It is generally understood that air pollution can have some severely negative effects on the health of our lungs and respiratory systems. Asthma and COPD are commonly associated with air pollution, which isn’t surprising: our lungs come into direct contact with any pollutants that are in the air, making them especially vulnerable. Unfortunately, many other bodily functions are also susceptible to air pollution, although these risk factors are discussed less frequently.
Fertility
A 40-page article published in Environmental Health in 2017 cited over a dozen studies done on how air pollution affects different aspects of fertility, including the prevalence of birth defects in successful pregnancies. Two different avenues of fertility were examined: “spontaneous” fertility, and the success rates of fertility treatments. Both the article and the studies conclude that high particulate matter (PM) levels reduced both spontaneous fertility and the likelihood that fertility treatments would be successful. High PM levels also affected the successful pregnancies, producing a higher rate of birth defects, like cleft palates and deformed organs, as well as increasing the chance of miscarriage.
Mental Health
Another area that poor air quality can impact is mental health. A University of Washington study done in 2017 found that, in areas with high levels of air pollution, residents were 17% more likely to experience feelings of psychological distress than their counterparts in areas with low levels of pollution. These feelings of psychological distress include sadness, nervousness, and hopelessness, all classic indicators of depression and other common mental illnesses.
Heart Disease
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined a number of other organizations to fund a decade-long study to determine just how air pollution affects heart health. One of the major conclusions drawn by the study was that, in previously healthy individuals, “long term exposure to particulate matter” contributed to faster buildup of calcium deposits in the coronary artery, making these individuals more vulnerable to strokes and heart attacks.
In conjunction with the study’s findings, the EPA encourages people everywhere to be aware of the air quality in their area, and to support policies to improve both air quality monitoring and further study the impacts poor air quality can have on health.