The Physiological Consequences of Air Pollution

Air pollution affects hundreds of thousands of people everyday. 9 out of 10 people breathe air that does not meet World Health Organization pollution limits. Air pollutants, including gasses and particulate matter, are collectively responsible for ~8 million annual deaths (Pryor, 2022). The so called 'modern' world, has surpassed our planet's capacity to recover itself and filter many elements such as water, soil, and air. This problem is now killing more people than never. 

Due to the immense amount of factories that release pollutants into the air, Particulate Matter (PM) are created (Pryor, 2022) . They are solid compounds suspended in air that are sufficiently small to be inhaled. The increase of amounts of PMs i, has created a challenge for those communities who lack decent filtration systems (natural or synthetic). Substances such as diesel, coal, biomass combustion and emissions from metal refineries, are the most dangerous PMs. Air pollution is associated with elevated cardiovascular disease risk and cardiovascular disease-related mortality (Jalaudin, 2014). PM exposure is linked to higher risk of heart attack, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, arrhythmia, hypertension, preeclampsia and neonatal hypertension.

Air pollution exacerbates cardiovascular mortality risk for people with pre-existing cardiopulmonary disease (Jalaudin, 2014). In adults, exposure to PM exposure has been linked to elevated systolic blood pressure and elevated pulse pressure, whilst in children, it has been found to associate with increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure and increased plasma concentration. If the heart is at risk, we can also start taking into consideration that this particles can get into the bloodstream, and which organ is in charge of filtering the blood? The kidneys are also a target for PMs, renal problems like chronic kidney disease or stage renal disease can be caused due to the obstruction of the renal system (Jalaudin 2014). The list of disease that can be caused from PMs keeps growing every year. 

References:

Jalaludin, B., & Cowie, C. (2014). Particulate air pollution and cardiovascular disease--it is time to take it seriously. Reviews on environmental health, 29(1-2), 129–132. https://doi-org.dml.regis.edu/10.1515/reveh-2014-0031

Pryor, J. T., Cowley, L. O., & Simonds, S. E. (2022). The Physiological Effects of Air Pollution: Particulate Matter, Physiology and Disease. Frontiers in public health, 10, 882569. https://doi-org.dml.regis.edu/10.3389/fpubh.2022.882569