Air pollution’s toll on human health

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is any substance, whether physical, chemical, or biological, that impacts our atmosphere. Air pollution is closely linked to greenhouse gas emissions, since many sources of air pollution emit greenhouse gasses as well. There are guidelines put in place by the World Health Organization which outline how much air pollution a person can safely come into contact with, but over 99% of the global population are exposed to air with too many pollutants. 

Who does air pollution affect?

Air pollution has health effects on everyone, but there are some groups of people that are at a higher risk of air pollution-induced health concerns. People with lung diseases, infants and young children, people who work or exercise outdoors, pregnant people, adults over the age of 65, those with cardiovascular disease, people without access to healthcare, people who smoke or are exposed to it, and people who live near busy roads are all likely to be more affected by air pollution. Studies show that minority groups are disproportionately affected by air pollution. 

What does air pollution do to the body?

Every time we breathe, air pollutants get into our lungs, from which they can enter the bloodstream and circulate freely throughout the body. They can cause coughing and itchy eyes, but also contribute to far worse health outcomes. Air pollution can create or add to existing respiratory diseases, which can be dangerous or even lethal. For people with respiratory diseases, air pollution can cause difficulty breathing and trigger asthma attacks and generally increases the severity of the respiratory disease. It also increases the likelihood of developing respiratory infection, heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer–which could lead to hospitalization and death in some cases. Air pollution is present everywhere, although there is a common misconception that we can only encounter it outdoors. In fact, concentrations of indoor air pollution is 2-5 times greater than it is outdoors. On balance, Americans spend 90% of their time indoors–and most of the groups at higher risk from air pollution tend to spend even more time inside– exposed to an even greater array of pollutants. One common air pollutant found in dangerous concentrations indoors is radon. Radon is an invisible, unscented, tasteless gas. However, it is radioactive and is a primary cause of lung cancer, estimated to cause around 3-14% of lung cancer cases in a given country. It can affect anyone, but it is more likely to impact the health of those who smoke. Radon is a product of uranium decay in soil, water, and rocks. Buildings with cracks in the walls and floor or porous block walls are more susceptible to radon, since openings give it a clear path to get in from the outside world. 

Air quality is getting worse

In the years 2020-2022, record levels of air pollution were reached. This was fueled by climate change, via wildfires, droughts, and dust. Air pollution is spreading geographically, affecting more and more people, but it’s also increasing in severity. During the years 2020-2022, 131 million Americans lived in areas with unhealthy amounts of air pollution, an increase of almost 12 million people from the previous two years. 

What should we do?

Ways to prevent our air pollution levels from climbing even higher than they are currently, there are a few things we can do. It’s difficult to get rid of natural sources of air pollution, like natural wildfires, but humans are also responsible for a big portion of air pollution. Little adjustments like walking more and driving less, using less gas, and caring for trees and plants around your community can make a difference. If everyone does their part, we can hold off the effects of air pollution for long enough to hopefully implement a long-term solution and reversal of the damage that’s already been done. 

Works Cited

“Air pollution.” World Health Organization (WHO), https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_2. Accessed 21 July 2024.

“Air quality and health.” Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/air-quality-and-health. Accessed 21 July 2024.

“Air quality, energy and health.” Air quality, energy and health, https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/air-quality-energy-and-health/health-impacts. Accessed 21 July 2024.

McDaniel, Justine. “Nearly 2 in 5 Americans breathe unhealthy air. Why it's getting worse.” Washington Post, 24 April 2024, https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/04/24/worsening-air-pollution-climate-change/. Accessed 21 July 2024.

“Radon.” World Health Organization (WHO), 25 January 2023, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/radon-and-health. Accessed 21 July 2024.

“What You Can Do to Help Improve Air Quality | Missouri Department of Natural Resources.” Missouri Department of Natural Resources, https://dnr.mo.gov/air/get-involved/help-improve-air-quality. Accessed 21 July 2024.