Figure19.10: Thisis theinfluenzavirus thatcauses theflu; theCDC (TheCenterfor Disease
Control and Prevention) recommends that children between the ages of 6 months and 19
years get a flu vaccination each year. ( 16 )
the pollutants of concern include particulates, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, and lead. These
pollutants contain tiny particles that can get “stuck” in the lining of the respiratory system
and irritate the lungs. Indoor air pollution can be caused by tobacco smoke, dust, mold,
insects, rodents, and cleaning chemicals.
Lifestyle Choices
Smokingisthemajorcauseofchronicrespiratorydiseaseaswellascardiovasculardiseaseand
cancer. Exposure to tobacco smoke, by smoking or by breathing air that contains tobacco
smoke is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. Regular smokers die about 10
years earlier than nonsmokers do. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
describes tobacco use as ”the single most important preventable risk to human health in
developed countries and an important cause of premature death worldwide.
Dangers of Smoking
Tobacco use, particularly cigarette smoking, is the single most preventable cause of death
in the United States. Cigarette smoking alone is directly responsible for approximately
30 percent of all cancer deaths annually in the United States. The main health risks of
using tobacco are linked to diseases of the cardiovascular system and respiratory system.