Illustrated below are the different diseases due to smog -
1. Aggravation of Asthma
Smog triggers asthma attacks and severely worsens asthma conditions.
An aggravated form of asthma can, in turn, worsen the symptoms and lead to the following health effects -
- Wheezing attacks
- Chest tightness
- Shortness of breath
The risk factors of this disease caused by smog or its aggravation include the following -
- Smoking
- Frequent exposure to pollutants
- Obesity
- Allergies
2. Allergies, Coughing and Irritation in Chest, Eyes, Throat and Nose
High levels of ozone irritate the respiratory system, leading to wheezing and coughing. After exposure, the affected individuals generally suffer from these effects for a few days. But the particles present in smog keep damaging the lungs even after the irritations go away.
Plus, a significant level of smog and air pollution may also raise the probability of allergies. As per researchers, cases of allergies are higher in areas having high smog concentrations.
All these health issues can lead to several effects in individuals, including -
- Chronic cough that can lead to heartburn or a sour taste in an individual’s mouth
- Sore throat
- Formation of postnasal drip
- Eye pain
- Nasal drainage
The various risk factors associated with these health issues are -
- Air pollution
- Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
- Common cold
3. Premature Deaths Due to Cancer and Respiratory Ailments
Continuous smog exposure increases the chances of premature death from respiratory ailments and cancers. Smog particles contain formaldehyde, butadiene, and benzene - all composed of carcinogens. Inhalation of smog particles is responsible for several premature deaths in Asian countries, the United States, and Europe.
Cancer and respiratory ailments can lead to many complications such as -
- Difficulty in breathing
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Stroke
- Respiratory arrest
- Loss of weight
- Chemical imbalances in the body
The various risk factors of these diseases caused by smog are listed below -
- Family history
- Chronic health conditions like ulcerative colitis
- Age of an individual
- Tobacco smoking (includes secondhand smoke)
- Air pollution
4. Lung Damage and Breathing Difficulties
Individuals wondering what type of disease is caused by smog, must note that there are various lung conditions that occur due to the harmful effects of smog. These include emphysema, bronchitis, and pneumonia. This is because smog causes damage to the lining of the lungs and also makes it difficult for individuals to breathe properly.
Lung damage can further lead to several complicated health conditions like -
- Tuberculosis
- Pulmonary embolism (PE)
- Pulmonary oedema
- ARDS (Acute respiratory distress syndrome)
- Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
- Pneumoconiosis
The various risk factors for lung damage and breathing problems include the following -
- Smoking (includes exposure to secondhand smoke)
- Exposure to asbestos
- Air pollution
- Allergies
5. Risk of Developing Rickets
Heavy smog lasting for a prolonged period blocks ultraviolet rays from reaching the surface of the earth. This leads to low vitamin D production in humans, thereby resulting in rickets owing to impaired metabolism of phosphorus and calcium in the bone marrow.
Rickets softens the regions of growing tissue at the ends of growth plates or bones of a child. It can lead to several skeletal deformities like -
- Knock knees or bowed legs
- Breastbone projection
- Thickened ankles and wrists
The various factors that increase the risk of rickets in children include the following -
- Certain types of antiretroviral and anti-seizure medications
- Dark skin
- Exclusive breastfeeding
- Premature birth
- Children living in some specific geographical locations (northern latitudes)
- Deficiency of vitamin D in the mother during pregnancy
6. Low Birth Weights and Birth Defects
Searching “what are the diseases caused by smog in newborn babies”?
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Due to smog exposure, pregnant women can give birth to babies with birth defects and low birth weight.
Even exposure to smog particulate matter measuring as low as 5 μg can pose risks of extremely low birth weights at the time of delivery.
Smog exposure leads to some severe birth defects in newborns. These include spina bifida, which is a condition depicting spinal column malfunctions. It also results in anencephaly that refers to a formation defect of a baby's neural tube during development. The baby is born with an incomplete skull and an underdeveloped brain in this condition.
Newborn babies with low birth weights can have several problems like -
- Trouble gaining weight
- Difficulty to eat
- Breathing problems, such as respiratory distress syndrome
- Difficulty to fight off infections
- Low levels of oxygen at birth
- Gastrointestinal issues like necrotising enterocolitis
Several conditions can pose as a risk factor for having a baby with low birth weight -
- Certain medications to treat health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, problems of the heart, kidney and lungs
- Some specific infections like chickenpox, rubella, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus
- Preterm labour
- Problems with the placenta
- Exposure to lead or air pollution