Air pollution is a significant problem for individuals living in the US and abroad. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for 800,000 premature deaths worldwide every year. Car-crowded, industry-ridden urban areas are to blame for much of this problem. Although the quality of air in the US has improved over the past twenty years, aerial contamination continues to endanger the health of our nation’s forests, lakes, crops, and animals. The link found between air pollution and human health is of particular concern. More than 159 million Americans live in areas with polluted air, costing the nation at least $2 billion in health care.

Air pollution, otherwise referred to as air contamination, is created when gases, dust, fumes, or suspended particles rise to dangerously high levels. These pollutants include car emissions, chemical byproducts from factories, dust, pollen, and mold spores among others.

Air pollution can be particularly dangerous to individuals with asthma. Over 22 million Americans are affected by asthma, and car emissions have been found to be a significant factor in its severity and onset. Air pollutants such as smog (the product of gases such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur monoxide), soot, and tobacco can set off asthma attacks, and according to some research, air pollution may even be responsible for the onset of asthma. This means that not only can air pollutants produce asthma attacks in response to current triggers; they can actually cause a person to develop previously nonexistent asthmatic sensitivities.

According to research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, this occurs because air pollution decreases the effectiveness of the body’s Treg cells, or T cells. T cells prevent the immune system from reacting defensively to substances that are not attacking it. What this means for individuals without asthma, is that T cells put a stop to the swelling of cells lining bronchial tubes and the subsequent breathing difficulties that occur when pollutants enter the body. When pollutants impair T cells, the body can have an asthmatic reaction causing inflammation, breathing problems, and other asthmatic responses upon contact with air pollution.

Individuals with asthma can track information about the safety of surrounding air, and, when possible, avoid highly polluted areas. The severity of air pollution is measured by the Air Quality Index (AQI) on a scale of 0 to 500. An AQI of 100 is considered to be a safe standard of air pollution as established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As numbers rise above 100, they are considered increasingly unsafe. Those that fall below 100 constitute a healthier environment.

Air pollution can lead to a number of temporary and chronic side effects. Individuals affected by air pollution often complain of headaches, vomiting, irritation in the eyes, a stuffy nose, throat irritation, and redness or itching of the skin.

Symptoms experienced by those whose asthma is triggered by air pollution include difficulty breathing, gasping, and wheezing. Exposure to smoke in asthmatic individuals can cause narrow airways to constrict, further leading to breathing difficulties. Air pollutants such as smog, soot, and environmental tobacco can all play a role in setting off these side effects. The severity of symptoms depends upon the duration of exposure to the polluted air, the concentration of pollutants in air, and the sensitivity of individuals to air pollution triggers.

Air Pollution and Chronic Conditions

Sustained exposure to polluted air can lead to disorders of the lung, heart, kidney, skin, nerves, and liver and can harm the lungs of growing children. Cigarette smoke alone causes millions of deaths each year while dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide (which can be caused by home power outages, motor vehicles, or outdoor grills) can lead to poisoning. If symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, weakness, or nausea occur, individuals should be rushed to the hospital for testing of internal carbon monoxide levels. If the patient is not treated with high levels of oxygen, results may be lethal. Women who are exposed to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide during the second month of their pregnancy—the time when organs begin to develop—are also at greater risk of having children with birth defects.

Various groups work to track and contain air pollution. One such environmental group is the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which works to safeguard natural systems and the people and animals that depend on them. The NRDC tries to keep the public updated on important news, including that related to air pollution and asthma, and it works to pass legislation promoting environmental conservation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also keeps track of and reports on air quality in the United States and abroad. It works with the local air-quality boards and measures levels of air pollutants in various cities. The EPA has played an important role in improving air quality by monitoring and enforcing air pollution standards. On a global level, the EPA has paired with countries such as Mexico and Canada to create cooperative environmental safety programs and with Central America, China, India, and Africa to educate the public about air pollution.

The Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch of the National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is significant for its efforts to reduce air pollution in the hopes of minimizing the quantity and severity of respiratory conditions. The CDC collects and analyzes information about the triggers and locations of asthma attacks, works to transfer research about asthma and air pollution into steps to eliminate them, and joins with stakeholders to implement asthma control programs.

Protecting Yourself

Protecting yourself from pollution is very important. You should minimize exposure to unsafe air by staying indoors when outside pollution rises above the standard 100 AQI. If you have to be in a polluted environment, you can wear dust masks to prevent inhalation of pollutants. If you have a sensitive skin, wear clothing that covers the skin when stepping outside. This will cut down on direct exposure to polluted air. If you are close to an industrial area and someone in your family is adversely affected by air pollution, you may have to consider moving.

Pollution can also be found inside the home. Do not leave the fireplace burning for long. This may contribute to the release of large quantities of soot. Ensure adequate ventilation in your house, and have proper exhaust and air flow systems installed.

Air pollution can have several adverse effects on the environment and health—especially in individuals who suffer from asthma. Being conscious of surrounding triggers and maintaining a clean environment will contribute to the fight against air pollution. Although air pollution continues to be a problem, we can take corrective steps to minimize its effect on our environment and ourselves.