Air Pollution and Your Health

Air pollution exposure is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which may lay a foundation for chronic diseases and cancer. In 2013, ... 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FurtherReading Introduction AirPollution Airpollutionisafamiliarenvironmentalhealthhazard.Weknowwhatwe’relookingatwhenbrownhazesettlesoveracity,exhaustbillowsacrossabusyhighway,oraplumerisesfromasmokestack.Someairpollutionisnotseen,butitspungentsmellalertsyou. Itisamajorthreattoglobalhealthandprosperity.Airpollution,inallforms,isresponsibleformorethan6.5milliondeathseachyearglobally,anumberthathasincreasedoverthepasttwodecades. WhatIsAirPollution? Airpollutionisamixofhazardoussubstancesfrombothhuman-madeandnaturalsources. Vehicleemissions,fueloilsandnaturalgastoheathomes,by-productsofmanufacturingandpowergeneration,particularlycoal-fueledpowerplants,andfumesfromchemicalproductionaretheprimarysourcesofhuman-madeairpollution. Naturereleaseshazardoussubstancesintotheair,suchassmokefromwildfires,whichareoftencausedbypeople;ashandgasesfromvolcaniceruptions;andgases,likemethane,whichareemittedfromdecomposingorganicmatterinsoils. Traffic-RelatedAirPollution(TRAP),amixtureofgassesandparticles,hasmostoftheelementsofhuman-madeairpollution:ground-levelozone,variousformsofcarbon,nitrogenoxides,sulfuroxides,volatileorganiccompounds,polycyclicaromatichydrocarbons,andfineparticulatematter. Ozone,anatmosphericgas,isoftencalledsmogwhenatgroundlevel.Itiscreatedwhenpollutantsemittedbycars,powerplants,industrialboilers,refineries,andothersourceschemicallyreactinthepresenceofsunlight. Noxiousgases,whichincludecarbondioxide,carbonmonoxide,nitrogenoxides(NOx),andsulfuroxides(SOx),arecomponentsofmotorvehicleemissionsandbyproductsofindustrialprocesses. Particulatematter(PM)iscomposedofchemicalssuchassulfates,nitrates,carbon,ormineraldusts.Vehicleandindustrialemissionsfromfossilfuelcombustion,cigarettesmoke,andburningorganicmatter,suchaswildfires,allcontainPM. AsubsetofPM,fineparticulatematter(PM2.5)is30timesthinnerthanahumanhair.Itcanbeinhaleddeeplyintolungtissueandcontributetoserioushealthproblems.PM2.5accountsformosthealtheffectsduetoairpollutionintheU.S. Volatileorganiccompounds(VOC)vaporizeatornearroomtemperature—hence,thedesignationvolatile.Theyarecalledorganicbecausetheycontaincarbon.VOCsaregivenoffbypaints,cleaningsupplies,pesticides,somefurnishings,andevencraftmaterialslikeglue.GasolineandnaturalgasaremajorsourcesofVOCs,whicharereleasedduringcombustion. Polycyclicaromatichydrocarbons(PAH)areorganiccompoundscontainingcarbonandhydrogen.Ofmorethan100PAHsknowntobewidespreadintheenvironment,15arelistedintheReportonCarcinogens.Inadditiontocombustion,manyindustrialprocesses,suchasiron,steel,andrubberproductmanufacturing,aswellaspowergeneration,alsoproducePAHsasaby-product.PAHsarealsofoundinparticulatematter. AirPollutionandClimateChange Airpollutionandclimatechangeaffecteachotherthroughcomplexinteractionsintheatmosphere.Airpollutionisintricatelylinkedwithclimatechangebecausebothproblemscomelargelyfromthesamesources,suchasemissionsfromburningfossilfuels.Botharethreatstopeople’shealthandtheenvironmentworldwide.Readmore:HealthImpactsofAirQuality. WhatIsNIEHSDoing? Overits50-plusyearhistory,NIEHShasbeenaleaderinairpollutionresearch.Theinstitutecontinuestofundandconductresearchintohowairpollutionaffectshealthandthepopulationgroupswhoaremostaffected. Howdoesairpollutionaffectourhealth? WhentheNationalAmbientAirQualityStandardswereestablishedin1970,airpollutionwasregardedprimarilyasathreattorespiratoryhealth.In1993,NIEHSresearcherspublishedthelandmarkSixCitiesStudy,whichestablishedanassociationbetweenfineparticulatematterandmortality. Airpollutionexposureisassociatedwithoxidativestressandinflammationinhumancells,whichmaylayafoundationforchronicdiseasesandcancer.In2013,theInternationalAgencyforResearchonCanceroftheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)classifiedairpollutionasahumancarcinogen. Researchonairpollutionandhealtheffectscontinuallyadvances.Publichealthconcernnowincludescancer,cardiovasculardisease,respiratorydiseases,diabetesmellitus,obesity,andreproductive,neurological,andimmunesystemdisorders Cancer Alargestudyofmorethan57,000womenfoundlivingnearmajorroadwaysmayincreaseawoman’sriskforbreastcancer. TheNIEHSSisterStudyfoundotherairbornetoxicsubstances,especiallymethylenechloride,whichisusedinaerosolproductsandpaintremovers,arealsoassociatedwithincreasedriskofbreastcancer. Occupationalexposuretobenzene,anindustrialchemicalandcomponentofgasoline,cancauseleukemiaandisassociatedwithnon-Hodgkin’sLymphoma. Along-termstudy,2000-2016,foundanassociationbetweenlungcancerincidenceandincreasedrelianceoncoalforenergygeneration. CardiovascularDisease Fineparticulatemattercanimpairbloodvesselfunctionandspeedupcalcificationinarteries. NIEHSresearchersestablishedlinksbetweenshort-termdailyexposurebypost-menopausalwomentonitrogenoxidesandincreasedriskofhemorrhagicstroke. ForsomeolderAmericans,exposuretoTRAPcanresultinloweredlevelsofhigh-densitylipoprotein,sometimescalledgoodcholesterol,increasingtheirriskforcardiovasculardisease. AccordingtoaNationalToxicologyProgram(NTP)report,TRAPexposurealsoincreasesapregnantwoman’sriskfordangerouschangesinbloodpressure,knownashypertensivedisorders,whicharealeadingcauseofpre-termbirth,lowbirthweight,andmaternalandfetalillnessanddeath. RespiratoryDisease Airpollutioncanaffectlungdevelopmentandisimplicatedinthedevelopmentofemphysema,asthma,andotherrespiratorydiseases,suchaschronicobstructivepulmonarydisease(COPD). PMandnitrogenoxidearelinkedtochronicbronchitis. In2020,amajorpublichealthchallengewasconfluenceoftheCOVID-19pandemicandwildfiresacrossthewesternU.S.Buildingonawell-establishedconnectionbetweenairpollutionandrespiratory-tractinfections,astudylinkedwildfiresmokewithadditionalCOVID-19casesanddeaths. Whomdoesairpollutionaffectthemost? Airpollutionaffectseveryone’shealth,butcertaingroupsmaybeharmedmore.Almost9outof10peoplewholiveinurbanareasworldwideareaffectedbyairpollution. Children TheNIEHS-fundedChildren’sHealthStudyattheUniversityofSouthernCaliforniaisoneofthelargeststudiesofthelong-termeffectsofairpollutiononchildren’srespiratoryhealth.Amongitsfindings: Higherairpollutionlevelsincreaseshort-termrespiratoryinfections,whichleadtomoreschoolabsences. Childrenwhoplayseveraloutdoorsportsandliveinhighozonecommunitiesaremorelikelytodevelopasthma. Childrenlivingnearbusyroadsareatincreasedriskforasthma. Childrenwithasthmawhowereexposedtohighlevelsofairpollutantsweremorelikelytodevelopbronchitissymptoms. Livingincommunitieswithhigherpollutionlevelscancauselungdamage. Otherstudiesonwomenandchildren NIEHS-fundedresearchersfromtheUniversityofCalifornia,Davis,EnvironmentalHealthSciencesCenterareconductingtheBio-SpecimenandFireEffects(B-SAFE)Study.Thisongoingprojectseekstodiscoverifandhowrecentwildfiresandtheirsmokeaffectedpregnantwomenandtheirbabies.Begunin2017,studyparticipantsarepregnantwomenwhowerelivinginNorthernCaliforniawhenthe2018,2019,or2020wildfiresoccurredthere. BreathingPM2.5,evenatrelativelylowlevels,mayalterthesizeofachild'sdevelopingbrain,whichmayultimatelyincreasetheriskforcognitiveandemotionalproblemslaterinadolescence. PrenatalexposuretoPAHswasassociatedwithbraindevelopmenteffects,slowerprocessingspeed,attention-deficitandhyperactivitydisorder(ADHD)symptoms,andotherneurobehavioralproblemsinurbanyouth. InNewYorkCity,prenatalexposuretoairpollutionmayplayaroleinchildhoodADHD-relatedbehaviorproblems. Prenatalexposuretoparticulatematterwasassociatedwithlowbirthweight. Womenexposedtohighlevelsoffineparticulatematterduringpregnancy,particularlyinthethirdtrimester,mayhaveuptotwicetheriskofhavingachildwithautism. SecondandthirdtrimesterexposuretoPM2.5mightincreasethechanceofthosechildrenhavinghighbloodpressureinearlylife. InCalifornia’sagriculturalSanJoaquinValley,womenwhowereexposedtohighlevelsofcarbonmonoxide,nitrogenoxide,ornitrogendioxideduringtheirfirst8weeksofpregnancyweremorelikelytohaveababywithneuraltubedefects. InMarietta,Ohio,hometoaferromanganeserefinery,manganeseconcentrationsinbloodandhair,abiomarkerofairpollutionexposure,wereassociatedwithlowerchildIQscores. Olderadults Alzheimer’sdiseaseandrelateddementiasareapublichealthchallengeforagingpopulations.NIEHS-fundedresearchersattheUniversityofWashingtonidentifiedalinkbetweenairpollutionanddementias.Thiswell-conductedstudyaddsconsiderableevidencethatambientairfineparticlesincreaseriskofdementias. Airpollutionwaslinkedtoagreaterchanceofdevelopingseveralneurologicaldisorders,includingParkinson'sdisease,Alzheimer'sdisease,andotherdementias.Hospitaladmissionsdatafrom63millionolderadultsintheU.S.,obtainedover17years(2000-2016),wasanalyzedalongwithestimatedPM2.5concentrationsbyzipcodetoconductthestudy. Inolderadults,long-termexposuretoTRAPmaysignificantlyhastenphysicaldisabilities.Theriskismorepronouncedamongracialminoritiesandlower-incomepeople. PM2.5airpollutionisalsoassociatedwithacceleratedmemoryproblemsandAlzheimer’s-likebraindeclines,whichwasseenamongwomen65yearsofageandolder.Conversely,amulti-yearstudypublishedin2022showsimprovedairqualityisassociatedwithlowerriskofdementia inolderwomen.Theresearchersalsostatedthisdeclineindementiariskwasequivalenttotakingnearly21/2yearsofftheageofthewomenstudied. Nutrientsmaycountersomeharmfuleffectsfromairpollution.A2020studyfoundomega-3fattyacids,obtainedbyeatingcertainfish,mayprotectagainstPM2.5-associatedbrainshrinkageinolderwomen. Ruraldwellers AnNIEHS-fundedstudyfoundthatconcentrationsofPM2.5inruralWashingtonStatewerecomparabletourbanSeattle.Inthisstudy,asregionalPM2.5increased,therewereincreasedasthmasymptoms,suchaslimitationofactivities,morewheezing,andmorenighttimewaking,inruralchildren. IntheruralU.S.,large-scaleanimalfeedingoperationsmightcompromiseregionalairqualitythroughemissionofpollutants,suchasammoniagas.Astudyfoundacutelungfunctionproblemsinchildrenwithasthmainsuchareas. Differentgenes Yourgenesplayaroleinrespiratoryhealth.NIEHS-fundedresearchdiscoveredthatpeoplewithspecificgenevariants,whichmadethemmorelikelytohavelunginflammation,hadagreaterchanceofsufferingfromasthmaiftheylivedclosetomajorroadways. NIEHSandcommunityinvolvement NIEHSsupportscommunityparticipationintheresearchprocessandencouragescollaborativeapproachesthatbuildcapacityincommunitiestoaddressenvironmentalhealthconcerns.Community-engagedresearchandcitizensciencearetwotypesofcollaborativeresearchapproaches. Forexample,NIEHShelpsresidentsofImperialCounty,Californiatrackairpollutionthroughanetworkof40community-runmonitors.Inthiscounty,long-termimprovementsinairqualitywereassociatedwithsignificantlung-functionimprovementinchildren. Inanotherexample,NIEHSgrantrecipientsdevelopedcommunity-leveltacticsandpublicpoliciesforreducingexposuretoTRAP: Usinghigh-efficiencyparticulateair(HEPA)filtration. Buildingland-usebuffersandvegetationbarriers. Improvingurbandesignwithgardens,parks,andstreet-sidetrees. Creatingactive-traveloptions,suchasbicyclingandwalkingpaths. THE(Trade,Health,Environment)ImpactProjectbringstogetherresearchersandcommunitygroupstofindsolutionsforcommunitiesaffectedbytrade-relatedpollution,suchasportsandroadwayswithtrucking. Joinanasthmastudy! ThegoaloftheNaturalHistoryofAsthmawithLongitudinalEnvironmentalSampling(NHALES)studyistohelpscientistsunderstandhowbacteriaandotherfactorsintheenvironmentaffectpeoplewhohavemoderatetosevereasthma. Whocanparticipate? Moderatetosevereasthmatics. Malesandfemales,aged18-60. Femalesshouldnotbepregnantorbreastfeedingatthestartofthestudy,butmaystillparticipateiftheybecomepregnantduringthestudy. Nonsmokerswhoarealsonotaroundsignificantamountsofsecondhandsmoke. Nohistoryofchronicobstructivepulmonarydisease,emphysema,cysticfibrosis(CF),pulmonaryfibrosis,non-CFbronchiectasis,sarcoidosis,unstableangina,orpulmonaryhypertension. Notallergictomethacholine. AbletoprovideyourowntransportationtoclinicvisitsontheNIEHScampusinNorthCarolina.Formoreinformationaboutthisstudy: NHALES:AsthmaStudy Tel855-MYNIEHS(855-696-4347) [email protected] Whyimprovingairqualitymatters Airpollutionandbirthoutcomesarelinkedasglobalpublichealthconcerns.Researchersanalyzedindoorandoutdoorairpollutiondatafromallinhabitedcontinentsalongwithkeypregnancyoutcomes.TheirfindingsindicateeffortstoreducePM2.5exposurecouldleadtosignificantreductionsinthenumberoflow-birthweightandpre-termbirthinfantsworldwide.Airpollutionreductionwouldbeespeciallybeneficialforchildrenborninlow-andmiddle-incomecountries. AmongchildreninSouthernCalifornia,decreasesinambientnitrogendioxideandPM2.5wereassociatedwithfewercasesofasthma. AnNIEHS-fundedstudyfoundthatamixtureofseveralBvitaminsmayprotectDNAfromchangesattributabletoPM2.5airpollution. BronchitissymptomsdeclinedaspollutionlevelsdroppedintheLosAngelesregion. Improvingairqualitymayimprovecognitivefunctionandreducedementiarisk,accordingtostudiessupportedinpartbyNIHandtheAlzheimer'sAssociation. Whenfossil-fuelpowerplantsclose,nearbyairpollutionisreduced.Astudyfoundtheincidenceofpretermbirthswentdownwithin5kilometersofretiredcoalandoil-poweredplantlocations. FurtherReading StoriesfromtheEnvironmentalFactor(NIEHSnewsletter) InterventionsNeededtoSlowClimate-drivenAirPollution,ResearchersNote(March2022) AirPollutionandForeverChemicalsContinuetoPoseHealthRisks(March2022) IncreasingEvidenceLinksAirPollutionWithBreastCancer(November2021) FineParticulateAirPollutionAssociatedWithHigherDementiaRisk(September2021) BetterAirQualityMayLowerDementiaRiskAmongOlderWomen(August2021) IndoorAiraNeglectedSourceofChemical,ParticulateExposures(May2021) WildfireSeverityIncreases,ExpertsCallforCoordinatedFederalResponse(May2021) AirQualityMonitoringInnovationsMeritSmallBusinessRecognition(February2021) ClimateChangeWorsensAirPollution,ExtremeWeather,ExpertSays (July2020) PregnancyHypertensionRiskIncreasedbyTraffic-relatedAirPollution(January2020) NonsmokersCanGetEmphysemafromAirPollution,StudyFinds(September2019) PrintableFactSheets AirPollutionandYourHealth(1MB) ClimateChangeandHumanHealth(1MB) LungHealthandYourEnvironment(743KB) Microbiome(1MB) PartnershipsforEnvironmentalPublicHealth(PEPH)(441KB) Podcasts WhenWildfiresHitClosetoHomeisaboutNIEHS-fundedresearchonthecomplexityofurbanwildfiresandhowtheymayaffecthumanhealth. WildfireSmokeandChildren'sHealth AdditionalResources AirNow,atooldevelopedinpartnershipbyseveralgovernmentagencies,allowsyoutomonitorairqualityinrealtimeanywhereintheU.S.Simplyenteryourzipcodeasindicatedonthewebsite. EPA'sAirSensorToolboxprovidesinformationontheoperationanduseofair-sensormonitoringsystemsfortechnologydevelopers,air-qualitymanagers,citizenscientists,andthepublic. HowSmokeFromFiresCanAffectYourHealth–Tolimityourexposuretosmoke,theEPAoffersstepsyoucantaketoprotectyourself. NIHClimateChangeandHealthInitiative–Thissolutions-focusedresearchinitiativeaimstoreducethehealthconsequencesassociatedwithextremeweathereventsandevolvingclimateconditions.NIHhasastronghistoryofcreatinginnovativetools,technologies,anddata-drivensolutionstoaddressglobalenvironmentalproblems. Smoke-readyToolboxforWildfiresisacompendiumofresourcesfromtheEPAtohelpeducateyouabouttherisksofsmokeexposureandactionsthatprotectyourhealth. WildfireSmokeCollection–ThejournalEnvironmentalHealthPerspectiveshaspublishedhigh-impactpapersandreviewsexploringexposureandresultinghealtheffectsrelatedtowildfires. RelatedHealthTopics Asthma ExposureScience GeneandEnvironmentInteraction LungDiseases Thiscontentisavailabletouseonyourwebsite. Pleasevisit NIEHSSyndication togetstarted. BacktoTop