Global air pollution shortens people’s lives on a scale greater than warfare, other forms of violence, infection, and more.
Exposure to air pollution promotes oxidative stress and increases the risk of developing many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes. Data from a new study indicate that ozone gas and particulate matter present in air pollution claim more lives than wars and other forms of violence by an order of magnitude.
Particulate matter in air pollution is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets. It is present in fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrograms (PM2.5) or less. Ozone is a reactive, colorless gas with a strong odor. It irritates the respiratory system and may cause health problems by damaging lung tissue, reducing lung function, and sensitizing the lungs to other irritants, especially among the very young, very old, or those with compromised respiratory or immune function.
The authors of the study performed statistical analyses to investigate age-dependent increases in premature death rates and years of life lost from five categories of disease – lung cancer, lower respiratory illness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, and stroke. The analyses were based on an atmospheric model that calculated worldwide exposure to PM2.5 and ozone gas, as well as mortality data from 41 cohort studies in 16 countries.
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They found that nearly 9 million people die every year from air pollution-related causes, and more than one-third (35 percent) of these deaths occur in East Asia. The lowest death rates were in Australia, which has the most stringent air quality standards worldwide. Roughly 75 percent of air pollution-related deaths occur in people over the age of 60 years. The premature death rate exceeded that caused by warfare and other forms of violence, smoking, HIV/AIDS, parasitic and vector-borne diseases combined.
Other research suggests that sulforaphane, a compound derived from broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, promotes the detoxication of some airborne pollutants and may provide a strategy to ameliorate their long-term health risks. Learn more about sulforaphane in this clip featuring Dr. Jed Fahey.