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Preface
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1.Climate as a Public Interest in Planning and Zoning
2.Characteristics and Forms of the Urban Climate
2.1Overview
2.2Urban Heat Budget
2.3Urban Heat Islands
2.4Humidity / Precipitation / Vegetation
2.5Wind
2.6Bioclimate
2.7Air Exchange
2.8Pollutant Emissions
2.8.1The Traffic as Pollutant Source
2.8.2Computational Estimation of Traffic Immissions
2.9Pollutant Levels and Threshold Values
2.9.1Limits and Assessment values
2.10Effect of Pollutant
2.11Climate Change
2.11.1Climate Change in Germany
2.11.2Prevention of Climate Change
2.11.3Adaption to Climate Change
3.Energy-Conscious Planning and Zoning
4.Methods of Information Acquisition for Planning (Measurements, Wind Tunnels, Numerical Modelling)
5.Climatic and Air Hygiene Maps as Aids for Planning and Zoning (Example: Climate Atlas Federation Region Stuttgart)
6.Recommendations for Planning
7.Bibliography
8.Thematic Websites
Imprint
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CHARACTERISTICS AND FORMS OF THE URBAN CLIMATE
   
 2.10 Effect of Pollutant

The effect of air pollution both on vegetation – especially our forests – and on humans and their health still stands in the middle of political discussions about the environment. Especially breathing illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, and even lung cancer, airborne pollutants are included under the assumed causes. In addition to the effects of short-term health problems, long-term health problems must also be taken into consideration. (LANDESAMT NRW, 2012; UBA, 2012).

The most frequent illnesses caused by air pollution are the following:

  • Irritations of the eyes and air passages from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides,
  • inflammations of the lungs, caused by sulfur dioxide in connection with airborne particles,
  • cell damage from metals and soot,
  • disruption of the oxygen exchange of the blood from carbon monoxide,
  • Tumors resulting from effects of some hydrocarbons,
  • psychosomatic diseases appearing in the form of general weaknesses in function and concentration.
The following schematic representation (Fig. 2/24 shows the most significant relationships and influences as cause-and-effect structures (HAGEL, 1974).
  
 
 
Fig. 2/24: Schematic representation
of the significant relationships and influences of pollutant effects as an effect structure; HAGEL, 197