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Short-term exposure and high pollution levels can cause watery eyes, coughing and wheezing, worsen heart and lung illnesses including asthma and other respiratory diseases such as emphysema, contribute to stress on the cardiovascular system, lessen the lung’s ability to exhale air, and damage lungs even after minor irritation disappears.

Long-term contact with polluted air can have permanent health effects, like rapidly aging the lungs, decreasing lung capacity and function, causing diseases like asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and cancer and shortening life span.

People who are most affected by air pollution include:

Children younger than 14
Those with heart or lung disease
Those with respiratory diseases such as asthma or emphysema
Pregnant women
Outdoor workers
Athletes who exercise vigorously

The Bay Area is one of the greatest places to live because of its combination of vibrant cities and the natural environment. But because it is densely populated, we also have our share of air pollution. Smog, haze, smoke, dust, odors and toxic pollutants are just about everywhere. Cars, power plants, factories, and dry cleaners all release pollutants into the air. We need to be educated about the pollutants that cause the most harm to our health.

POLLUTANTS, SOURCES & HEALTH EFFECTS

The Environmental Protection Agency has identified six main pollutants, or criteria pollutants, that most gravely affect health and well-being. Here is a chart of the health effects for the six common criterian pollutants and their sources:

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