The following types of people tend to be more sensitive to air pollution than others.   These people may experience symptoms sooner than others, and at lower concentrations.  Also, their symptoms may be more serious:

Children The elderly Asthmatics People with lung disease People with heart disease People who are active outdoor

Children are more sensitive than adults because they breathe more per pound of body weight, they tend to be more active outdoors, their airways are smaller and still developing, and they are less likely to pay attention to internal warning cues

The elderly are sensitive because they already have a reduced breathing capacity, they are less capable of clearing foreign matter from their lungs and airways, and their immune systems are more vulnerable.

Asthmatics are more sensitive to irritants, such as air pollutants, and air pollutants may heighten an asthmatic's sensitivity to certain allergens, or triggers.

People with other types of lung or heart disease respond more severely to air pollution than the general public.

Anyone who spends a large amount of time outdoors, especially exercising or engaged in physical labor, is more likely to experience health effects than others.   These individuals, often healthy adults, are not likely to see themselves as sensitive to air pollution, but are at greater risk.

Finally, scientists don't yet know why, but some people are simply more sensitive than others to the type of pollution known as ground-level ozone.   To determine if you are sensitive to air pollution,, pay close attention to your breathing, heart rate, and any sensations in your chest or airways, especially when outside. If symptoms consistently appear when ozone levels are moderate or unhealthy, you may be sensitive to ozone.   You can find out when pollution levels are (or were) moderate or unhealthy by visiting the Pollution Levels portion of this website, or by calling the AirBeat hotline at 617-427-9500., or by visiting the MA DEP website