Common Health Problems Associated with Air Pollution
Indoor and outdoor air pollution causes several common health problems which according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (2009) are grouped according to the major pollutants. To begin with, carbon monoxide compromises the heart activities hence lethargy and fatigue. It also causes nausea, dizziness, and headaches and in large amounts may even lead to death. Nitrogen dioxide causes nasal and throat irritation and increases the risk of developing respiratory infections.
Ozone causes irritation of the respiratory system leading to coughs, chest and throat pains. Particulates cause damage to respiratory tract tissues especially lung tissue leading to lung diseases. Sulfur dioxide is known to make worse existing lung diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. Lead on the other hand causes damage to the brain and the nervous system with children being most susceptible (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 2009; California Air Resources Board 2007a). From these, it is evident that air pollution has adverse common effects on the respiratory system and to some extent other body parts.
Vulnerability of Children to Pollutants
The most common health problems in children associated with air pollution occur in the respiratory system. This is due to the fact that children’s respiratory system is not fully developed therefore immature. This means that the structures are weak and are prone to damage at the slightest exposure to air pollutants.
The children’s health study by the California Air Resources Board reported that children are more vulnerable to effects of air pollutants as they are exposed to more air pollution than adults as they have higher respiratory rates and are normally outdoors (California Air Resources Board 2007b). Other factors may include the underdeveloped immune system in children that is not able to effectively and efficiently fight off the effects of air pollution on the body and large surface area to volume ratio that exposes a large surface area to air pollution.
Needs Assessment Process and the Role of Health Educator
Community needs assessment is a systematic process in which the health educator, the nurse, and other health care professionals together with the members of the community determine the health problems & needs of the community & develop plans of action, and implement those plans. In this case, the needs assessment process will be in relation to air pollution. The first step is exploration which involves mapping out the community with the purpose of obtaining baseline information that helps plan for the rest of the assessment process.
The second is step is planning for assessment exercise where by the necessary resources are put into place and objective designed, in this case, it will be; to assess health impacts of air pollution and how to combat these effects. The third step is recruitment and training of assistants, fourth step is pretesting and reworking of the tool as it helps to detect faults and shortcomings after which corrections are made. The fifth step is execution of the assessment which basically involves actually going to the community and engaging the community into discussions and giving them the assessment tools so that they can feel it with relevant information.
The sixth step is a critical analysis of the findings and recommendations. The collected data is analyzed and then findings and recommendations are drawn. One of fundamental recommendations that will be made is to initiate Health Education and Promotion to combat the effects of air pollution. Health education/promotion empowers an individual with the much needed and relevant information that can be of great assistance in management of his/her health and other related issues.
The health education and promotion will involve sources of air pollutants, their effects on human health, management, and prevention measures. The health educator, the nurse, and other stakeholders can carry out this activity with the help of the local health professionals working within the community and even train some community members who will be educating their colleagues; this creates a sense of belonging and ownership among the community members in that they will participate in the health education/promotion activities as their own. This empowers the community and the information stays with them even years after the time of carrying out the assessment.
The final step is evaluation and just as in nursing process, evaluations help in checking if the assessment was a success and whether there has been any positive impact, and if interventions put in place had desired results. Evaluation also helps in knowing if the set goals and objectives were met, determining success or failure of the problem and to put corrective measure into place (Zerwekh, 112; Holloway, & Wheeler, 76; Grol 361). The health educator works hand in hand with the community health nurse and other health professionals in the above process whereby he/she acts the overall supervisor.
Conclusion
Air pollution has adverse effects on health and majorly affects the respiratory system with children being most vulnerable due to their underdeveloped respiratory system. Health educators are charged with the overall responsibility of overseeing planning, implementation, and evaluation of education programs in the community. They also function as consultants to the other healthcare professionals involved in health education and promotion.
References
- “Air Pollutants and their health effects”. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. 2009. Web.
- “Health Effects Research.” California Air Resources Board. 2007a. Web.
- The Children’s Health Study. California Air Resources Board. 2007b. Web.
- Grol R. “National standard setting for quality of care in general practice: attitudes of general practitioners and response to a set of standards.” Br J Gen Pract 40 (2000): 361–4.
- Holloway, I., & Wheeler, S. Qualitative Research in Nursing. 2nd Ed. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2002.
- Zerwekh, J. Nursing Today: Transition and Trends. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 2003.