Air Pollution: Damaging Our Breathing, Our Health

Air pollution is a pressing issue that affects the health and well-being of people worldwide. It encompasses a range of contaminants, from vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions to smoke and chemical pollutants found in indoor and outdoor environments. The impact of breathing polluted air is far-reaching, contributing to coughing, itchy eyes, and various respiratory and lung diseases, including lung cancer. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are at an elevated risk of adverse effects.

The consequences of air pollution extend beyond individual health, as it also drives climate change, posing a broader threat to ecosystems and communities. Addressing this issue requires collective efforts, from individual actions to local, state, and national policy changes. Understanding the impact of pollution on the air we breathe is crucial for mitigating its harmful effects and ensuring a sustainable future for all.

How does pollution affect the respiratory system?

Air pollution can have a detrimental impact on respiratory health, causing a range of issues in the respiratory system. When air pollutants are inhaled, they can enter the bloodstream and irritate the lungs, leading to coughing, itchy eyes, and other respiratory issues. Short-term exposure to fine particles in the air can trigger lung disease, asthma attacks, acute bronchitis, and may increase the risk of respiratory infections.

Particle pollution, or particulate matter, is a significant concern. These particles are a mixture of tiny solids and liquids in the air, which can be directly emitted or formed in the atmosphere from other pollutants. Coarse particles (PM10) include dust, ash, pollen, and smoke, while fine particles (PM2.5) are often by-products of burning wood or fossil fuels and can contain toxic compounds, salts, and metals. Ultrafine particles (PM0.1) are the smallest and are also produced by combustion.

The size of these particles determines their impact on our health. Coarse particles are prevented from reaching the deepest parts of our lungs by our body's natural defenses, but smaller fine and ultrafine particles can penetrate deeply, sometimes even entering the bloodstream. This can lead to a range of issues, including:

• Increased susceptibility to infections
• Heart attacks and strokes
• Impaired cognitive functioning
• Metabolic disorders
• Respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath
• Aggravated asthma and lower respiratory infections
• Lung cancer

Additionally, air pollution can cause or worsen existing lung diseases and increase the risk of premature death. Certain groups are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, including children, the elderly, people with existing lung diseases, and those with cardiovascular issues.

How does air pollution affect children?

Air pollution has a disastrous effect on children's health. According to the 2024 State of Global Air report, air pollution was the second leading risk factor for death among children under five in 2021, after malnutrition. It was linked to a total of 709,000 deaths in children under five, accounting for 15% of all global deaths in this age group. This means that almost 2,000 children under five die every day due to health issues related to air pollution.

Children are more vulnerable to the adverse health effects of air pollution than adults due to several factors. Firstly, they breathe more rapidly than adults, taking in more air relative to their body weight. Secondly, they often spend more time outdoors and breathe air closer to the ground, which brings them into closer proximity to sources of pollution like dust and vehicle exhaust. Thirdly, children spend a significant amount of time indoors, so they may be significantly affected by household air pollution, especially if their mothers were exposed to polluted air during pregnancy. Lastly, children's brains, lungs, and other organs are still developing, making them physiologically more susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollutants.

Air pollution negatively affects multiple systems in children's bodies and has both immediate and long-term health consequences. In the short term, it can cause respiratory infections, aggravate asthma, trigger coughing or itchy eyes, and increase the risk of respiratory and lung diseases. In the long term, it can impair lung function and development, which continues through adolescence, and lead to chronic health issues in adulthood, such as cardiovascular disease. Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy has also been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including premature birth, low birth weight, and intrauterine growth retardation.

Additionally, air pollution can negatively affect neurodevelopment and cognitive ability. It has been associated with an increased risk of childhood cancer, particularly leukaemia, and there is emerging evidence linking it to neurodevelopmental and metabolic diseases in children.

How does air pollution affect the elderly?

As people age, their bodies become less able to compensate for the effects of environmental hazards. Air pollution can have a range of adverse effects on the health of older adults, including:

• Aggravating heart disease, lung diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma), and diabetes.
• Increasing the risk of stroke.
• Leading to more medication use, visits to healthcare providers, admissions to emergency rooms and hospitals, and even premature death.

Ozone and particulate matter (especially smaller, fine particle pollution called PM2.5) have the greatest potential to affect the health of older adults. Fine particle pollution has been linked to cardiac arrhythmias and heart attacks, asthma attacks, and the development of chronic bronchitis. Ozone, even at low levels, can exacerbate respiratory diseases.

Short-term exposure to air pollutants can cause a range of health problems for older adults, including:

• Increased coughing.
• Itchy eyes.
• Worsening of existing breathing and lung diseases, leading to hospitalizations.
• Triggering asthma attacks.
• Causing wheezing.

Additionally, long-term exposure to elevated levels of air pollution has been linked to the incidence of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema.

Overall, the evidence suggests that older adults are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollution compared to younger populations.

How does air pollution affect people with pre-existing health conditions?

Air pollution is a major cause of disease and premature death, and it is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe. It can affect everyone, but people with pre-existing health conditions are especially vulnerable to its impacts. Vulnerability to air pollution increases with age and pre-existing health conditions.

People with pre-existing lung diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at particular risk from air pollution. For this group, air pollution can make it harder to breathe, trigger asthma attacks, cause wheezing and coughing, and increase the risk of respiratory infections.

Air pollution also increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer, and it can have more severe effects on people who are already ill. For example, people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, which can increase their risk of heart attacks and abnormal heartbeats.

In addition to respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, air pollution has been linked to other health problems that can affect people with pre-existing conditions. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has found links between exposure to air pollution and type 2 diabetes, obesity, systemic inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia.

The effects of air pollution on people with pre-existing health conditions are influenced by various factors, including the duration and concentration of exposure, as well as individual health status. Socioeconomic factors also play a role, as people in low-income communities may be disproportionately exposed to air pollution and may have poorer health and less access to healthcare, increasing their vulnerability.

How does air pollution affect mental health?

Air pollution has been linked to a range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairments. Research suggests that air pollution can cause inflammation in the brain, which has been associated with depression and cognitive issues.

A study by Dr Melinda Power at George Washington University found that those exposed to higher levels of fine particulate matter in the air were more likely to experience high anxiety. The study used data from 70,000 women who filled out a survey on their anxiety levels. It was found that fine particles in the air, which come from sources such as cars and factories, were connected to increased anxiety levels, and that the more recent the exposure, the higher the level of anxiety experienced.

Another study by the University of Washington found that people living in areas with high levels of air pollution also reported higher levels of psychological distress. The study showed that the higher the level of particulates in the air, the greater the impact on mental health. The risk of psychological distress increased alongside the amount of fine particulate matter in the air. For example, in areas with high levels of pollution, psychological distress scores were 17% higher than in areas with low levels of pollution.

Air pollution has also been linked to increased mental illness in children. A major study in Sweden found that small increases in air pollution were associated with a significant increase in treated psychiatric problems. The research examined the pollution exposure of more than 500,000 under-18s and compared this with records of medicines prescribed for mental illnesses. The results suggested that a lower concentration of air pollution, particularly from traffic, may reduce psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents.

While the research on the link between air pollution and mental health is still relatively new, it suggests that air pollution can have significant effects on our mental well-being. It is important to continue researching this area to better understand the impact of air pollution on our mental health and to develop strategies to mitigate its effects.

Frequently asked questions