Young man in the middle of a forest breathes fresh air, as he is not exposed to air pollution.

What are the causes of air pollution?

There are a wide range of air pollution causes, from chemical or physical agents to biological agents that contaminate and change the atmosphere of the indoor or outdoor environment.¹ Examples include common household gases like carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and ozone and pollutant gases such as nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide.^1,2

You can read more about air pollution, its sources and impacts, on The Clean Breathing Institute website: https://www.thecleanbreathinginstitute.com/evidence/health-burden/

By clicking the link(s) above, you will be taken to an external website that is independently operated and not managed by Haleon. Haleon assumes no responsibility for the content on the website. If you do not wish to leave this website, do no click on the links above.

I’ve heard a lot about ‘ozone’, what is it?

Ground-level ozone causes smog in cities. It’s created when pollutants such as methane, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants from industry, traffic, waste and energy production, react with sunlight in what’s called a photochemical reaction.¹

Why has pollution become such a big problem?

Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been a steady increase in the worldwide use of fossil fuels. This means carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased steadily since 1900.³
The chief source of mobile pollution in all industrialised countries of the world is without doubt the motor vehicle,⁴ powered by a four-stroke cycle (Otto cycle) engine fuel with gasoline.

References:

World Health Organisation. Ambient (outdoor) air quality and health. Available at: https://www.who.int/airpollution/en/ (last accessed April 2020)
World Health Organisation. Air Pollution. Available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_1 (last accessed April 2020)
Nasa Earth Observatory. Changes to the Carbon cycle. Available at: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/CarbonCycle/page4.php (last accessed April 2020)
Environmental Protection Agency. How mobile source pollution affects your health. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/mobile-source-pollution/how-mobile-source-pollution-affects-your-health (last accessed April 2020)
Bastier PL, et al. Nasal irrigation: From empiricism to evidence-based medicine. A review. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis 2015;132(5):281–5.
Rabago D, Zgierska A. Saline nasal irrigation for upper respiratory conditions. Am Fam Physician 2009; 80(10):1117–9.
Shusterman D. The effects of air pollutants and irritants on the upper airway. Proc Am Thorac Soc 2011; 8(1):101–5.
Papsin B, McTavish A. Saline nasal irrigation. Its role as an adjunct treatment. Can Fam Physician 2003;49:168–73.

Show all references

Close references

Learn more.

Young woman points to her nose, an organ of the respiratory system that helps you breathe by filtering impurities from the air.

How do we breathe?

Older woman clearing her nose of air pollution as she avoids cars and traffic on the other side of a small wooded area.

How can i help prevent air pollution?

Older woman breathes deeply after probably cleaning her nasal passages of air pollutants with Otrivin Breathe Clean.

Worried about air pollution?

Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA)

The PAIA manual is prepared in accordance with section 51 of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) No. 2 of 2000 (as amended) and the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013. The purpose of PAIA is to promote the right of access to information, to foster a culture of transparency and accountability within the Company by giving the right to information that is required for the exercise or protection of any right and to actively promote a society in which the people of South Africa have effective access to information to enable them to exercise and protect their rights.

Please see the PAIA manual.

S1 Otrivin Adult Drops. Each 1 ml contains 1 mg of xylometazoline hydrochloride. Preservative: benzalkonium chloride 0.01 % m/v. Reg. no.: H/16.1/1382.
S1 Otrivin Adult Nasal Metered-dose Spray. Each 1 ml contains 1 mg of xylometazoline hydrochloride. Preservative: benzalkonium chloride 0.01 % m/v. Reg. no.: H/16.1/1382.

* class-specific comparison (topical vs systemic decongestant)

Ref 1. Eccles R. Over the counter medicines for colds. In: Common Cold. Eccles R & Weber O, eds. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhäuser Verlag; 2009. (see reference here)

Ref 2. Eccles R, Eriksson M, Garreffa S, et al. The nasal decongestant effect of xylometazoline in the common cold. Am J Rhinol. 2008;22(5):491–6 (see reference here)

S1 OTRIVIN Menthol Nasal Metered-dose Spray. Each 1 ml contains 1 mg of xylometazoline hydrochloride. Preservative: benzalkonium chloride 0.01% m/v. Reg. no.: 31/16.1/0319.
S1 OTRIVIN Paed. Drops. Each 1 ml contains 0,5 mg of xylometazoline hydrochloride. Preservative: benzalkonium chloride 0.01 % m/v. Reg. no.: H/16.1/1381.
S1 OTRIVIN Paed. Nasal Metered-dose Spray. Each 1 ml contains 0, 5 mg of xylometazoline hydrochloride. Preservative: Benzalkonium chloride 0.01 % m/v. Reg. no.: H/16.1/1381.

Applicant: Haleon South Africa (Pty) Ltd. 11 Hawkins Avenue, Epping Industria 1, Cape Town,7450.

Company reg. no.: 2014/173930/07. For full prescribing information refer to the professional information approved by the medicines regulatory authority Always read label prior to use.

For any further information, including safety and adverse reactions, please contact the Haleon Hotline on 0800 007 018 or mystory.za@haleon.com.

This website is intended for residents of South & Southern African residents only.

* We do not supply our products directly to consumers. By selecting the Buy Now*/Try Now button on this page, you will be re-directed to a list of retailers’ websites for purchase. Kindly note that purchase will be subject to stock availability.

PM-ZA-OTRI-21-00023