Nine percent of all deaths around the globe are attributed to poor air quality. In today’s episode, I unpack this disturbing statistic, discussing the relationship between air quality and human health. This is the first half of a two-part miniseries on this topic, starting with outdoor air quality. I explain what exactly is meant by the term “air quality”, how it is measured, and the gasses and particles that adversely affect human health. Air pollution is not only harmful to the environment but it also threatens our physical health and overall wellbeing. In addition to a host of respiratory problems, air pollution also disrupts the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems in the body. The good news is that you and I can do a great deal to improve the quality of the air, both in a personal and collective capacity, so that we can all enjoy a healthier body and planet.
Key Points From This Episode:
• The gasses that naturally comprise our air and how its quality is compromised.
• Hear about natural sources of pollution as well as man-made pollution.
• Where the most pervasive and harmful man-made pollutants come from.
• Learn about the prevalence of fatalities and disease related to poor air quality.
• Particles and gasses: the two categories of air pollutants.
• How air pollution affects our respiratory system and passes into our bloodstream.
• Learn about the gasses or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are most problematic.
• How our bodies protect us from larger particles and why smaller ones are more dangerous.
• The long and short-term health effects associated with particulate matter (PM) in the air.
• Find out what sustained exposure to PM 2.5 means for your health.
• Multiple organs and systems in our bodies are negatively affected by air pollution.
• The environment is also affected by air pollution.
Key Messages:
1. An explanation of the term “air quality”.
2. Two components to consider: particles and gasses.
3. Four major gasses for concern: Ozone, Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrous Oxides and Carbon Monoxide.
4. Particulate matter in two size categories: PM 10 and PM 2.5.
5. The diseases caused by and aggravated by air pollution.
6. The collective and personal actions that we can take.
Quotables:
“The burning of fossil fuels is a major issue when we think about air quality. It’s not just liked to climate change; it has real consequences for human health.” — Kristina Hunter [0:03:52]
“Air quality accounts for about five million deaths per year. That is 9% of all deaths around the globe are attributed to poor air quality.” — Kristina Hunter [0:05:12]
“We know that air pollution is linked directly to the respiratory system. Now we also know it is linked to the cardiovascular system and emerging evidence is showing it is linked to obesity.” — Kristina Hunter [0:29:30]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
World Air Quality Index Real Time Interactive Map
Outdoor Air Pollution - Our World in Data
“Particulate Matter Air Pollution: Effects on the Cardiovascular system”