Air Pollution: Harming Our Families, Damaging Our Health

Air pollution is an issue that affects everyone, but certain groups are more vulnerable to its effects than others. These groups include children, whose lungs are still developing, and who breathe in more air relative to their size than adults. Outdoor air pollution can cause children to develop respiratory infections, and can also affect lung development, putting them at greater risk of lung disease as they age. Older adults are also at increased risk, as the ageing process reduces lung capacity, and older immune systems are less able to protect the lungs from contaminants. Pregnant people are another group at risk, as air pollution can increase the risk of hypertensive disorders, preeclampsia, intrauterine inflammation, and damage to the placenta, which can disrupt fetal growth and development. Additionally, people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution, which can worsen symptoms and reduce quality of life. Socioeconomic factors also play a role, with people of colour and low-income communities often facing higher exposure to pollutants and suffering greater health impacts.

How does air pollution affect babies and children?

Air pollution poses severe risks to children's health. Children are more vulnerable to the adverse health effects of air pollution due to their higher minute ventilation, immature immune system, involvement in vigorous activities, and the longer periods they spend outdoors. They also have a higher breathing rate relative to their body weight, and their lungs and other organs are still developing.

Children are at greater risk from inhaled pollutants due to their unique activity patterns and behaviour. They often play on the ground, amidst dirt and dust that may carry toxicants, and they frequently put their hands, toys, and other items in their mouths, inadvertently ingesting harmful substances. They also tend to spend more time outdoors, and breathe air that is closer to the ground, which puts them in closer proximity to sources of pollution like dust and vehicle exhaust.

Children's lungs develop in stages: in the womb, from birth until age three, and then up until adulthood. Exposure to air pollution during these stages has a greater impact on their health. High air pollution is linked to low birth weight and premature births, and exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and after birth affects a baby's lung function development. It can also cause or worsen respiratory infections and asthma, and increase the risk of bacterial pneumonia.

Air pollution is also associated with an increased risk of childhood cancer and cardiovascular disease. It can affect neurodevelopment and cognitive ability, and children exposed to high levels of air pollution may be at greater risk for chronic diseases later in life.

How does air pollution affect pregnant people?

Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can have detrimental effects on both the pregnant person and the developing baby.

Air pollution can cross the placenta, affecting the health of the placenta itself and disrupting the baby's development. The effects of air pollution depend on several factors, including the stage of development at exposure, the duration and amount of exposure, and the specific pollutant.

One of the most well-known effects of air pollution on pregnancy is the increased risk of low birth weight and premature birth. High levels of air pollution have been linked to lower birth weight, and exposure during pregnancy can cause preterm delivery, resulting in babies with underdeveloped bodies and lungs. This, in turn, increases the risk of death after birth.

In addition, air pollution has been associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss, including stillbirth and spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can also impact lung function development, with links to infant and child lung function impairment, an increase in respiratory symptoms, and the development of childhood asthma.

Air pollution can also have direct health implications for the pregnant person. For example, exposure to air pollution in the first trimester has been correlated with an increased risk of preeclampsia and high blood pressure, which can harm both the parent and the baby and may require an early birth.

Overall, air pollution is a serious health risk for both the pregnant person and the developing baby, and it may interact with other risk factors to intensify the dangers for vulnerable families.

How does air pollution affect older adults?

As people age, their bodies find it harder to compensate for the effects of environmental hazards. Older adults are more susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution, and their exposure to air pollutants can have serious health consequences.

Air pollution can aggravate pre-existing health conditions in older adults, such as heart disease, stroke, and lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. It can also increase the risk of developing respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and even urinary and bladder cancer. Fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5, from car emissions, trucking, soot, smoke from wildfires, and volatile compounds from factories, is particularly harmful to older adults. Exposure to fine particle pollution has been linked to premature death, cardiac arrhythmias, heart attacks, asthma attacks, and the development of chronic bronchitis.

Additionally, ozone, even at low levels, can exacerbate respiratory diseases in older adults. Short-term exposure to air pollutants can lead to increased medication use, more visits to healthcare providers, and admissions to emergency rooms and hospitals. Furthermore, studies have shown that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with a higher incidence of COPD, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema.

The effects of air pollution on older adults can vary depending on individual factors such as age, pre-existing health conditions, and the specific pollutants they are exposed to. Overall, it is crucial to take steps to reduce the impact of air pollution on older adults, as they are more vulnerable to its adverse effects.

How does air pollution affect people of colour?

People of colour are disproportionately affected by air pollution, regardless of region or income level. This is due to a variety of factors, including systemic racism, housing market dynamics, and the location of pollution sources.

A 2021 study in Science Advances found that people of colour are exposed to higher-than-average concentrations of fine-particle emissions from most source types, including industry, agriculture, coal electric utilities, vehicles, construction, and residential sources. This type of pollution is one of the largest environmental causes of death globally, causing between 85,000 and 200,000 premature deaths in the US annually. The health effects of this type of pollution include respiratory and heart disease and an increased risk of premature death, especially for those with chronic diseases, younger people, older people, and other vulnerable populations.

The study also found that the disparities in exposure to air pollution were not due to income levels but rather were driven by race. This is supported by findings that higher-income people of colour still faced a greater risk of health impacts from air pollution than lower-income white people.

The causes of these disparities are systemic. Due to decades of residential segregation, people of colour tend to live in areas with greater exposure to air pollution. This is further compounded by the fact that pollution sources tend to be located near disadvantaged communities.

The implications of these findings are serious, and policy changes are needed to address these environmental injustices and reduce the burden of air pollution on people of colour.

How does air pollution affect people with asthma?

Air pollution can have a detrimental impact on people with asthma. It can trigger asthma attacks and worsen symptoms, such as coughing and wheezing, making it harder to breathe. Certain pollutants can irritate the airways, causing them to swell and tighten, which leads to breathing problems.

People with asthma are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, and their exposure to it can result in long-term respiratory issues. Higher levels of air pollution are associated with an increased number of asthma attacks, hospital admissions, and even death rates.

Additionally, air pollution can increase the likelihood of respiratory infections, which can, in turn, trigger asthma symptoms. Pollutants can also heighten the sensitivity of the lungs to allergens.

Some specific pollutants that can affect people with asthma include:

• Ground-level ozone: Forms when chemicals from cars, power plants, and factories mix with sunlight.
• Particle pollution: Created when tiny bits of dust, dirt, smoke, soot, and other particles hang in the air, often from wildfires.
• Gases: Such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide, which are released during the burning of various fuels.

It is important for people with asthma to be aware of air quality and take precautions, especially during periods of poor air quality.

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