BTEC Level 3 Health and Social Care Unit 1

Does allergies affect development? - - Caused by irritants and usually chronic - Hay fever and asthma are examples of respiratory system allergic reactions - Hay fever is a seasonal reaction - An asthma attack causes difficulty in breathing as the airways (bronchi and bronchioles) become inflamed and constricted. Reactions can be relieved by using an inhaler to widen the airways - Asthma UK has reported that the number of people living with this condition has plateaued, but on average 3 people a day die from asthma - Motor vehicles produce carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter - Power stations are burning less coal, which has contributed to a fall in sulphur dioxide pollution. Improved vehicle technology, such as catalytic converters, has also contributed to a reduction in air pollution - In a 2009 survey, emissions of nitrogen oxides fell by 46% between 1990 and 2006. Diesel vehicles, originally thought to be less polluting than petrol engines, emit 4 times more toxic pollution than a bus - Air pollution is still a serious problem - nearly 9500 people die prematurely in London each year as a result of long-term exposure to air pollution (in a 2015 survey). It also identified that London, Birmingham and Leeds are the most polluted cities in the UK. London has been found to have air pollution twice the level permitted by WHO (World Health Organisation) standards. People living in these cities may be more at risk of developing cardiovascular problems and respiratory disorders