Harmful Effects of Air Pollution on Health (According to Research)

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In this article, we explain the harmful effects of air pollution on health. We explain, how atmospheric pollution can cause diseases like asthma, hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, etc. In the end, we give recommendations for reducing exposure and mitigating the harmful effects of air pollution.

ENT disorders like allergic rhinitis and middle ear infection (otitis media)

Lung (respiratory) disorders like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and tuberculosis

Heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disorders like hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias, and heart failure

Diabetes

Neurological disorders like brain stroke and dementia

Psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, and autism

Cancers

Pregnancy

Infertility

Air pollution is a mixture of gases and particulate matter released from various sources like industries, vehicular traffic, burning of fossil fuels, etc. Components of atmospheric pollution can not only cause damage at their point of entry like the upper airways but also reach the deeper parts of the lungs. Furthermore, these components can enter the bloodstream and reach other organs of the body. In these organs, they can increase oxidative stress and trigger chronic low-grade inflammation, which can cause long-term damage in these organs.

It is a well-known fact that air pollution has harmful impacts on human health. However, many are not aware of the entire spectrum of these hazardous consequences. In this article, we attempt to comprehensively describe these negative outcomes on people’s well-being through careful analysis of the scientific evidence available on this topic. In the end, we give prevention and control recommendations for reducing the damaging effects of atmospheric pollution.

ENT disorders like allergic rhinitis and middle ear infection (otitis media)

Air pollution can trigger many allergic conditions in people who are prone to allergies. For example, it can lead to the development and flaring up of symptoms of allergic rhinitis, especially in children [Deng and colleagues, 2016)]. Allergic rhinitis is a condition characterized by a runny and stuffy nose, sneezing, and symptoms like itchy eyes, mouth, or skin [American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology].

It can also cause inflammation in the middle ear in children (known as otitis media) [Bowatte and colleagues, 2018]. In otitis media, the common symptoms are ear pain and fever [American Academy of Family Physicians].

Lung (respiratory) disorders like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and tuberculosis

Asthma is a chronic allergic condition in which the person has occasional flare-ups of symptoms like wheeze (that is, whistling sound during breathing), shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough. These flare-ups are triggered by exposure to allergens like pollen, mold, dust mites, etc., [American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology] Air pollution can lead to the development of asthma and can be a triggering factor for flaring up of symptoms of asthma. It is also implicated in short-term complications (like increased deaths) and long-term complications like the development of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in patients of asthma [Tiotiu and colleagues, 2020].

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a group of two lung conditions, namely chronic bronchitis (in which there is a chronic inflammation of the airways) and emphysema (in which there is damage to the air sacs of the lungs). Patients have chronic cough (with phlegm), frequent infections, and shortness of breath [NHS, UK]. The effects of air pollution on COPD may be similar to those with asthma, namely development of COPD and frequent flaring up of symptoms [Liu and colleagues, 2016].

Even in healthy people, chronic exposure to air pollution can reduce the functional capacity of the lungs to breathe. This is true in children [Schultz and colleagues, 2017] and adults [Edginton and colleagues, 2019].

Exposure of pregnant women to air pollution during pregnancy can have a negative impact on the normal lung development of the fetus. Children born to these mothers can develop asthma in early life that can last into adulthood [Veras and colleagues, 2017].

In areas of hazardous air quality, people are more susceptible to develop tuberculosis. In these areas, the death rates of people having tuberculosis are also higher [Popovic and colleagues, 2019]. Air pollution can lead to increased occurrence of pneumonia in children, requiring hospital admissions [Nhung and colleagues, 2017].

Heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular) disorders like hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias, and heart failure

Cardiovascular disorders are the leading cause of death due to air pollution.

Exposure to air pollution can cause high blood pressure (hypertension) [Yang and colleagues, 2018]. Moreover, pregnant mothers exposed to air pollution can have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy, potentially leading to complications like seizures (called eclampsia) or even coma [Bai and colleagues, 2020].

Atherosclerosis is a condition in which there is a build-up of plaques in the vessels supplying blood (called ‘arteries’) of various organs. The most common organs involved are the heart (coronary artery disease) and the brain (carotid artery disease). These plaques can break and complicate with sudden clot formation, causing partial or total blockage of these arteries. This reduces or cuts off the blood supply to the end organs like the heart and brain, resulting in acute complications like angina, heart attacks, and brain strokes. Arrhythmias are abnormalities with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat [National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, USA]. Various pathologies of the heart can eventually lead to heart failure. Air pollution has been linked to heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias, and heart failure. [See Mannucci and colleagues, 2019 and Brook and colleagues, 2017 for more details]

Air pollution and diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic disease when blood sugar (glucose) levels are abnormally high in the blood. It can be due to inadequate secretion (called type 1 diabetes) or action (called type 2 diabetes) of insulin. Type 1 occurs usually in childhood, whereas type 2 occurs in adulthood. Over time, diabetes can lead to complications like nerve damage (neuropathy), blindness due to eye damage (diabetic retinopathy), and kidney failure. Diabetes also increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Furthermore, glucose levels can become higher than normal during pregnancy (gestational diabetes). Gestational diabetes can cause complications during pregnancy and delivery; it can lead to the development of diabetes in the future (in both the mother and children) [World Health Organization].

Air pollution can increase the risk of developing diabetes. Moreover, pregnant women exposed to air pollution can have increased chances of developing gestational diabetes [Lim and colleagues, 2019].

Neurological disorders like brain stroke and dementia

It has already been discussed earlier, how air pollution can increase the risk of brain strokes.

Dementia is an umbrella term in which there is a gradual decline (over years) in cognitive functions like memory and problem-solving. Over time, the condition can become so severe that the person is not even able to carry out tasks of daily living. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia [Alzheimer’s Association]. Air pollution has also been linked to the development of dementia. Young children exposed to air pollution can have suboptimal development of the nervous system and lower academic achievements. In pregnant women, it can have a negative impact on the normal development of the nervous system in the fetus [Clifford and colleagues, 2016].

Psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, and autism

Air pollution has been linked to various psychiatric conditions like depression. It can also be a factor for increased risk of suicides and anxiety [Braithwaite and colleagues, 2019].

Air pollution has been linked to autism [Costa and colleagues, 2017]. Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), includes a range of conditions characterized by suboptimal social and communication skills; and repetitive behaviors like rocking back and forth, spinning in circles, etc. It is usually seen in children under the age of 3 years. Furthermore, exposure of women to air pollutants during pregnancy can increase the risk of autism in their children [Chun and colleagues, 2020].

Air pollution and cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified outdoor air pollution as a risk factor for lung cancer in humans [Loomis and colleagues, 2014].

Air pollution and pregnancy

Pregnant women exposed to air pollution can have an increased risk of complications like spontaneous abortions (i.e. loss of baby before 20 weeks of pregnancy) or stillbirths (i.e. loss of baby at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy) [Grippo and colleagues, 2018].

It can also cause complications in pregnancy like preterm births, lower birth weight of the newborn, and congenital anomalies (most notably, congenital heart defects) of the newborn [Jacobs and colleagues, 2017].

Air pollution and infertility

Air pollution can reduce fertility in both males and females, which can lead to lower conception rates in couples [Carre and colleagues, 2017].

Before we end, let’s have a look at the measures we can all take at an individual level to reduce the impact of air pollution [Hadley and colleagues, 2018]:

Keeping track of outdoor pollution levels and avoiding outdoors when the pollution levels are considered unhealthy
Selecting transport routes with low traffic
Driving with windows closed
Using close-fitting N95 masks (N95 masks can reduce up to 95% of Particulate Matter of 2.5 μm (or PM_2.5), the main culprit responsible for the toxic effects of air pollution)
Replacing solid sources (like wood and coal) and liquid sources (like kerosene) of fossil fuels for cooking with cleaner alternatives (like liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], piped natural gas, or electric stoves)
Keeping windows closed and using High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) indoor air filtration systems or air-conditioning in houses located in areas with high pollution levels
Including vitamins, antioxidants, and omega 3 fatty acids in our diet. These nutrients reduce the harmful effects of atmospheric pollution on the body by reducing the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by these pollutants

To read the article on how chronic low-grade inflammation is linked to several chronic diseases and aging, click here.

Inflammation can be reduced in a natural manner by following an anti-inflammatory diet.

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