Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Health Effects of Air Pollution Health Effects of Air Pollution General Information Air pollution is determined by a combination of weather conditions, and what's emitted into the air from a variety of sources - chiefly motor vehicles, industry, power plants, construction equipment, and consumer products. Air is essential to life. The average person takes about 20,000 breaths a day, processing almost 3,000 gallons of air, or almost 2 gallons of air per minute. Every summer, air pollution drives thousands of Massachusetts residents indoors and into emergency rooms. In fact, more than 750,000 people in Massachusetts suffer from heart or lung ailments that are seriously aggravated by air pollution and smog.
Diseases aggravated by air pollution include chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, and allergies.
Studies suggest that air pollution also contributes to pulmonary problems in developing fetuses and young children, as well as damage to the immune system in adults. Elderly people lose important respiratory defense mechanisms as they age. Healthy people of all ages who exert themselves strenuously by exercising or working outdoors are affected by air pollution as they are more likely to breathe fast and inhale deeply. People of all ages with chronic respiratory problems. Scientists are concerned that repeated short-term damage from ozone exposure may permanently change the lung.