Introduction chance of getting cancer or experiencing other serious health effects. These health effects can include damage
1. Introduction chance of getting cancer or experiencing other serious health effects. These health effects can include damage
The pollution of air is regarding existence of the to the immune system, as well as neurological, substance that unloads in environment by human reproductive (e.g., reduced fertility), developmental, activities and by the natural process that cause harmful respiratory and other health problems. In addition to effects in the human health and environment. The exposure from breathing air toxics, some toxic air individual reaction at the air pollution hangs on kind of pollutants such as mercury can deposit onto soils or pollution, level of exposure and the level of individual surface waters, where they are taken up by plants and activity [1, 2]. Toxic air pollutants, also known as ingested by animals and are eventually magnified up hazardous air pollutants, are those pollutants that are
through the food chain [3-5].
known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious Once toxic air pollutants enter the body, some health effects such as reproductive effects or birth persistent toxic air pollutants accumulate in body defects, or adverse environmental effects. tissues. People and other animals at the top of the food People exposed to toxic air pollutants at sufficient chain that eat contaminated fish or meat are exposed to concentrations and durations may have an increases concentrations that are much higher than the
concentrations in the water, air, or soil [6-8]. Corresponding author: Mirela Lika (Çekani), Ph.D., research
fields: microbiology and immunology. E-mail: There is consistency in the finding that relate the [email protected].
1029 acute increases in urban air pollution (mainly the
Health Impact Assessment of Air Pollution in Some Regions in Albania
particularly in relation to tuberculosis and acute lower particulate matter) and the short-term health effects (i.e.
respiratory infections [6, 10].
mortality and hospital admissions) or patients suffering Notwithstanding the significance of exposure to from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chronic
indoor air pollution and the increased risk of acute obstructive pulmonary disease is an important disease
respiratory infections in childhood, chronic obstructive worldwide, imposing huge economic burden on
pulmonary disease and lung cancer the health effects society.
have been somewhat neglected by the research Outdoor air pollutants have a wide variety of
community, donors and policy-makers. harmful effects on humans, including local effects on
People tend to move up the ladder as socioeconomic the airway and systemic inflammation. Outdoor
conditions improve. Other sources of indoor air pollution would lead to both short and long-term
pollution in developing countries include smoke from decline in lung function. The health effects of air
nearby houses, the burning of forests, agricultural land pollution have been subject to intense study in recent
and household waste, the use of kerosene lamps, and years. Exposure to pollutants such as airborne
industrial and vehicle emissions [12]. Additionally, participate matter and ozone has been associated with
Indoor air pollution in the form of environmental increases in mortality and hospital admissions due to
tobacco smoke can be expected to increase in respiratory and cardiovascular disease. These effects
developing countries. It is worth noting that fires in have been found in short-term studies, which relate
open hearths and the smoke associated with them often day-to-day variations in air pollution and health, and
have considerable practical value; for instance in insect long-term studies, which have followed cohorts of
control, lighting, the drying of food and fuel, and the exposed individuals over time [9, 10]. Effects have
flavoring of foods.
been seen at very low levels of exposure, and it is Many of the substances in biomass smoke can unclear whether a threshold concentration exists for
damage human health. The most important are particles, particular matter and ozone below which no effects on
carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, sulphur oxides health are likely [11-13].
(principally from coal), formaldehyde, and polycyclic Around 50% of people, almost all in developing
organic matter, including carcinogens such as countries, rely on coal and biomass in the form of wood,
benzo[a]pyrene [1, 12]. Particles with diameters below dung and crop residues for domestic energy. These
10 microns (PM10), and particularly those less than 2.5 materials are typically burnt in simple stoves with very
microns in diameter (PM2.5), can penetrate deeply into incomplete combustion. There is consistent evidence
the lungs and appear to have the greatest potential for that indoor air pollution increase the risk of chronic
damaging health.
obstructive pulmonary disease and of acute respiratory