www.airnow.gov/
You can learn about AQI here: https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/
And check your local AQI here: https://www.airnow.gov/
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