Someone me! : ) when we think about the effects of air pollutants we immediately think of respiratory issues. exposure to one criteria air pollutant has harmful effects on the cardiovascular system including increased occurrence of heart attack and stroke. these effects can result in emergency department visits, hospitalizations and, in some cases, premature death. as expected, exposure to this pollutant is also linked to harmful respiratory effects, including asthma attacks. what is this pollutant? a) ozone b) sulfur dioxide c) carbon monoxide d) particulate matter