Summary: Can the heavy traffic in your commute be affecting your health? No matter where you live, the quality of the air you breathe impacts you every day.Can the heavy traffic in your commute be affecting your health? No matter where you live, the quality of the air you breathe impacts you every single day. Air pollution is the contamination of air by smoke and harmful gases; mainly oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen. Air pollution comes from many different sources, such as factories, cars, and smoke - all of which release a wide variety of pollutants affecting air quality. Negative health effects increase as air pollution worsens. How air pollution impacts your health is determined by several factors: the length of time you are exposed, your general health and genetic makeup, and the concentration of pollutants. People with asthma, lung and heart conditions are the most vulnerable to the affects of air pollution. Children are especially vulnerable, since their lungs are still developing. The elderly are at a higher risk as well. What can you do to protect your health and the health of your family? Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Gabriele Pfister, shares the ailments caused by exposure, if you are at a greater risk for health-related effects and the lifestyle choices that you can change to help the impact of pollution on your health.
