Is polluted air bad for our bodies?
What happens to our bodies if we breathe in polluted air? Living in an area with polluted air can damage our throats and lungs. It can even lead to diseases like chronic bronchitis or emphysema.
Exhaust gases from cars and polluting substances from factories when exposed to sunlight create photochemical smog. Photochemical smog can irritate and hurt our eyes. Photochemical smog is more likely on days with strong sunlight. It’s best to avoid hard exercise outdoors on such days.
Many factories were built in Japan during the high economic growth period in the 1960s. Gases emitted by the factories back then polluted the atmosphere and caused pollution across the country. Many people in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, and Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, developed asthma, bronchitis, and similar illnesses. These diseases became known as Yokkaichi asthma and Kawasaki asthma.
