Air pollution is not a new topic. We may want to ignore its existence because we feel it’s out of our control, but it can still harm our health. Although we cannot control our city’s smog rate or carbon monoxide levels, we do have some control over how much we are exposed to air pollution both inside and outside of our homes. Bottom line? Pollutants like smog, sulfates, nitrates, and carbon are toxic to our bodies, and we need to take every possible measure to avoid them. This means becoming aware of the situation, learning as much as you can, and becoming proactive about caring for your health.
Poor air quality is an international problem recognized worldwide. So much so that major laws are being enforced by the United Nations and backed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Air pollution is linked to a large number of health problems, from short-term irritations to terminal illness.
Sadly, we’ve done this to ourselves. Almost all of the pollution that affects our air is man-made, resulting from manufacturing and transportation. A great deal has derived from our dependence on fossil fuels.
The first incident of air pollution that sparked investigation was in 1948. In Donora, Pennsylvania, a lethal haze developed that severely affected the respiratory and cardiovascular health of nearly half the town’s residents, resulting in at least 20 deaths. With steel and zinc smelters polluting the town’s air for years, a rare weather occurrence, in which a warm air pocket passed high above the city and trapped cool air, prevent air pollution from blowing away. The dirty air sat stagnant as residents breathed in the lethal amounts of toxins.
The thick blankets of smog engulfing the streets were a red flag for scientists to begin investigating links between air pollution and health. Although extreme, the situation in Donora was the harsh consequence of the large industrial growth that had taken place in the country and across the globe. States began to slowly pass legislation in attempts to regulate air pollution.
1970 became a milestone year for regulation as Congress passed the first Clean Air Act amendments, which officially established the air quality standards in the United States. From that point on, laws were mandated, and the Environmental Protection Agency, also known as EPA was created.
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment, and to ensure Americans have access to clean air, land, and water. It does so by:
They accomplish all this through a variety of methods including:
The EPA has played a major role in protecting the environment including regulating and preventing air pollution problems.
Today, EPA scientists, engineers, and physicians are working together to address the worldwide challenges and issues associated with air quality management. Through cutting-edge technology, research, and product development, they have established regulations and put in effect cost-effective approaches to reduce and control air pollution. The major goal is to find the sources that impact our health, such as cars, trucks, and power plants, and regulate and reduce the emitted toxins.
The EPA reevaluates their data for the most common pollutants every five years to assess the sufficiency of their air regulations. If needed, the regulations are adjusted and modified. They are constantly testing and researching in attempts to keep the Earth and its inhabitants healthy. Their research program is innovative and uses interdisciplinary approaches to address the air pollution problem.
According to studies conducted by the World Health Organization and EPA, the tiny particles in the air that constitute pollution do the most harm to the eyes, respiratory tract, and cardiovascular system. Airborne pollutants like nitrous oxide or sulfur dioxide can cause damage to the respiratory tract which will induce coughing, mucus secretions, and can result in long-term infections. Those who are particularly affected are young children, elderly, asthma sufferers, those with compromised immune systems, or those who already have pre-existing cardiovascular or lung diseases.
Long-term exposure to air pollution can result in breathing problems, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and even death. More than two million people die each year due to the toxins in the air. It has been estimated by WHO that cities with high levels of pollution have a 15-20% higher mortality rate than those with a lower score.
EPA is moving forward with investigations to better understand the role air quality plays in health. One such investigation is what they call a multi-pollutant approach to research on air quality. The emphasis resides on the understanding of the collective impact of multiple forms of air pollutants and how they interact with each other to cause health problems. Research has already linked pollutants including ozone and particle matter or PM, to lung and heart disease.
Another developing avenue of research is understanding of how climate change and air quality affect our health and environment. EPA has already determined that future temperature changes will indeed increase air pollution in many areas of the world. Investigations will focus on protecting future generations from the health risks they could be exposed to.
We make choices daily that affect our environment and our air quality, from the cars we drive, to the way we style our hair. According to the EPA, the air quality inside our home is often 5 times worse than outdoors. In fact, after some household repairs like such painting or floor removal, the air can be 1000 times worse than outside.
Exposure to toxic indoor air can also cause many health problems. Short-term, you might experience eye, nose, or throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, or asthma. In the long run, poor air quality can have the same effect indoor as outdoors, with exposure leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases or cancers.
There are some preventative measures to take though. You can be proactive about fighting air pollution in many ways. Try these tips:
Essentially, adrenal fatigue is caused by the adrenal glands no longer being able to cope with the body’s stress level. However, it is important to understand, stress is not the only culprit in the equation. The body has probably reached this point for many reasons, one being air pollution.
Toxic overload is dangerous and debilitating. It can be a primary factor in adrenal fatigue. The level of toxicity we face daily can lead to serious health problems, and most of the time, we don’t even realize they are there. The pesticides, antibiotics, and chemicals in the food we eat, the chlorine in the water we drink, and the pollution in the air we breathe are all toxic to the body and are all factors in our toxic overload. Many of these chemicals disrupt the adrenal function directly, and over time, with continual disruption, adrenal fatigue will occur. For those who have reached the point of adrenal exhaustion, more exposure to air pollution and other stress-inducing elements can be further debilitating to the body.
It is recommended that those who are especially vulnerable take as many precautions to avoid air pollution as possible. These can include:
Air pollution is a major environmental risk to our health, mortality, and quality of life. If you suffer from any preexisting condition, such as adrenal fatigue, you are more prone to the ill effects of air pollution. You may not be able to control your city’s level of smog, but you can try to avoid it. Become educated, and make your home as toxin-free as possible.
If you feel you may be suffering from pollutants and toxins in your environment, speak to your primary care physician. There are also EPA resources to answer any questions you may have about the air quality in your city and state.
© Copyright 2018 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
Air pollution can affect everyone over time. However, those who are young, old, or predisposed to cardiovascular, respiratory or adrenal illness can suffer greater consequences. Air pollution is toxic and should be avoided as much as possible.
