Heat reduces air quality

Heat reduces air quality. Several factors influence how much people suffer from heat in terms of health. These include environmental stresses such as air pollution and noise, but also poverty and lifestyle (e.g. unhealthy diet). During a day, people breathe in between 10 and 15 kilograms of air, providing the body with the oxygen it needs to live. However, air pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides can also enter the body in this way and cause a range of diseases.

Limits for various air pollutants have therefore been set by law to protect human health. High air temperatures, together with intensive sunlight, promote the formation of health-threatening ground-level ozone. Elevated ozone concentrations can lead to irritation of mucous membranes, headaches, and respiratory difficulties. If the ozone limit values are exceeded, the responsible authority informs the population.

Fine dust is produced by abrasion in households, traffic, and industrial processes and consists of very small, invisible particles. Fine dust can reach deep into the lungs and trigger cardiovascular diseases. As a precautionary measure, people at risk, such as those with severe respiratory diseases or weakened lung function, should avoid unaccustomed and vigorous outdoor exertion when exposed to high levels of ozone or particulate matter.