Empirical hazards of regular exposure to air pollution...

[marf]

I've put this in the Bangkok forum as seems to be where it's most concerning, but of course it would apply anywhere. I have seen several threads on air pollution, but couldn't find the answer to my question there, and that is, how serious are the local air pollution effects on the body when breathed over medium to long term time periods, think several months to several years?

 

I have been to Beijing when the pollution was over 300, and it surprised me as I was totally unprepared for it, at the end of the day my throat felt like I had smoked a pack or two of cigarettes - or what I'd imagine this to be like, I don't smoke and have never done so. Obviously Bangkok is not as polluted as this, but yesterday the AQI is saying red numbers over 150, which is described as 'unhealthy', but just how unhealthy is 'unhealthy'?

 

I was very worried after the sore throat symptoms persisted for more than a day and I spent the next day indoors in my Beijing hotel when the pollution was so high that I couldn't see across to the other side of Tiananmen Square or even more than 50m away. And the huge orange ball of fire high in the sky that you normally wouldn't be able to look at on a clear day made you feel like you were on Mars.

 

The next day I was feeling better and bought a mask , but it rained and the air was suddenly clear again. I wore the mask for some time throughout my stay but it became uncomfortable breathing through it after some time as inside the mask soon became hot and humid through exhaled air and soon there was an overwhelming desire to remove it for a breath of cool 'fresh' air. Not sure how effective this mask was - it was one marketed as being suitable for protecting from dust during DIY jobs... Anyone have any ideas if there are better masks for this purpose?

 

What would be the long term effects of breathing 'unhealthy' air over 100/150 AQI on a regular basis?

 

 

[Tayaout]

The mask you need has to be rated N95 or N99 (best). The most dangerous particules are 2.5 micron or smaller and pass directly the lung barrier into the blood stream. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740125/

[dimitriv]

A simple google search reveals:

 

Quote: The global average reduction in lifespan is 1.8 years – more than the 1.6 years that results from smoking tobacco. ... Deaths from war and terrorism equate to a reduction of 22 days in the global average lifespan.

 

So PM2.5 is more deadly than smoking, war and terrorism. And the 1.8 years is based on worldwide average polution. Bangkok is much above average.

 

Do you smoke?  No, I live in Bangkok ????

 

Quote: On average, Bangkokians will live 2.4 years less, while people in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai will respectively see 3.6 and 3.9 fewer summers, according to the Air Quality Life Index report published Wednesday by the University of Chicago. The index assesses the impact of particulate air pollution on life expectancy.

 

And there is of course more. They talk about deaths from air polution. But do not talk about quality of life. They don't mention the possibility of having to walk around with oxygen bottles in the last 10 years of your life because your lungs no longer work.

 

 

 

[Puchaiyank]

Long term breathing polluted air can lead to serious health problems:

 

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

Long-term exposure to polluted air can have permanent health effects such as:

• Accelerated aging of the lungs
• Loss of lung capacity and decreased lung function
• Development of diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly cancer
• Shortened life span

Those most susceptible to severe health problems from air pollution are:

• Individuals with heart disease, coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure
• Individuals with lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

http://www.sparetheair.com/health.cfm

[uhuh]

Health effects are comparable to smoking.

 

If you are a healthy young adult and stay in Bangkok for several months,  not all of it during peak-pollution time, you probably won't feel much negative effects. During your stay,  you may experience more respiratory problems than if you had stayed at a seaside resort. In the long run,  your life expectancy won't be diminished. 

 

Children and the elderly are much more at risk, especially if they stay for many years (most don't). A friend has recurrent sinusitis (improved after installing air con and air purifiers), and he had a severe episode of influenza. He never liked sports,  so his heart and lungs are quite weak,  and the poor air certainly doesn't help to live long.

 

If you live here a lifetime (not recommended), it's like smoking. Risks see above.