Helena Joyce
Air pollution is a pressing issue that affects nearly everyone on the planet, with 99% of people currently breathing air that exceeds the World Health Organization's (WHO) guideline limits for pollutants. The main sources of human-made air pollution are vehicle emissions, fuel oils, natural gas, manufacturing by-products, and power generation. These pollutants can have detrimental effects on human health, even in the short term. Short-term exposure to air pollution can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections, aggravated asthma, and other adverse health outcomes. Certain groups, such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women, are more susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution. In this paragraph, we will explore the ways in which air pollution impacts human health and well-being in the short term.
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What You'll Learn
Respiratory issues
Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is a major environmental health problem affecting everyone, but especially those in low- and middle-income countries. The primary sources of human-made air pollution are vehicle emissions, fuel oils, natural gas, manufacturing by-products, and power generation. Natural sources include smoke from wildfires, ash and gases from volcanic eruptions, and methane from decomposing organic matter in soils.
Air pollution is a leading cause of respiratory issues, which can be short-term or long-term. Short-term exposure to air pollution can lead to respiratory infections, reduced lung function, and aggravated asthma. For example, ozone at ground level, caused by the chemical reaction of gases such as NO2 in the presence of sunlight, can cause asthma or make existing asthma worse. Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide can also cause bronchial symptoms and lung inflammation.
Particulate matter (PM) is a significant contributor to respiratory issues. Particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM10) can penetrate and irritate the lungs, causing inflammation and damaging the lining of the respiratory tract. Even smaller particles, with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5), can penetrate the lung barrier, enter the bloodstream, and affect all major organs of the body. These fine particles increase the risk of heart and respiratory diseases, as well as lung cancer and strokes.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the respiratory effects of air pollution. Higher levels of air pollution have been linked to an increased number of short-term respiratory infections, leading to more school absences. Additionally, exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can impact the health of the fetus, with potential adverse outcomes such as low birth weight and pre-term birth.
Overall, short-term exposure to air pollution can have significant respiratory health consequences, especially for vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women.
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Aggravated asthma
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.
Short-term exposure to air pollution can lead to aggravated asthma. This is particularly true for people who live near sources of pollution, such as busy roadways, power plants, industrial facilities, and oil and gas production sites. Outdoor air pollution comes from both man-made and natural sources. Man-made sources include vehicle emissions, fuel oils, natural gas, manufacturing by-products, coal-fuelled power plants, and chemical production fumes. Natural sources include smoke from wildfires, ash and gases from volcanic eruptions, and methane from decomposing organic matter in soils.
Breathing in small particles and irritating gases can irritate the airways and make asthma worse. Ozone, a gas that is common in cities with more cars and the burning of fossil fuels, is one of the most common air pollutants. Ground-level ozone is part of "smog" or "haze" and is associated with worsening respiratory diseases such as asthma. Ozone triggers asthma because it is very irritating to the lungs and airways.
Breathing in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) can cause someone to develop asthma and worsen lung disease, especially asthma. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is another pollutant that can cause bronchoconstriction, especially in people with asthma. Exposure to sulfur dioxide has been extensively investigated for its association with exacerbating asthma. While there has been a substantial reduction in SO2 levels in recent decades, it is still a key risk factor for asthma, especially in developing countries.
Short-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to an increase in asthma-related emergency room visits and hospital admissions. A study of Paris, France, indicated that most of the short-term effects of PM2.5 resulted in pediatric emergency department visits due to asthma exacerbation.
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Cardiac problems
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.
Increased Hospitalisations for Serious Cardiovascular Events
Fine particulate matter in the air can lead to serious cardiovascular events that require hospitalisation. These events include coronary syndrome, arrhythmia, heart failure, stroke, and sudden cardiac death, particularly in people with pre-existing heart disease. The risk of cardiovascular disease from particle pollution is greater in people who already have heart disease.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a buildup of plaque in the coronary artery that can affect heart health. Long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of atherosclerosis, which can lead to a higher risk of heart attack.
Lowered Levels of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
Exposure to air pollution, especially for older individuals, can result in lowered levels of HDL, or "good cholesterol". This increase in bad cholesterol can lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Hypertensive Disorders
Exposure to air pollution has been linked to dangerous changes in blood pressure, known as hypertensive disorders. These disorders are a leading cause of pre-term birth and low birth weight but also increase the risk of cardiovascular issues for the mother.
Overall, short-term exposure to air pollution can have significant cardiac effects, particularly for those with pre-existing heart conditions.
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Risk of stroke
Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is a 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.
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. Almost every organ in the body can be impacted by air pollution. Due to their small size, some air pollutants can penetrate into the bloodstream via the lungs and circulate throughout the entire body, leading to systemic inflammation and carcinogenicity.
Short-term exposure to air pollution can increase the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage, a subtype of haemorrhagic stroke. This effect is most pronounced in people with a cardiovascular burden and stroke due to large artery disease or small vessel disease. NIEHS researchers have also established links between short-term daily exposure to nitrogen oxides by post-menopausal women and an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
There is now substantial evidence linking air pollution and cardiovascular diseases, including stroke. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of stroke. While the relative risk is small at an individual level, the ubiquitous nature of exposure to air pollution means that the absolute risk at a population level is on par with "traditional" risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
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Adverse pregnancy outcomes
Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. It is a risk factor for all-cause mortality as well as specific diseases. It can affect almost every organ in the body, impacting the lungs, heart, and brain, among other organs.
Pregnant women are more susceptible to air pollution-related complications. 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 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. That means 18% of all annual preterm births have been linked to exposure to particulate matter pollution. Preterm birth significantly increases the risk of neurological disorders and permanent physical disabilities for the child.
A study in Beijing, a city with notoriously poor air quality, found that babies born to mothers who were pregnant during the 2008 Olympics had a higher average birth weight than babies born to mothers pregnant during the same calendar months in previous years. During the 2008 Olympics, the city had mandated a decrease in emissions and an improvement in air quality. This finding suggests a potential link between air quality and birth weight.
In addition to the increased risk of pre-term birth and low birth weight, exposure to air pollution during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnant women. These disorders are a leading cause of maternal and fetal illness and death.
Research continues to uncover more serious data about the potential adverse effects of air pollution on pregnant women and their babies. While the biological mechanisms are not yet fully understood, the placenta has offered vital clues and may be a valuable source of environmental information.
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Frequently asked questions
Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources. Short-term exposure to air pollution can lead to a wide range of health issues, including:
- Reduced lung function
- Respiratory infections
- Aggravated asthma
- Cardiac problems
- Increased hospital admissions
The primary sources of human-made air pollution are vehicle emissions, fuel oils, natural gas, manufacturing by-products, and power generation. Natural sources include smoke from wildfires, ash and gases from volcanic eruptions, and methane from decomposing organic matter.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution as their bodies and immune systems are still developing. Higher levels of air pollution have been linked to an increased number of short-term respiratory infections, leading to more school absences. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution has caused more than 5 million deaths of children under the age of 5 years.
Pollutants with the strongest evidence of adverse health impacts include particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). These pollutants can cause irritation, inflammation, and damage to the lining of the respiratory tract, increasing the risk of respiratory and heart diseases, as well as lung cancer and strokes.
Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy has been associated with adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, pre-term birth, and small for gestational age births. Air pollution can also increase the risk of dangerous changes in blood pressure, known as hypertensive disorders, which are a leading cause of maternal and fetal illness and death.
