Air pollution subsidy from public health

u/MaximilianKohler on r/everythingscience copied 26 apr 2020



There's plenty of other great reasons related to human health to try and lower levels of particulate matter in the air, though.

Air pollution causes ‘huge’ reduction in intelligence, study reveals (2018): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/27/air-pollution-causes-huge-reduction-in-intelligence-study-reveals

Impact of air pollution on health may be far worse than thought, study suggests. Results chime with earlier review indicating almost every cell in the body may be affected by dirty air (Nov 2019, BMJ) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/27/impact-of-air-pollution-on-health-may-be-far-worse-than-thought-study-suggests

Evidence from a new study indicates that supposedly safe levels of air pollution can actually be deadly. The research links the deaths of 200,000 military veterans to long-term exposure to ultra-fine particle pollution at levels below current Environmental Protection Agency acceptable limits. (Nov 2019, JAMA) https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-01-07/air-pollution-silent-killer-even-when-it-meets-epa-standards

Air pollution is responsible for shortening people's lives worldwide on a scale far greater than wars and other forms of violence, parasitic and insect-born diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and smoking, according to a study published in Cardiovascular Research. (Mar 2020) https://www.escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-Office/Press-releases/The-world-faces-an-air-pollution-pandemic

"air pollution may be damaging ‘every organ in the body’" (May 2019): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2019/may/17/air-pollution-may-be-damaging-every-organ-and-cell-in-the-body-finds-global-review. Air Pollution and Noncommunicable Diseases.

A study finds that exposure to fine particulate matter in the first years of life is associated with poorer performance in working memory and executive attention https://www.isglobal.org/en/-/la-exposicion-a-la-contaminacion-atmosferica-antes-y-despues-del-nacimiento-podria-afectar-a-habilidades-cognitivas-fundamentales Association between Early Life Exposure to Air Pollution and Working Memory and Attention (May 2019) https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3169

Air pollution and lung cancer: what more do we need to know? (2003): https://thorax.bmj.com/content/58/12/1010 "Exposure to air pollution is estimated to contribute to 62 000 lung cancer deaths per year worldwide—a large number of deaths, to be sure, but considerably less than the 712 000 deaths from non-malignant cardiac and respiratory disease attributable to air pollution"

Billions of air pollution particles found in hearts of city dwellers. Exclusive: Study shows associated damage to critical pumping muscles, even in children (July 2019) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/12/billions-of-air-pollution-particles-found-in-hearts-of-city-dwellers

Air pollution contributes to the deaths of an estimated 1.6 million people in China every year: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/14/world/asia/study-links-polluted-air-in-china-to-1-6-million-deaths-a-year.html

Kids who breathe more pollution have lower grades: https://archive.fo/mEXrG#selection-805.0-805.1

Prenatal and early life exposure to indoor air pollutants increases odds of toddler allergies, with candles, cats and tobacco smoke showing greatest impact, especially with the increase in the average amount of time indoors, suggests new study of 108 mother-child pairs followed from birth to age 2. (Nov 2019) https://acaai.org/news/prenatal-and-early-life-exposure-multiple-air-pollutants-increases-odds-toddler-allergies

Air pollution's negative affect on brain health: http://www.vox.com/2016/2/23/11094686/air-pollution-dementia – https://archive.fo/kzDqi#selection-1745.0-1745.91

Air pollution particles found in mothers' placentas. New research shows direct evidence that toxic air – already strongly linked to harm in unborn babies – travels through mothers’ bodies (Sep 2018) https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/16/air-pollution-particles-found-in-mothers-placentas

Our finding that black carbon (BC) particles accumulate on the fetal side of the placenta suggests that ambient particulates could be transported towards the fetus and represents a potential mechanism explaining the detrimental health effects of pollution from early life onwards. (Sept 2019) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11654-3

On average, an increase in pollution particles in the air of 10 micrograms per cubic meter cuts victims' life expectancy by 9-11 years - more than previously thought (plus more in comments): https://archive.fo/PqgS7#selection-1745.0-1745.190

Air pollution is as bad for pregnant women as smoking in raising the risk of miscarriage, according to a scientific study. They said the finding was upsetting and that toxic air must be cut to protect the health of the next generation. (2019): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/11/air-pollution-as-bad-as-smoking-in-increasing-risk-of-miscarriage

Air pollution may be leading cause of cancer (2013): https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/air-pollution-a-leading-cause-of-ca/

Microscopic particles in air pollution inhaled by pregnant women may damage fetal cardiovascular development. The study found that one exposure late in pregnancy can restrict maternal and fetal blood flow, which can continue to affect the child into adulthood. (Mar 2019): https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-03/ru-apm030819.php

California loses up to $1 billion in crops each year because of air pollution, according to research that looked at trends from 1980 to 2015. Table grapes — the kind for snacking — were the most vulnerable among seven crops badly affected by smog, including: wine grapes, strawberries, walnuts (Mar 2020) https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/16/21181725/air-pollution-california-crops-agriculture-1-billion