The average person takes about 20,000 breaths a day, processing almost 3,000 gallons of air or almost two gallons of air per minute. Diseases aggravated by air pollution include chronic sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma and allergies. Studies suggest that air pollution can contribute to pulmonary problems in developing fetuses and young children, as well as damage to the immune system in adults. The people most vulnerable to health effects of air pollution are children, the elderly, those who work or exercise outdoors and those with chronic respiratory ailments. Children are at the greatest risk from air pollution because they breathe in far more air per pound of body weight than adults and their respiratory systems are still developing.
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. Scientists are concerned that repeated short-term damage from ozone exposure may permanently change the lung. High air pollution levels correlate with higher emergency room admissions and higher related deaths from asthma and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. In the last 10 years, the incidence of asthma has doubled, especially among minority populations living in urban areas. Ozone irritates living tissue in the lungs, eyes and nose.