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Air pollution and its health impacts: the changing panorama
Author(s) -
Kjellstrom Tord E,
Neller Anne,
Simpson Rod W
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04982.x
Subject(s) - air pollution , pollution , environmental health , cardiorespiratory fitness , air quality index , environmental science , coal , environmental protection , natural resource economics , medicine , waste management , geography , engineering , meteorology , ecology , biology , chemistry , organic chemistry , economics , physical therapy
Urban air pollution levels are associated with increased mortality and cardiorespiratory morbidity. These health effects occur even at exposure levels below those stipulated in current air‐quality guidelines, and it is unclear whether a safe threshold exists. Air pollution in Australia and New Zealand comes primarily from motor vehicle emissions, electricity generation from fossil fuels, heavy industry, and home heating using wood and coal. In individual patients a direct link between symptoms and air pollution exposure may be difficult to establish and may not change their clinical management. However, avoiding exposure during periods of peak pollution may be beneficial. Although there is some evidence that urban air pollution in Australia and New Zealand has been decreasing (through reduced car use, improved emission‐control technology and use of more energy‐efficient devices in the household and in industry), pollution levels are still unsatisfactory. Further reductions may prevent hundreds of cardiorespiratory hospital admissions and deaths each year.