Pollution's Impact: Understanding The Devastating Effects On Our Planet

Pollution is a pressing issue that poses severe risks to the environment and public health.

Cause cancer, heart attacks and strokes

How Pollution Can Cause Cancer, Heart Attacks and Strokes

Air pollution is a complex mixture of thousands of components from a wide range of sources, including gaseous pollutants and particulate matter. Particulate matter (PM) is made up of tiny pieces of solids or liquids in the air. Research has shown that exposure to air pollution is a major public health issue and is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide.

Cancer

Air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including lung, breast, liver, and pancreatic cancer. A study in Hong Kong found that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) led to an increased risk of mortality from these cancers. For every 10 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) of increased exposure to PM2.5, the risk of dying from any cancer rose by 22%. While smoking is a much bigger cause of lung cancer than air pollution, outdoor air pollution causes roughly 1 in 10 cases of lung cancer in the UK.

Heart Attacks

Short- and long-term exposure to particulate pollution have been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and other forms of heart disease. The small size of particulate matter allows it to be inhaled deeply into the lungs, where it can then affect the heart and blood vessels. This can lead to serious problems such as a heart attack, particularly for those who already have heart disease.

Strokes

Air pollution has been identified as one of the most important modifiable risk factors for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease, including strokes. Studies have shown that both short- and long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of stroke. The adverse effects of air pollution on the cardiovascular system are particularly concerning in low and middle-income countries, where air pollution is projected to rise due to rapid industrialization.

Reducing Risks

At an individual level, there are simple measures that can be taken to reduce personal exposure to air pollutants, such as commuting by public transport, cycling, or walking, and limiting time spent outdoors during periods of high pollution. On a larger scale, policy changes are needed to reduce air pollution, including moving away from the use of fossil fuels and developing integrated public transportation systems.

Damage the lungs

Air pollution is a serious threat to lung health. When breathed in, air pollutants can enter the bloodstream and cause or worsen many breathing and lung diseases. The main pathway of exposure from air pollution is through the respiratory tract. Some pollutants are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, causing systemic inflammation and carcinogenicity.

Particulate matter (PM) is a particularly harmful pollutant. It is made up of tiny pieces of solids or liquids in the air, such as dust, dirt, and smoke. PM can be produced by industrial processes, traffic, coal and oil fuel combustion, farming, and road construction, and wood-burning. High levels of PM are found near manufacturing and industrial sites, building sites, quarries, and where fossil fuels are burned. Domestic wood-burning is now the largest producer of particulate matter in the UK. PM levels are also higher on busy roads, especially those with heavy vehicles like lorries, and when traffic is moving slowly.

Short-term exposure to fine particles in the air can trigger asthma attacks, irritate the airways and lungs, and cause coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. It can also increase the risk of respiratory infections, heart attacks, and abnormal heartbeats. Over time, breathing in fine particles increases the chances of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular disease, or lung cancer. In high concentrations, wood smoke can permanently damage lung tissue.

Ozone (O3) is another dangerous pollutant. Ground-level ozone, or ozone smog, forms when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds from vehicles, power, and other sources mix with sunlight and heat. As global temperatures rise, ozone formation is expected to increase. Short-term exposure to ozone has been linked to increased hospitalizations in children and reduced lung function and increased airway responsiveness in asthmatic children. Poor air quality due to high levels of ozone has been shown to contribute to the exacerbation and development of asthma.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) are also harmful air pollutants. High levels of NO2 can irritate the airways and lungs, triggering asthma attacks and COPD flare-ups. Sulphur dioxide can cause coughing, tightness of the chest, and difficulty breathing. When levels of SO2 are high, more people with asthma are admitted to the hospital.

Overall, air pollution has been linked to a variety of respiratory symptoms and conditions, including coughing, phlegm, wheezing, inflammation of the airways and lungs, bronchial hyperreactivity, acute phase reaction, respiratory infections, reduced lung function, and increased hospitalizations. It is a risk factor for all-cause mortality as well as specific diseases such as stroke, ischaemic heart disease, COPD, lung cancer, and pneumonia. Certain populations are more susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution, including children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

Increase the risk of asthma attacks

Air pollution can increase the risk of asthma attacks by irritating the airways, making them swell and tighten up, and causing breathing problems. Pollutants in the air can have the same effect on kids with asthma as other triggers. They irritate the airways, making them swell and tighten up, and cause breathing problems. Pollutants can also make kids more likely to catch upper respiratory infections (like colds), which can bring on asthma symptoms. If allergens in the air are an asthma trigger, pollutants can make the lungs even more sensitive to them.

Ground-level ozone is a main part of smog and is worse on warmer days or in warm parts of the country. Particle pollution is created when tiny bits of dust, dirt, smoke, soot, and other stuff hang in the air. The smaller the particles, the deeper they can get into the lungs and cause breathing problems. Other pollutants include gases (such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide) that come from the burning of different types of fuels. High levels can affect lung function.

People with asthma are at greater risk from breathing in small particles and irritating gases. They can irritate the airways and make asthma symptoms like coughing, wheezing, breathlessness and chest tightness worse. This means you may need to use your reliever inhaler more.

Cause early death

Air pollution is a major cause of early death, with sources estimating that it contributes to millions of deaths each year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the combined effects of outdoor and indoor air pollution cause 7 million premature deaths annually. Another source states that air pollution is the second leading risk factor for early death, surpassed only by high blood pressure.

Air pollution has been linked to various diseases and health conditions that can lead to early death. These include respiratory diseases, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, heart attacks, strokes, and cancers. Fine particles (2.5 micrometres in diameter or less) from factories, power plants, and car exhaust, as well as ozone, a key ingredient in urban smog, are significant contributors to air pollution and its detrimental health effects.

Research has found that both long-term and short-term exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of premature death. Older adults, in particular, are at a higher risk of dying from intermittent exposure to elevated levels of air pollution. Additionally, certain subgroups within the population may be more vulnerable than others. For example, a study found that those over 85 years old, females, non-white individuals, or those who are economically disadvantaged are at a greater risk of death associated with air pollution.

The impact of air pollution on early death is not limited to a specific region or country but is a global issue. Almost the entire global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds the recommended WHO guideline limits. Low- and middle-income countries suffer from the highest exposures, with more than 90% of pollution-related deaths occurring in these regions.

Addressing air pollution is crucial to reducing its impact on early deaths. Implementing policies and interventions that support sustainable land use, cleaner household energy, improved transport, energy-efficient housing, and better waste management can effectively reduce key sources of ambient air pollution.

Contribute to climate change

Air pollution is the primary cause of climate change. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and mass deforestation lead to an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This increase in carbon dioxide traps heat inside the atmosphere through a process called the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect impacts climate patterns and sea levels worldwide.

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, prevent heat from escaping the Earth's atmosphere. The recent increase in greenhouse gas pollution is trapping excess heat and causing the planet to warm. This warming is caused by vehicle exhaust, pollutants released from smokestacks at factories and power plants, emissions from agriculture, and other sources.

According to a NASA study, an increase in ozone pollution is causing warming in the Arctic regions. Ozone in the troposphere is a greenhouse gas and a health hazard. Ozone pollution created in the Northern Hemisphere is transported to the Arctic during winter and spring, causing warming. The Arctic is currently the fastest-warming region on Earth, due in part to ozone pollution and positive feedback loops where warming melts snow and ice, changing the Earth's surface and leading to more warming.

While most air pollutants cause warming, some have a temporary cooling effect. Burning fossil fuels releases tiny particles into the atmosphere called aerosols, which can increase cloud cover and reflect energy from the sun back into space. However, the warming effect of greenhouse gases is larger than the cooling effect of aerosols.

Climate change and air pollution are two sides of the same coin and should be tackled jointly, with a focus on protecting people's health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Addressing air pollution can improve health, strengthen economies, and mitigate climate change.

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