Air Pollutants In the Blood
When certain air pollutants get into the blood, the whole body can be affected.
Toxins from the air enter the blood stream when they are inhaled, or absorbed through the skin or the intestines. Blood passes through all organs and tissues, and can carry these toxins into them as well as oxygen and other beneficial substances.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is one example of how toxic air affects the body. When carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream, it binds over 200 times more firmly to hemoglobin than oxygen, and seriously interferes with blood’s oxygen-transport capability. Severe acute exposure can result in death due to asphyxiation or to permanent damage to the central nervous system.
Other chemicals that poison the air include benzene, lead, mercury, pesticides and herbicides. All of these harm the blood as well as the system that is involved in the formation of blood including: blood cells, bone marrow, the spleen, lymph nodes and the netlike system of cells that cleanse the blood.
Reduce your exposure to these chemicals by driving less and using organic methods of controlling pests and weeds. And when you have a choice, eat organically grown food. Tell your local, state and national representatives you want them to make clean air and public health a priority in their decision-making.