Air pollution harms your lungs, heart, and overall health. Understand what AQI means, how it affects daily life, and simple ways to protect yourself from poor air quality.
Air pollution and health are closely connected, yet most people do not realise how deeply polluted air affects the body. We often see haze, dust, or smoke around us, but the real damage happens silently inside our lungs, heart, and even brain.
To understand the growing problem, we must look at the effects of air pollution, how it harms our body, and why the Air Quality Index (AQI) has become an important daily indicator for millions of people.
The major air pollution causes and effects are connected to:
Among these pollutants, PM2.5 and PM10 are the most harmful.
The difference between PM2.5 and PM10 is simple:
These pollutants are the main reason behind the rising air pollution symptoms we see today.
The impact of air pollution on humans is far greater than many people assume. Polluted air affects almost every organ in the body.
1. Air Pollution and Respiratory Problems
Lungs are the first organs to be affected.
Common issues include:
In the long term, poor air quality effects may include chronic respiratory disease and increased lung cancer risk.
This is one of the major health risks of air pollution, especially for children, elderly people, and asthma patients.
2. Air Pollution and Heart Disease
Air pollution does not stay in the lungs.
PM2.5 enters the bloodstream and puts extra pressure on the heart.
This increases the risk of:
Hospitals often report a rise in cardiac emergencies on days with high pollution levels.
3. How Air Pollution Affects Our Body
Polluted air triggers inflammation throughout the body.
It affects:
Research now shows links between air pollution and:
These are long-term health risks of air pollution that develop slowly but seriously.
4. Effects on Pregnancy and Children
Air pollution and health risks during pregnancy include:
Children exposed to polluted air often develop early respiratory problems and show slower cognitive growth.
Common air pollution symptoms for skin and eyes are:
Pollution also speeds up skin ageing.
Many weather apps and news channels now display AQI.
So, what is AQI, and why is AQI important?
AQI stands for Air Quality Index, a number that tells you how safe or unsafe the air is.
It ranges from 0 to 500.
This is the simplest way to understand what AQI numbers mean for health:
| AQI Range | Category | Health Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0–50 | Good | Air is clean and healthy |
| 51–100 | Satisfactory | Minor issues for sensitive people |
| 101–200 | Moderate | Discomfort for children, elderly, asthma patients |
| 201–300 | Poor | Breathing issues for everyone |
| 301–400 | Very Poor | Risk of respiratory problems |
| 401–500 | Severe | Serious irritation; avoid going outdoors |
Knowing these ranges helps you understand the poor air quality effects on your daily life.
Even though pollution levels are rising, you can reduce health risks by following these tips to reduce exposure to air pollution:
Cloth masks do not filter PM2.5.
Helps reduce pollution inside the home.
Polluted air enters deeper into lungs during workouts.
Especially early morning and evening.
Water helps the body flush out toxins.
Improves lung and heart health.
Clean AC filters, curtains, and fans regularly.
By learning how air pollution affects our body and taking simple precautions, we can reduce the long-term effects of air pollution and improve our health, even when outdoor conditions are not ideal.
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