You Know Air Pollution Effects Are Bad for Your Health – But Did You Know They Are This Bad?
September 2018
Of course we know that it’s bad for us. Air pollution effects are known to include cardiovascular and respiratory disease. But I’ve been looking at various reports on air pollution effects – all of them recent, new research – and when you put them all together, you’ll see a horrifying picture.
- Unicef warned of the long-term risk to children from air pollution while walking or sitting in a car breathing in diesel fumes on their way to school each day. Even in the playground or classroom many children breathe dangerous levels of toxic air, according to research. This can stunt lung and brain growth and cause lifelong health problems.
- There is evidence that toxic pollution can cross into placentas. Air pollution effects are already strongly linked to harm in unborn babies, and the study shows that it travels through pregnant women’s lungs and lodges in their placentas.
- A ground-breaking study from China recently found a “huge” reduction in intelligence associated with breathing dirty air. It showed the effects of air pollution are equivalent to losing a year’s education.
- When air pollution spikes, so do hospital visits, generally for lung-related issues. (Interestingly, a small improvement in pollution levels leads to an instant decrease in hospital visits).
- A UK observational study implies a higher risk of dementia for people over 50 in areas of high nitrogen oxide in the air.
Isn’t it appalling that we are all put at risk – just by breathing?
According to Aaron Kiely, air pollution campaigner at Friends of the Earth, road traffic is the leading cause of the health problems, and so traffic should be the focus of solutions.
We need alternatives to motor vehicles, such as safer cycling infrastructure, and affordable and convenient public transport. And cars and trucks need to go zero-emission.
Of course, we also need factories and power plants that don’t belch toxic fumes.
We have a lot of work to do!
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What is the air pollution like where you live? Let me know in the comments below.
Warm regards,
P.S. Want to live a simpler, more green and ecofriendly life? (It’s been shown to increase happiness!). You can download your FREE green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here. Get it now!
Related:
- You CAN improve air pollution – every day!
- Air pollution and hospital visits are connected
