Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854 , USA.
Am Fam Physician. 2010 Jan 15;81(2):175-80.
Almost 160 million persons live in areas of the United States that exceed federal health-based air pollution standards. The two air pollutants that most commonly exceed standards are ozone and particulate matter. Ozone and particulate matter can harm anyone if levels are sufficiently elevated, but health risk from air pollution is greatest among vulnerable populations. Both ozone and particulate matter can cause pulmonary inflammation, decreased lung function, and exacerbation of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Particulate matter is also strongly associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Children, older adults, and other vulnerable persons may be sensitive to lower levels of air pollution. Persons who are aware of local air pollution levels, reported daily by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the Air Quality Index, can take action to reduce exposure. These actions include simple measures to limit exertion and time spent outdoors when air pollution levels are highest, and to reduce the infiltration of outdoor air pollutants into indoor spaces.
近 1.6 亿人生活在美国的地区，这些地区的空气质量超过了联邦健康空气质量标准。最常见的两种超过标准的空气污染物是臭氧和颗粒物。如果污染物水平足够高，臭氧和颗粒物都会对任何人造成伤害，但空气污染对弱势群体的健康风险最大。臭氧和颗粒物都会导致肺部炎症、肺功能下降，以及哮喘和慢性阻塞性肺疾病恶化。颗粒物也与心血管疾病发病率和死亡率的增加密切相关。儿童、老年人和其他弱势群体可能对较低水平的空气污染更为敏感。那些了解当地空气污染水平的人（美国环境保护署每天都会报告，即空气质量指数）可以采取行动减少接触。这些行动包括在空气污染水平最高时限制户外活动和减少室外空气污染物渗透到室内空间的简单措施。
