ALT Air Quality and Health: Exposure to air pollutants such as particulate matter and ground-level ozone can cause headaches, irritated eyes and sinuses, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains, asthma attacks, irritated throat and increased coughing. Poor air quality can be hazardous to anyone, and it can aggravate health problems such as asmtha, heart disease, and lung disease. Seniors, children and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.