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Smog

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ThetermsmogwasinventedinEnglandin1905tonamethehazecausedbyacombinationof
smokeandfog.Today,smoginlargecitiesconsistsofpollutantsfromcarexhaustsandother
sourceschemicallyreactinginsunlightphotochemicalsmog.Thebrowntintofsmogisduetothe
presenceofnitrogendioxide.
DuringMelbournesummers,themaintypeofsmogisphotochemical.Hydrocarbonsandoxides
fromcarandfactoryemissionsreacttogetherinwarmsunshinetoformthegasozone.Summer
smogismeasuredbytheamountofozoneintheair.
DuringMelbournewinters,themaincausesofsmogincludewoodheaters,openfires,andcarand
factoryemissions.Wintersmogismeasuredbythereductioninvisibility,whichindicatesthe
amountofairborneparticles.
Prolongedexposuretosmogaffectsthelungsandreduceslungfunctioning.Thereissome
evidencetosuggestthatsmogmayeventriggerasthmainpeoplewithnoprevioushistoryofthe
disorder.

Constituents of smog
Smogcontainsnumeroussmallparticles,whichcanbeinhaled.Itmaycontainmanydifferent
chemicalsandparticles,including:

Nitrogenoxides
Volatileorganiccompounds
Hydrocarbons
Ozone
Nitrogendioxide
Roaddust
Topsoil
Pollens
Woodsmoke.

Health problems of smog

Smogcancauseorcontributetoarangeofhealthproblems,including:

Redandirritatedeyes
Inflammationofthelungsairways
Increasedriskofasthmaattacks
Increasedriskofhayfeverattacks
Temporarydropinlungfunction
Unprovenbutsuspectedincreasedriskofchronicbronchitis
Unprovenbutsuspectedincreasedriskofemphysema.

Healthproblemscanoccurwhenthereissignificantconcentrationintheairofsmallparticlesof
lessthan10micrometresdiameter.Thisisbecausetheycanbeinhaleddeepintothelungsand
canleadtoprematuredeathinthosewithpre-existingheartorlungdisease.

The link to asthma and other respiratory disorders

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Smogdoesntjustincreasetheriskofasthmaattacksinthosepeoplewithpre-existingasthma.
Somestudieshaveshownthatprolongedexposuretosmogcantriggerasthmainpeoplewithno
historyofthedisorder.Ozoneandnitrogenoxidecanmakethelungsmoresensitivetocommon
asthmatriggers,suchaspollenanddustmites.
Thereissomeevidencetosuggestthatprolongedexposuretoairpollutionmaycauseemphysema
andchronicbronchitis,butmoreresearchisneeded.Someofthechemicalsindieselexhaustmay
contributetoanincreasedriskoflungcancer,butthelevelofthesechemicalsinAustralianairis
consideredtoolowtohaveaneffect.

Smog alerts
TheEnvironmentProtectionAuthority(EPA)monitorsairqualityandissuessmogalertwarnings
whennecessary.Melbournessmogcanbereliablypredicted,andwarningsareusuallyissuedthe
daybefore.Certainweatherconditionscontributetotheformationofsmog.
AccordingtotheEPA,smogislikely(insummer)ifthepredictedweatherincludes:

Clear,sunnyskies
Lighteasterly,northeasterlyornorthwinds,followedbyanafternoonseabreeze
Astrongtemperatureinversionatlessthan1,000metresaboveground.

Inwinter,asmogalertisissuedifthepredictedweatherincludes:

Alightwind
Lowcloudcover
Atemperatureinversionneartheground.

Coping with smog

Suggestionsforcopingonsmoggydaysinclude:

Peoplewithrespiratoryorcardiacdisordersshouldtrytoremainindoors.
Peoplewithasthmamayneedtotakegreaterthanusualamountsofrelievermedications.
Youshouldavoidphysicalexerciseoutdoors.

Contributing to cleaner air

Suggestionsforimprovingairqualityinclude:

Haveyourcarregularlymaintainedtoreduceexhaustemissions.
Dontdriveyourcarwhenyoucanwalkorcatchpublictransport.
Carpoolwithfriendsorneighbours.
Ifyouhaveawoodburner,gatheryouruntreatedwoodinsummerandleaveittodryfor
atleasteightmonthsbeforeusingit.
Maintainyourwoodheateranduseitcorrectly.
Switchtootherformsofheating.
Dontuseincineratorsorburnrubbishintheopenair.
Dontburnfallenautumnleaves.

Where to get help

Yourdoctor
Theby-lawsofficeratyourlocalcouncil
EnvironmentProtectionAuthority,PollutionWatchlineTel.(03)96952777
TheAustralianLungFoundationTel.(03)95703893or1800654301

Things to remember

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Smoginlargecitiesarecausedbypollutantsfromcarexhaustsandothersources
chemicallyreactinginsunlighttoformozone.
InMelbourne,summersmogismeasuredbytheamountofozoneintheair,andwinter
smogbythereductioninvisibilityduetoairborneparticles.
Prolongedexposuretosmogirritatesthelungsandreducestheirfunctioning.

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