Image by Satyress from Pixabay, https://pixabay.com/illustrations/stethoscope-the-medicine-a-heart-4442858/
The Air Quality Index includes a level of air pollution for “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” These sensitive groups include children, older adults, people who are active outdoors, and people with lung disorders. The negative effects of ozone air pollution include irritation of the respiratory system, reduced lung function, inflammation and damage to cells that line the lungs, increased lung susceptibility to infection, and aggravated asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. The negative effects of fine particulate matter are linked to premature death for people with heart or lung disease, non-fatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, and respiratory issues including aggravated asthma, decreased lung function, and irritation of airways. Because of these effects, those who fall into one of the sensitive groups are more likely to have negative impacts from exposure to air pollution at lower levels. New research shows that even those that are healthy should be aware of their exposure to air pollution.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partnered with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in 2004 for a 10-year study that ended in 2014 to investigate air pollution as a risk factor for heart disease. The findings from the study called the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Air Pollution Study (MESA Air) identified a link between air pollution and atherosclerosis which is the buildup of plaque in the coronary artery that can affect heart health.1 The study showed that healthy individuals exposed to particulate pollution over the long term had accelerated atherosclerosis and the higher the exposure the faster the progression.1 As this ozone season progresses, it’s important for all of us to pay attention to air quality forecasts and take steps to protect our health.
1 EPA, Linking Air Pollution and Heart Disease, https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/linking-air-pollution-and-heart-disease