Analysis: Health Effects of Sulfur Oxides and Respirable Particles

This report analyzes the health effects of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and respirable particulate matter, drawing on research studies that assess their impact on human health, particularly respiratory inflammation. The report references studies by Ferris et al. (1979) and Rahila and Siddique (2014), which investigated the adverse effects of these pollutants on adults and children in various communities. The Ferris study used cohort studies, questionnaires, and clinical tests to measure pulmonary functions, highlighting the dangers of smoking in conjunction with air pollution. The Rahila and Siddique study emphasized the severe health consequences of SO2, including asthma, bronchitis, and increased mortality rates. The report concludes that SO2 poses significant respiratory risks to both adults and children, while also acknowledging that smoking exacerbates these health problems. The report also includes references to support the findings.

EFFECTS OF SULFUR
OXIDES AND RESPIRABLE
PARTICLES ON HUMAN
HEALTH

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION
The presented report will cover some key points of two research studies that were carried
out to assess the effect of Sulfur dioxide and other air pollutants on human health. The report has
laid emphasis on respiratory inflammation and other health issues faced by adults as well as
children in different localities.
MAIN BODY
As per the research study conducted by Ferris and et.al., (1979) the ill effect of sulphur
dioxide and particulate matter had assessed by help of a cohort study included the adults of six
different communities. The study has focused on measuring the adverse effect of SO2 and
respirable matters on adults and children. Nature of six pollutants suspended particulate matter,
sulphur dioxide, carbon mono oxide NO2, photochemical oxidants and hydrocarbons were
described by National Air Quality Standards. The study was initiated with the selection of sites,
adult and children from selected communities. Adults were selected from list of census and was
done by random sampling. While children were selected by visiting the schools present in each
community.
For conducting the assessments, adults were personally interviewed by assessors with
some basic clinical tests related to pulmonary functions. The questionnaire were based on
personal habits of smoking or tobacco consumptions and other related factors.
The assessment of children was conducted by the help of questionnaire that need to be answered
by their parents. This questionnaire included cooking fuel, occupation and smoking habits of
parents and past clinical records if children had some respiratory problems. Along with it,
children belongs to upper grade were directly asked about their smoking habits.
Spiro-meters were used to measure the pulmonary functions of participants. Both the adults and
children were made to perform advanced clinical exercises and were monitored effectively.
Three types of monitoring process were conducted as central station, indoor and outdoors and
personal. The collected data was studied on the basis of past histories of the chosen sites,
differences in air pollutants. Results were derived that the adversely affected population moved
away from polluted area. Participants were categorised into two sections one was overall
participants and other was non smokers. Furthermore, smokers were classified on the basis of
their smoking habits, lifetime and weekly smokers. Results that came out were- Health issues
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were pertaining among smokers. Smokers have comparatively severe pulmonary issues as
compared to the people affected by air pollution.
Another study was also made in the same context by Rahila and Siddique (2014), which
stated that Sulphur dioxide highly affect the people suffering from asthma, bronchitis, heart and
lung diseases. It also has severe impact on children's respiratory tract and other issues such as
increasing mortality rate. Regular exposure to sulphur dioxide may lead to severe eye irritation
(Review on effects of Particulates; Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide on Human Health.
2014).
CONCLUSION
Both the articles have focused on a common fact that sulphur dioxide is one of the
dangerous pollutant present is the air that causing severe respiratory issues to adults as well as
children. One of the articles has also defined a fact that smoking has more dangerous issues as
compared to problems created by air pollutants.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Prasad, R., & Shivay, Y. S. (2018). Sulphur in soil, plant and human nutrition. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences. 88(2). 429-434.
Talabani, J.M. & et,al., (2018). Long-term health effects of chemical warfare agents on children
following a single heavy exposure. Human & experimental toxicology. 37(8). pp.836-
847.
Wang, X., Wypij, D., Gold, D. R., Speizer, F. E., Ware, J. H., Ferris Jr, B. G., & Dockery, D. W.
(1994). A longitudinal study of the effects of parental smoking on pulmonary function
in children 6-18 years. American Journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.
149(6). 1420-1425.
Online
Review on effects of Particulates; Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide on Human Health. 2014.
[Online]. Available through: <http://www.isca.in/IJENS/Archive/v3/i4/10.ISCA-
IRJEvS-2014-22.pdf>.
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