introduction

Multiple studies show that the more pollution a child is exposed to, the higher chances they will have asthma.  Some studies attribute 14% of childhood asthma to pollution (1).  Others attribute almost 40% (74).

Children exposed to high levels of traffic-related air pollution had worse memory compared to those who were not. (2) Multiple studies have shown lower GPAs among children exposed to higher levels of pollution.(3)

Although multifactorial and not thought to just be from air pollution, autism does appear  more common when children are exposed to increased pollution the first 1-2 years of their life (4).  There also appears to be an increased risk of autism when mom was pregnant and exposed to air pollution (4).

In not only children but adults as well; anxiety, ADHD, depression are more frequent in those exposed to higher air pollution.  The pollution particles enter the brain and cause inflammation much like they do in other parts of the body (5a, 5b, 5c).

The inflammatory effects of air pollution lead to an increase in leptin a hormone the body secretes that  leads to obesity. Multiple studies show children exposed to higher air pollution levels are at increased risk of obesity (6) and diabetes (7).

Allergy season is getting worse due to warmer climate from climate change (8). Additionally,   increased air pollution is driving up children's rates of allergies (and adults too) (9, 10, 11).

Air pollution can increase a women's risk of preterm labor by 19% in one study (12).  And a recent review of other studies confirmed this (75). Asthmatic women seem especially vulnerable but both asthmatic women and nonasthmatic women are affected.

A mother's exposure to air pollution when pregnant appears to increase the child's risk of autism (13). This is similar to the increase in children's risk of autism (4) when exposed to air pollution after birth. 

Intrauterine inflammation leads to preterm labor, miscarriages and increased risk of lifelong neurologic and respiratory disorders as shown in several studies (14, 15).

Much like autism, ADHD, and other mental health disorders appear more common in children whose mothers were exposed to high levels of air pollution (16) (17).

Children born to mothers exposed to higher levels of air pollution appear to score lower IQ scores later in life (18).

Strokes, heart attacks, and shortened life span were some of the earliest recognized problems from air pollution (19).  The studies on them are too numerous to list.  But just a sampling of studies reveals that air pollution narrows arteries that lead to stroke (20, 21). If you would like a more complete list of studies on this, contact us.

Just like strokes, heart attacks were some of the earliest recognized outcomes from air pollution.  Air pollution causes inflammation and atherosclerosis in arteries (22), raises blood pressure (23) and this leads to heart attacks.  The effects are seen with long term exposure (24) and even short term exposure can cause susceptible individuals to have heart attacks (25, 26, 27) on bad air days.  For a more complete list, contact us.

Air pollution is clearly linked to lung cancer (28). In fact, lung cancer amongst non smokers is more common in those exposed to higher levels of air pollution  (29).  There are other causes for lung cancer in non smokers but air pollution clearly increases risk.  Many other cancers appear to increase with exposure to bad air days.  In fact, breast cancer (30) and every other type of cancer is increased with higher levels of air pollution (31).

Air pollution can affect adult brains.  Anxiety seems to be worse when air pollution is worse (32, 33). Depression and suicidality are too (34, 35).  Happiness is increased with cleaner air (5b, 5c, 36).

Like in children, the risk of diabetes is increased in adults who are exposed to higher levels of air pollution (37, 38).  

Dementia seems to be worse and progress faster when there is more air pollution (39, 40).  Dementia is a very expensive illness due to the care required as it progresses.  So any delaying or prevention of this illness adds not just quality of life years but puts less stress on our healthcare system.