Those affected most by pollution are young people with developing lungs, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems. According to WHO, there are 4.2 million people dying EVERY year from air pollution. It is very difficult for many people to escape the harmful effects of air pollution as they likely have very low wages and don’t have much of an option of where they can move to. No matter where you live, these small particles are leaking into your home environments and deep into your lungs where they cause permanent damage.
Long-term health effects from air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people’s nerves, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. The types of pollution include fossil fuel combustion usually used to make electricity or in other industrial production. Particulate matter is created from factories and cars, but also through natural events like forest fires and dust storms.
The impact on the human body can be aggravated asthma, irregular heartbeats, decreased lung function, increased coughing, nonfatal heart attacks and premature death, according to the EPA.
To prevent against the dangerous of small particles, we should invest in air purifiers in the areas we spend most of our time in, and masks for when we are out and about.
“The true cost of climate change is felt in our hospitals and in our lungs. The health burden of polluting energy sources is now so high, that moving to cleaner and more sustainable choices for energy supply, transport and food systems effectively pays for itself,” says Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health.