Information on chemical compounds and radiation.

In today’s world, in increasingly polluted air, there are harmful substances that negatively affect our health. Here are the substances that have a negative impact on our body: 1) Nitrogen oxides (NOx) - You should know that they cause lung damage, reduce the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, and can be a cause of cancer. They also reduce the body’s resistance to bacterial infections, irritate the eyes and airways, cause breathing problems, and are a cause of asthma. It should also be noted that nitrogen dioxide can irritate the lungs and cause lower resistance to respiratory infections. 2) Cadmium, mercury, lead (heavy metals) - Mercury leads to memory impairment, disturbances of movement and vision. It damages the kidneys and impairs fertility. Cadmium, in turn, damages the kidneys, bones and lungs. It causes shortness of breath and musculoskeletal pains. Lead again attacks the digestive and nervous systems, causing muscle paralysis, hematuria, and disturbances of brain function. 3) Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) - This is a particularly dangerous carcinogenic substance for the body, which mainly accumulates in the lungs. It also damages the adrenal glands, liver, circulatory and immune systems. It often leads to infertility. 4) Benzene (C6H6) - Causes severe poisoning. Initially headaches, fatigue, then respiratory failure, bleeding from mucous membranes, and disturbances of heart rhythm. 5) Sulfur dioxide (SO2) - Intensely irritates the respiratory system, reduces the blood’s ability to absorb and transport oxygen. It also causes bronchoconstriction, damages the lungs, and worsens asthma. 6) Ozone (O3) - Acts as an irritant to the respiratory system, impairs lung function, promotes asthma attacks, reduces resistance to infections, and aggravates bronchitis and emphysema. 7) Carbon monoxide (CO) - Binds to hemoglobin and limits the uptake of oxygen into the blood and its transport to tissues. It also causes severe circulatory, heart and nervous system disorders. 8) Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) - Their fine particles initially penetrate deeply into the lungs, and then into the blood. The smaller they are, the faster and deeper they go. They most often cause acute coughing fits and acute bronchitis. It should be remembered that they also increase the risk of serious respiratory diseases such as COPD, vasculitis and atherosclerosis, indirectly causing heart attack and stroke.