Pollution's Impact: Health Problems And Solutions

Air pollution is a major threat to global health and prosperity. It is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. Air pollution is the presence of one or more contaminants in the atmosphere, such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odour, smoke or vapour, in quantities and durations that can be harmful to human health. The main pathway of exposure from air pollution is through the respiratory tract. Breathing in these pollutants can lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, and mutagenicity in cells throughout the body, impacting the lungs, heart, and brain, among other organs, and ultimately leading to disease. Almost every organ in the body can be impacted by air pollution.

Air pollution is the leading cause of cancer

Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity, causing more than 6.5 million deaths each year worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the world's population breathes unhealthy air.

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer death. Outdoor air pollution is a significant factor, causing roughly 1 in 10 cases of lung cancer in the UK and hundreds of thousands of lung cancer deaths annually worldwide. While smoking is a larger contributor to lung cancer cases, air pollution is a significant and independent risk factor. Nearly half of lung cancer cases in non-smokers are estimated to be related to air pollution.

In addition to lung cancer, there is growing evidence of links between air pollution and other types of cancer. For example, a study of over 57,000 women found that living near major roadways may increase the risk of breast cancer. Similarly, occupational exposure to benzene, a component of gasoline, is associated with leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Long-term exposure to air pollution, particularly PM2.5 and NO2, has also been linked to increased risks of colorectal and prostate cancers.

Reducing air pollution is crucial for mitigating the risk of cancer, particularly lung cancer. Actions such as increasing green spaces, adopting cleaner energy sources, and promoting active transportation can have a significant impact on cancer prevention and overall health improvement.

It increases the risk of respiratory diseases

Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is a major threat to global health, causing more than 6.5 million deaths each year worldwide. This number has increased over the past two decades. The main pathway of exposure from air pollution is through the respiratory tract. Breathing in these pollutants leads to inflammation, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, and mutagenicity in cells throughout the body, impacting the lungs, heart, and brain, among other organs.

The effects of air pollution on respiratory health are significant, with vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions being particularly at risk. Children living in polluted areas are more likely to suffer from coughs, wheezing, asthma, and impaired lung function. Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight, pre-term birth, and an increased risk of developing asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in the child.

Studies have found a link between particle pollution exposure and a range of respiratory issues, including respiratory symptoms such as cough, phlegm, and wheeze; inflammation of the airways and lungs; bronchial hyperreactivity; respiratory infections; decreased lung function growth in children; chronic loss of pulmonary function in adults; and asthma development.

The combination of experimental and epidemiological studies has provided evidence of a relationship between short-term exposures to particle pollution and a number of respiratory-related effects, including elevated morbidity, higher rates of emergency department visits and hospital admissions, and excess mortality. For example, when a steel mill in Utah Valley, the source of 90% of local particle pollution emissions, was shut down for a year, hospital admissions for bronchitis and asthma in the area decreased by almost 50%. Once the mill resumed operations, hospital admissions increased.

Climate change is also expected to significantly impact respiratory health in the coming decades, with a projected 15% increase in ozone-related respiratory deaths by 2100. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, storms, and wildfires, will significantly affect air quality and respiratory health.

Pregnant women exposed to air pollution are at risk

Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is a major threat to global health and prosperity and is responsible for more than 6.5 million deaths each year worldwide. It is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe and a major cause of premature death and disease.

Another study in Beijing found that women who were in their eighth month of pregnancy during the 2008 Olympics delivered babies who were on average 0.8 ounces heavier than those born in the same calendar months in previous years. The 2008 Olympics saw the city mandated to lower emissions and improve air quality. A separate study by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) at the University of York found that nearly three million babies are born prematurely each year due to air pollution.

Maternal exposure to air pollution is associated with adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, pre-term birth, and small for gestational age births. A growing body of evidence also suggests that air pollution may affect diabetes and neurological development in children. A Harvard study revealed that women exposed to high particulate matter pollution during their third trimester were twice as likely to deliver a child with autism, especially if they lived near a highway.

It is important for pregnant women to be aware of the risks associated with air pollution and take steps to avoid exposure to unhealthy air.

Children are more vulnerable to air pollution

Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is a major threat to global health, causing more than 6.5 million deaths each year worldwide. This number has increased over the past two decades.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. Firstly, they breathe more rapidly than adults, and so absorb more pollutants. They also live closer to the ground, where some pollutants reach peak concentrations. Their brains and bodies are still developing, and as a result, air pollution can damage their health during childhood and increase the risk of diseases later in life. For instance, breathing PM 2.5, even at relatively low levels, may alter the size of a child's developing brain, which may ultimately increase the risk for cognitive and emotional problems later in adolescence. A growing body of evidence also suggests that air pollution may affect diabetes and neurological development in children.

In addition, children who play several outdoor sports and live in high-ozone communities are more likely to develop asthma. Children living near busy roads have an increased chance of developing asthma. Children who were exposed to high levels of air pollutants were more likely to develop bronchitis symptoms in adulthood. Living in communities with higher pollution levels can cause lung damage.

Household air pollution from cooking and ambient (outside) air pollution cause more than 50% of acute lower respiratory infections in children under 5 years of age in low- and middle-income countries. In 2016, 600,000 children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air.

Air pollution can cause premature death

Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is the presence of one or more contaminants in the atmosphere, such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odour, smoke or vapour, in quantities that can be harmful to human health. Almost every organ in the body can be impacted by air pollution, and it is a major threat to global health and prosperity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution kills approximately seven million people worldwide every year. This figure includes deaths caused by both ambient (outdoor) and household air pollution. Outdoor air pollution alone caused 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2019, with 89% of these occurring in low- and middle-income countries. The greatest number of premature deaths due to outdoor air pollution were in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions.

The health impacts of air pollution depend on the types, sources, and concentrations of the pollutants in the mixture to which an individual is exposed. The main pathway of exposure is through the respiratory tract, which can lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, and mutagenicity in cells throughout the body, impacting the lungs, heart, and brain, among other organs. Some pollutants are so small that they can penetrate the bloodstream via the lungs and circulate throughout the entire body, leading to systemic inflammation and carcinogenicity.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an air pollutant that drives significant health problems and premature mortality. It is released from sources such as wildfires, coal-fueled power plants, and vehicle emissions. Exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to an increased risk of developing respiratory infections, asthma, and bronchitis, as well as cognitive and emotional problems in children. It can also alter the size of a child's developing brain and increase the risk of diseases later in life. In adults, it has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer.

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