We can also make lifestyle decisions that decrease our own contribution to air pollution, both outdoors and in. According to Koenig, who has been studying the short-term health effects of air pollution for 15 years, respiratory problems are a major threat from breathing dirty air. Difficulty breathing, coughing, nasal stuffiness and sinus problems are common symptoms. Problems stemming from chronic respiratory disease such asthma and emphysema are exacerbated by air pollution.
Pollutants also irritate mucous membranes in the nose, throat and eyes.
Subtle neurotoxic effects including confusion, delayed reactions and blunting of memory have also been linked to air pollution. Koenig notes that combustion of fossil fuels is responsible for most outdoor air pollution. Vehicles emit carbon monoxide, a pollutant that robs the body of oxygen, which is hard on the heart. Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, other components of vehicle exhaust, combine with sunlight to produce ozone, a gas that causes chest pain and cough when deeply inhaled. Home heating with wood stoves and fireplaces causes fine particulate matter air pollution.