Meghan Hodges
Poor air quality can have a significant impact on human health, causing a range of health issues, from coughing and itchy eyes to more severe problems such as respiratory and lung diseases, cancer, and even premature death. Air pollution is caused by various factors, including vehicle exhaust, smoke, road dust, industrial emissions, pollen, and chemicals, and it can affect people of all ages, particularly those with pre-existing health conditions. Certain groups, such as children, older adults, and people with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution. Research has linked air pollution to an increased risk of asthma attacks, respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and other serious health conditions. It is important to stay informed about air quality levels and take necessary precautions to protect oneself from the harmful effects of air pollution, especially on days when the air quality is predicted to be unhealthy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution | Coughing, itchy and irritated eyes, wheezing, shortness of breath, aggravated asthma, lung tissue swelling and irritation, coughing, throat irritation, watery eyes, chest pain, reduced lung function, and in severe cases, hospitalization and even death |
| Impact on children | Slowed lung development, increased susceptibility to lung infections, increased risk of developing asthma and other breathing disorders, premature birth, potential impact on brain development, higher chance of developing neurological conditions, behavioural disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum conditions |
| Impact on cardiovascular health | Increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, and cardiovascular disease |
| Impact on lung health | Increased risk of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), trachea, and bronchus cancers |
| Other health risks | Type 2 diabetes, obesity, systemic inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, low infant birth weight, and infant mortality |
| Impact on vulnerable populations | Low-income communities, minority populations, older adults, infants, young children, people with pre-existing health conditions, people who work or exercise outdoors, people in poverty or with limited access to healthcare, and people exposed to second-hand smoke are more vulnerable to the adverse health impacts of air pollution |
| Sources of air pollution | Vehicle exhaust, smoke, road dust, industrial emissions, pollen, gas-fueled yard equipment, chemicals from households, wildfires, and indoor sources such as radon, lead dust, carbon monoxide, mold, and volatile organic compounds |
| Health impact by region | Regions with lower GDP per capita tend to have higher levels of PM2.5, particularly in Eastern and South-eastern Europe, due to the combustion of low-quality solid fuels for domestic heating |
| Global impact | Air pollution causes 6.5 million deaths worldwide each year, according to the National Institutes of Health |
| Preventive measures | Stay informed about air quality, limit time outdoors, keep windows closed, use air conditioning or heat with "re-circulate" settings, switch to indoor fitness activities, wear N95 masks, shower after being outside, limit driving, and avoid gas-powered lawn equipment |
| Health alerts and advisories | The Air Quality Index (AQI) provides color-coded categories ranging from green ("good") to purple ("very unhealthy") to indicate the level of health concern |
What You'll Learn
Ozone and particle pollution
Ozone is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms, distinct from the oxygen we breathe, which has two. It occurs naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level. Ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant, particularly on hot sunny days when it can reach unhealthy levels. It is formed by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight and heat. This makes it a summertime pollutant. Air pollutants from car exhaust, paint, aerosol products, and manufacturing emissions are some of the major contributors to ground-level ozone.
Breathing in ground-level ozone can cause a range of health issues, especially for those sensitive to poor air quality, including children, older adults, those with respiratory or pulmonary conditions, athletes, and those who work or spend a lot of time outdoors. Reactions to ozone exposure may include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, fatigue, headaches, nausea, chest pain, and eye and throat irritation. It can also reduce lung function by up to 20%. Ozone is a powerful lung irritant that can cause inflammation and damage to the airways, making the lungs more susceptible to infection. It can also worsen conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis, and increase the frequency of asthma attacks.
Particle pollution, also known as particulate matter, is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. It includes particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) and fine particles of 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5). The size of these particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems, as smaller particles can penetrate deeper into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Particle pollution is often caused by power plants, factories, vehicles, construction, unpaved roads, wood burning, and agriculture. It can also be caused by a chemical reaction between gases from burning fuels, sunlight, and water vapour.
Particle pollution can affect both the lungs and the heart and has been linked to a range of serious health issues. These include premature death, particularly in those with heart or lung disease, non-fatal heart attacks, decreased lung function, and increased respiratory symptoms such as irritation of the airways, coughing, and difficulty breathing. It can also trigger asthma attacks and has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. Similar to ozone, those most at risk from particle pollution include people with respiratory or pulmonary conditions, children, older adults, athletes, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors.
Both ozone and particle pollution can impact the functioning of the immune system, increasing susceptibility to respiratory infections. They also increase the risk of chronic lung and cardiovascular diseases, which are, in turn, risk factors for severe illness and poor outcomes from COVID-19.
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Premature death
Poor air quality can lead to premature death, and this risk is well-known to medical experts. Short-term and long-term exposure to unhealthy air can shorten your life. Older adults are at a higher risk of dying after intermittent exposure to elevated levels of air pollution. Fine particles (2.5 micrometres in diameter or less) from factories, power plants, and car exhaust, as well as ozone, the main ingredient of urban smog, are the main causes of this. When you breathe in high levels of these pollutants, your lungs can become irritated, and this can lead to asthma, heart attacks, strokes, and cancers.
In 2020, air pollution led to a significant number of premature deaths in the 27 EU member states. Exposure to concentrations of fine particulate matter above the World Health Organization's guideline level resulted in 238,000 premature deaths. Additionally, exposure to nitrogen dioxide above the guideline level led to 49,000 premature deaths, and acute exposure to ozone caused 24,000 premature deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that air pollution is responsible for approximately 7 million premature deaths per year globally, including both indoor and outdoor pollution. The Global Burden of Disease study, which includes both anthropogenic and natural sources of pollution, estimates that in 2019, 4.5 million people died prematurely from outdoor air pollution, and 2.3 million died from indoor air pollution, totalling 6.7 million deaths.
The impact of air pollution on premature mortality is particularly severe in certain regions, such as Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean, due to natural desert dust particles and the reliance on solid fuels for cooking. In these regions, the health burden is higher as the current methods assume that natural dust affects health in the same way as particulate matter from other sources. However, the health impacts of natural dust are not yet fully understood and may result in a much lower burden than that of anthropogenic particulate matter.
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Respiratory issues
Poor air quality can have a detrimental impact on respiratory health, causing a range of issues, especially for those with pre-existing conditions. When breathed in, air pollutants can enter the bloodstream, leading to inflammation and oxidative stress, which can have a range of negative consequences for the body.
For people with asthma, air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause wheezing and coughing, and make it harder to breathe. It can also lead to shortness of breath, even in those without asthma. In addition, air pollution can increase the risk of respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, and acute bronchitis. These issues are particularly prevalent in children, who are more sensitive to pollution due to their narrower air passages and developing bodies.
Air pollution can also worsen symptoms for those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), making it harder to breathe and potentially leading to hospitalisation or even death. This is also true for those with emphysema or chronic bronchitis, who are at greater risk of developing COPD as a result of air pollution.
In the long term, exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of developing chronic respiratory conditions, including COPD, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer. Fine particles in the air, particularly from wood smoke, can cause permanent damage to lung tissue over time.
Overall, air pollution poses a significant risk to respiratory health, with the potential to cause both short-term and long-term damage.
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Cardiovascular issues
Air pollution has been linked to a wide range of cardiovascular issues, which can be caused or exacerbated by exposure to polluted air. Cardiovascular disease is a general term used to describe conditions affecting the health of the heart or blood vessels.
Traditional Risk Factors
Traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease include male sex, older age, increased blood pressure, high total cholesterol, low HDL, and smoking.
Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Issues
In addition to the traditional risk factors, air pollution has been found to contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. A large body of research has shown that air pollution can exacerbate existing cardiovascular disease and contribute to the development of the disease. The evidence is particularly strong for outdoor particle pollution exposure.
Fine Particulate Matter
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can increase the risk of cardiovascular events. Research has found that exposure to increased concentrations of PM2.5 over a few hours to weeks can trigger cardiovascular disease-related heart attacks and death. Longer-term exposure can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and decreases in life expectancy.
Populations at Risk
Populations that are particularly at risk of cardiovascular issues related to air pollution include people with underlying cardiovascular conditions, people with diabetes, people with elevated cholesterol levels, non-white populations, people who are obese, and people of low socioeconomic status.
Mechanisms
The putative biological mechanisms linking air pollution to heart disease involve direct effects of pollutants on the cardiovascular system, blood, and lung receptors, and/or indirect effects mediated through pulmonary oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Direct effects may occur via agents that readily cross the pulmonary epithelium into the circulation, such as gases, and possibly ultrafine particles. In addition, activation of pulmonary neural reflexes secondary to PM interactions with lung receptors may play a role.
Health Effects
Short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution have been linked to a variety of health problems, including increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, and lung cancer. Air pollution also increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, and worsened chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Preventive Measures
Given the impact of air pollution on cardiovascular health, it is important to take preventive measures to reduce exposure. This can include avoiding areas with high levels of air pollution, such as busy roadways or industrial areas, and using air purifiers or masks to reduce indoor air pollution.
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Lung cancer
Poor air quality can have a significant impact on human health, and in some cases, it can even be deadly. While air pollution is a known cause of various health issues, this response will focus on its link to lung cancer.
Particle pollution is a complex mixture of tiny solid and liquid particles in the air, containing various components like acids, organic chemicals, metals, soil, and dust particles. It can be emitted directly from sources such as wood stoves, forest fires, and vehicles or formed indirectly from other types of pollution emitted by power plants. The size of these particles plays a crucial role in their harmful effects. While larger particles may irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, they can be coughed or sneezed out. On the other hand, smaller particles bypass our natural defenses and become trapped in the lungs, causing damage and increasing the risk of lung cancer.
The impact of air pollution on lung cancer risk varies depending on individual factors such as age, location, underlying health conditions, and socioeconomic status. Certain populations are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution, including children, the elderly, people with existing lung and heart diseases, individuals with diabetes, and those with low incomes. Additionally, people who work or exercise outdoors are at a higher risk of exposure to particle pollution.
To protect ourselves from the harmful effects of particle pollution, it is essential to stay informed about air quality. Checking air quality indexes and limiting outdoor activities when pollution levels are high can help reduce exposure. Additionally, avoiding exercise along heavily trafficked highways and taking steps to reduce local pollution sources, such as not burning wood or trash and minimizing vehicle idling, can also help lower the risk of lung cancer associated with air pollution.
While smoking is a more significant risk factor for lung cancer than air pollution, it is important to recognize that air pollution is a preventable cause of this deadly disease. By taking individual actions and advocating for policies that reduce air pollution, we can work towards improving air quality and protecting public health.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, bad air quality can make you sick and even cause premature death.
Air pollution can cause a wide range of health problems, including asthma attacks, coughing, itchy eyes, irritation of the eyes and throat, lung tissue swelling, shortness of breath, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
While air pollution can affect everyone, certain groups are more vulnerable to its adverse effects. These include children, older adults, people with lung or heart disease, pregnant women, and those living in poverty or in areas with high air pollution levels.
