Introduction
In the past few years, increased contamination of the atmospheric environment by the heavy metals such as Cadmium, Nickel, and Chromium has been detected. This dangerous contamination comes from such sources connected with the urbanization as industrialization, vehicular traffic, and use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture. To the surprise of many people, other channels of hazardous chemicals are tobacco smoking and the beauty industry that makes use of a variety of heavy metals in its products.
Exposures to Cadmium, Nickel, and Chromium cause such adverse health effects as cardiovascular disorders, increased incidence of cancer, chronic respiratory problems, malfunction of the excretory system, and affect mental health. Moreover, such chemicals are declared genotoxic on the basis of recent research studies. In connection with the above-mentioned facts, the question the preventive medicine is facing is whether there exists a solution to change urban routines to eliminate exposures to extra health risks.
Air Quality and Associated Health Risks
According to the article published by Tsamalis (2014) in the recent issue of Life Science Weekly journal, air contamination problem in both developed and the third world countries is getting more complicated. The scientists express concerns regarding the growing rates of hazardous contaminants such as Cadmium, Nickel, and Chromium in the air (Tsamalis, 2014). They state that the essence of the problem is the modern lifestyle connected with intense production, consumptive attitudes, and the desire to have glamorous appearance ignited by the beauty industry. The paradox of contemporary society is that being quite positive in their nature, such initiatives laid to the environmental crisis (Tsamalis, 2014).
As an outcome of this crisis, people’s quality of life is constantly worsening due to the health risks associated with the environmental problems. Individuals exposed to the ambient air pollutants such as Cadmium, Nickel, and Chromium may develop cancer, cardiovascular disorders, genotoxic lesions, malfunction of the excretory system, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental disorders of various degrees of complexity ranging from depression to schizophrenia (Tsamalis, 2014). Other health endpoints resulting from exposures to air pollutants are allergenic reactions, neurological disorders, hypertension, humoral immune response impairment, spontaneous abortion, chromosomal aberrations, and congenital structural malformations, low birth weight, and birth defects, liver and kidney damage, and inflammatory processes in joints (Tsamalis, 2014).
Critical Analysis
Tsamalis’ article is of high significance in connection with the current situation in the healthcare system, as well as the problems that emerge in the economics due to the increased levels of morbidity and mortality associated with the environmental pollution. Despite the fact that the growing number of scientists and other authorized specialists express concerns regarding the environmental problems connected with the contamination by the heavy metals, people’s daily routines continue to be closely linked with the use of hazardous chemicals in household and industry (Abelsohn & Stieb, 2011).
The facts provided by Tsamalis (2014) suggest that time has come to alter the practices of chemical pollutants implementation in everyday life and elaborate strategies for reducing harm caused to the environment by the heavy metals use.
Possible Solution and Related Issues
Since hazardous pollutants such as Cadmium, Nickel, and Chromium have gross implications for the environment and the human health, it is necessary to reconsider traditional practices of daily life requiring the use of these chemicals. In every area of their implementation, the question concerning practical strategies of transition to the use of natural harmless substances should be answered.
References
Abelsohn, A., & Stieb, D. (2011). Health effects of outdoor air pollution: approach to counseling patients using the Air Quality Health Index. Canadian Family Physician Médecin De Famille Canadien, 57(8), 881.
Tsamalis, C. (2014). New atmospheric science study results reported. Life Science Weekly, 26 (1), 5-11.