Air pollution

what do we know about its effects on health?

Particulate matter or nanoparticles, pollutants invisible in the air have recognized harmful effects leading to premature death.

Ecological drama, pollution is also a major public health issue. Thousands of liters of polluted air infiltrate the body every day. Fine particles, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide .Making pollution the third leading cause of death behind tobacco and alcohol. The main culprits are nanoparticles. From wood heating, diesel engines and industry, they are all the more harmful that once in the air, they capture other toxic substances (heavy metals, hydrocarbons) before being inhaled and spread through the blood to all organs.

Effects on the respiratory system

In the short term and even at low levels of exposure, pollution causes irritation of the nose and throat. But because the nanoparticles infiltrate to the pulmonary alveoli, they also aggravate chronic pathologies such as asthma or bronchopathy. This risk is particularly alarming in children, whose developing lungs can be significantly altered. In the long term, exposure to pollutants promotes the appearance of lung cancer, especially when it is added to other risk factors such as tobacco.

Cardiovascular effects

The majority of air pollution related deaths are due to heart conditions . By triggering inflammatory phenomena, pollution activates blood coagulation, a factor in clots and thromboses. During the famous pollution peaks, there is also an upsurge in myocardial infarction and strokes. One in three fatal strokes is even attributable to pollution, according to WHO . In the long term, degraded air causes coronary artery disease and arrhythmias, which are also potentially lethal.

Effects on the fetus

Studies in pregnant rats have shown that the particles cross the placental barrier, causing devastating effects on the unborn child. Women exposed to pollution during pregnancy take the risk of delaying the development of their fetus, giving birth prematurely, or giving birth to a small baby. Children who, in turn, will be at greater risk of developing respiratory illnesses.

Neurological effects

The link between pollution and neurodegenerative diseases (dementia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease) is a subject of recent study and still discussed. Captured by the olfactory nerve, the nanoparticles would be transported to the brain, causing neuro-inflammation. A 2017 study in Ontario found that people living within 50 meters of a highway had a slightly higher risk (7%) of dementia. However, no clear cause-and-effect link has yet been established.

Solutions? Ambitious policies to reduce particulate matter pollution, however, can significantly contain the effects of pollution. In Tokyo, for example, the anti-diesel measures implemented since 1999 have reduced respiratory mortality by 22%. According to Public Health France, 34,000 lives could be saved each year if all French municipalities reduced their particle rate to the same level (5%) as that of the least polluted cities.

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