How air pollution — especially in a steel town — can hurt the lungs

I remember how hard it was to keep cars, or any other outdoor metal object, clean and looking good when I lived in the steel town of Weirton, West Virginia. That ongoing struggle reminds me of my ongoing battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In the late 1960s and early ’70s, nearly all of the steel mills in the upper Ohio Valley were fueled by metallurgical coal. That kind of coal is used to make coke, a pure form of carbon that fuels the steel furnaces by producing sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which, when exposed to oxygen and moisture in the air, produce sulfuric and nitric acids. These acid molecules then fall back to the earth in acid rain, snow, fog, hail, or dry particulate matter.

Any form of these acids can wreak havoc on metallic substances, as well as our lungs, eyes, and circulatory system.

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Slow and accumulating damage

The pollution didn’t pit a car’s surface quickly, but over time, even if the car were washed and waxed regularly, the paint would begin to deteriorate. Much the same thing happened to the respiratory systems of the people nearby. After a few years of breathing this nasty air, a person might be fine — but then they’d begin getting respiratory infections. Afterward, the pace of the infections might increase to two or three each year.

That’s what happened to me and my husband.

We left the Weirton area after 13 years, but our lungs had already endured much damage. My husband developed lung cancer, and I have COPD. These conditions can’t be attributed entirely to the pollution there because we also both smoked. Still, living where we had to wear eye protection, especially if we were going downtown while wearing contacts, was surely a contributing factor.

The American Lung Association has launched the Healthy Air Campaign to promote clean air. It’s comprised of national public health, healthcare, and nursing organizations that have banded together to bring about these improvements.

All of us need clean air to breathe, but those with lung conditions are especially susceptible to bad air quality. You should limit your time outdoors and consider wearing a mask when you have to be outside. Cloth and paper masks may not deliver adequate protection, so consider a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask. There are ways to keep your indoor air clean, too.

Though the damage from air pollution may not be apparent initially, the cumulative effect can be devastating. Be sure to take care of your lungs.

Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.