Emerging Insights on Air Pollution and Health: Who is Most at Risk?

by

Air pollution has been called the largest global health threat of the twenty-first century in the last few years. As a result of industrialization, urbanization, and the enhancement of the use of fossil fuels, particulate matter and problematic pollutants affect millions of people across the globe. However, not all populations are at the same level of risk about the effects of air pollution on the health of that particular population. Evidence from previous research reveals that some groups of people, rather children, elderly citizens, and those with chronic diseases, are more at risk of the dangers that come with air pollution. This article seeks to understand current and evolving perspectives on the effects of air pollution on the health of individuals. It looks at vulnerable groups based on findings obtained from toxicological, epidemiological, and environmental research. micrometers),

Understanding Air Pollution and Its Components

The pollutants include particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Particulate matter, especially PM2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers), is considered quite dangerous since it can easily get into the lungs and bloodstream. These pollutants are emitted from motor vehicles, industries, and farming, among others, and are also a result of natural events like fires.

It also poses adverse health effects, which range from respiratory and cardiovascular ailments to neuro-developmental difficulties among kids. These health effects are usually influenced by factors such as socioeconomic and demographic status, which determine the effects that people are likely to experience from air pollution.

Children and Air Pollution: A Critical Public Health Issue

Children are more vulnerable to the mobility effects of air pollution, and this has been of great concern in toxicological studies. Exposures to air pollutants, including lead and particulate matter, have been postulated to affect the developing brains and hence lead to low IQ scores and general low functionality of the brain. Due to their undeveloped skeletal systems, children are prone to the effects of environmental pollution in terms of suffocation; early exposure to polluted air results in permanent damage to respiratory organs.

Children living in congested urban areas and/or areas that are characterized by industries with high emission capacities bear even higher risks of toxicity exposure to dangerous pollutants. Workers in these areas claim that children in the region experience better rates of asthma, respiratory infections, and other ailments associated with polluted air. In addition, the pollution of the air affects children’s development and behavior; such children often suffer from developmental and behavioral disorders and might have severe socioeconomic consequences as adults.

This evidence also shows that the common people belonging to a lower socioeconomic class are exposed to a greater level of air pollution. This means that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to live in areas facing problems of air pollution and hence poor quality air. Given both the genetics and environment, these children are one of the most vulnerable groups to air pollution.

Yearwise Publication Trend on “air pollution”

Find publication trends on relevant topics

The Elderly: Another High-Risk Population

Even though most studies relate to children as the most affected group, elder people are equally at high risk about the impacts of air pollution. For this reason, older people have reduced immunological defenses and compromised lung health due to aging, which hampers the body’s ability to deal with any adverse effects coming from contact with toxic pollutants. These SOC studies have established an excellent correlation between air pollution and worsening chronic diseases, including COPD, asthma, and cardiovascular disease, in the elderly.

There is an indication that old people are more vulnerable to the aging of air pollution, and a major reason for this is that they are normally in a vulnerable health situation that worsens with exposure to air pollution. For example, people with cardiac diseases are likely to develop higher diseases, developing a heart attack, stroke, or any other cardiovascular condition in the event of high air pollution. Likewise, people with diseases of the respiratory system such as asthma, COPD, etc. are vulnerable to the exacerbation of their conditions, repeated hospitalizations, and increased rates of early deaths occasioned by poor air quality.

Also, people who are old are vulnerable to low mobility, which reduces their chance of escaping from the pollutants. Older people, for instance, tend to spend most of their time indoors, relying on air conditioning systems that cannot trap fine particles. In addition, other secondary factors like poverty levels in society and/or access to health services will likely worsen the effects of air pollution among the elderly.

Preexisting Health Conditions and Increased Susceptibility

People with underlying medical issues including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, are at a higher risk of getting adverse health effects because of air pollution. This study confirms earlier works that proved that air pollution increases respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and COPD by provoking inflammation of the airways of the lungs and decreasing lung capacity. The particulate PM2.5 in air pollutants can easily reach the deep end of the lungs, and this condition causes the lining of the lungs to become chronically inflamed and the immune system’s ability to fight off respiratory infections is weakened.

Air pollution is also associated with cardiovascular diseases or diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Pollutants such as PM2.5 levels, which are considered to inducers of oxidative stress and inflammation in the blood vessel walls, contribute to the establishment and evolution of atherosclerosis. Under this condition, there are higher chances of developing heart attacks, strokes, or other cardiovascular complications, especially in cases where the patient is suffering. from heart complications. In addition, the emission of high levels of air pollution has been known to increase people’s blood pressure, which is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases.

Pollution has been proven to have a lot of impacts on those who are exposed to it; it does not only affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. A relationship between air pollution and neurologic disorders, including cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease, for example, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, has also been pointed out. The link between these two is not yet fully understood, although it is understood that the inflammation, caused by pollutants, may spread to the brain, affecting the underlying neural tissues and the cortical functions in the long run.

The Role of Socioeconomic Status in Air Pollution Vulnerability

Socioeconomic factors act as strong predictors of people’s susceptibility to adverse effects of air pollution. Low-income people tend to live in areas close to industries, highways, and some other sources of pollution. Such areas always experience bad air quality because the levels of traffic emissions and industrial pollution are usually high and the availability of green areas for air purification is typically low. That is why people with different low standards of living are forced to breathe polluted air and hence have higher chances of developing diseases caused by pollutants.

Furthermore, temporal or spatial differences in socioeconomic status may reduce the ability of an individual to have contact with healthcare facilities and services that may prevent or reduce the impact of air pollution effects. For instance, people in poor neighborhoods may not be able to afford access to a doctor or any medical care, so they cannot effectively control chronic diseases that are triggered by air pollution. Also, they may not afford to purchase air purification equipment, clean fresh air ducts, or change their residence to areas with quality air.

Besides, low-income groups continue to occupy positions that put them directly in line with pollutants, including construction, manufacturing, and waste management. Some of these occupations may elevate the susceptibility of workers to developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, especially where they are exposed to outdoor air pollutants in their neighborhoods.

Recent Publications on “air pollution”

Find publications on relevant topics

Genetic Factors and Air Pollution Susceptibility

Finally, the nature of human NSV and people’s susceptibility to adverse effects of air pollution are in part predetermined genetically. Several studies have been conducted and have found that there does exist genetic polymorphism that predisposes one to the effects of air pollutants. For instance, differences in genes like XRCC1 and XPD imply a higher susceptibility to diseases, including head and neck cancer, in cases of exposure to air pollutants. These genetic variations therefore reduce the ability of the body to repair the damage that these pollutants cause and therefore increase the vulnerability to cancer and other related diseases.

Further, different genetic polymorphisms associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases predispose people to their susceptibility towards air pollution. For instance, those carrying certain genetic polymorphisms are at higher risk of getting asthma or worsening respiratory symptoms in the presence of pollution such as PM2.5 and ozone. It remains important to know these genetic aspects to be able to properly address at-risk populations and thus reduce the negative effects of air pollution on health.

Environmental Justice and Health Inequities

This is the case since environmental justice is an issue when it comes to air pollution since some groups of people are more affected by the environmentally degraded conditions. Research has also demonstrated that waste facilities and other sources of pollution are usually cited in locations where the levels of minority ethnic populations and low-income groups are high. These communities end up being more affected by polluted air in that they have high incidences of respiratory illnesses and cancer, among other diseases attributed to air pollution.

Environmental injustice thus has been identified as a key area of concern regarding policymakers’ failure to address environmental health disparity. Concerning the reduction of pollution in disadvantaged communities and promoting everyone’s right to breathe clean air, governments and organizations can aim to enhance the health standard of these disadvantaged communities.

Conclusion: Addressing the Health Risks of Air Pollution

People living in developing countries are exposed to high levels of air pollution, especially children, elderly persons, persons with diseases, and those in the low-income earners bracket. It is important to unravel how genetic predisposition interacts with disease risk factors, socioeconomic position, and pollutants and toxins present in the air for identifying and implementing viable solutions that can reduce adverse effects posed by air pollution. Future work targeted at addressing air pollution levels, increasing access to healthcare services, and combating environmental inequity will need to be an important guardrail for assuring socioeconomic survival from the adverse effects of polluted air.

References

  1. Jakubowski, M., 2011. Low-level environmental lead exposure and intellectual impairment in children—the current concepts of risk assessment. International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health, 24, pp.1-7.
  2. Sacks, J.D., Stanek, L.W., Luben, T.J., Johns, D.O., Buckley, B.J., Brown, J.S. and Ross, M., 2011. Particulate matter–induced health effects: who is susceptible?. Environmental health perspectives, 119(4), pp.446-454.
  3. Flores-Obando, R.E., Gollin, S.M. and Ragin, C.C., 2010. Polymorphisms in DNA damage response genes and head and neck cancer risk. Biomarkers, 15(5), pp.379-399.
  4. Martuzzi, M., Mitis, F. and Forastiere, F., 2010. Inequalities, inequities, environmental justice in waste management and health. European Journal of Public Health, 20(1), pp.21-26.
  5. Gallo, L.C., Smith, T.W. and Cox, C.M., 2006. Socioeconomic status, psychosocial processes, and perceived health: An interpersonal perspective. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 31(2), pp.109-119.
  6. Piko, B.F., 2004. Interplay between self and community: A role for health psychology in Eastern Europe’s public health. Journal of Health Psychology, 9(1), pp.111-120.
  7. Duhault, J.L., 2002. Stress prevention and management: A challenge for patients and physicians. Metabolism-Clinical and Experimental, 51(6), pp.46-48.

Top Experts on “air pollution“