Consequences of Air Pollution

The physiological effects of toxic pollutants on living beings can be of two types:

• Acute effects and
• Chronic effects.

Acute effects are immediate but short-lived. They occur when the victim is exposed to a high concentration of toxic pollutant for a brief period. For example, we experience headache while travelling on a busy road. This is due to exposure to carbon monoxide released from transport vehicles. Acute effects result when a pollutant is released in abnormally large quantities.

Chronic effects are due to short-term exposure for a long period. The effects appear after months or years. For example, exposure to SO₂ may give rise to chronic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis or exposure to coal dust may give rise to black lung.