The Impact of Air Pollution on Pulmonary Diseases: A Case Study from Brasov County, Romania

Abstract

Air pollution is considered one of the most significant risk factors for human health. To ensure air quality and prevent and reduce the harmful impact on human health, it is necessary to identify and measure the main air pollutants (sulfur and nitrogen oxides, PM10 and PM2.5 particles, lead, benzene, carbon monoxide, etc.), their maximum values, as well as the impact they have on mortality/morbidity rates caused by respiratory diseases. This paper aims to assess the influence of air pollution on respiratory diseases based on an analysis of principal pollutants and mortality/morbidity data sets. In this respect, four types of data are used: pollution sources inventory, air quality data sets, mortality/morbidity data at the local and national level, and clinical data of patients diagnosed with different forms of lung malignancies. The results showed an increased number of deaths caused by respiratory diseases for the studied period, correlated with the decreased air quality due to industrial and commercial activities, households, transportation, and energy production.