Who is the most vulnerable to air pollution?
Posted by Bamsy on June 22nd, 2021
There is no doubt that air pollution can affect our well-being on many levels - particularly when it comes to health. There are, however, the groups that are more likely to experience its negative implications than others. Which are they and why?
According to the most recent WHO data, air pollution kills roughly 4.2 million people in the world every year. That's more than, for instance, accident-related deaths worldwide.
However, we can risk a statement that there are even more people who die as a result of exposure to smog. The statistics may not reflect the scale of this problem since air pollution is a slow killer. The tiny particles may accumulate in the organs for years or even decades, causing cancer and other dysfunctions of a multi-systemic nature.
Some people are more sensitive to air pollution than others due to genetic predispositions, age, or their state of health. Who is the most vulnerable?
#1 Pregnant women
The air pollution poses a greater danger to the child than to a mother - however, she can still experience more intense symptoms of smog poisoning than others. Moreover, many studies prove that they're at a higher risk of miscarriage. The developing fetus can be affected by air pollution in various ways. Some researchers link autism to smog exposure during pregnancy. The child can have a lower lung capacity and neurological problems. Also, the children whose mothers were breathing the polluted air during pregnancy suffer from asthma and lung inflammation much more often.
#2 Children
In the first years of life, children are developing at a fast pace. Due to that, they're more vulnerable to the negative implications of air pollution, which can affect various systems, including the neurological one. Children may feel the effects of exposure to smog in a more intensive way. Mind fog, headaches, stomach aches, and, most importantly, the cough and breathing difficulties - all these may be the symptoms of smog poisoning.
#3 Seniors
The implications of air pollution can be serious even for those in their twenties or thirties, but for seniors, it's particularly dangerous. Due to weaker health, the elderly cannot compensate for the influence of polluting particles on their bodies (with some exceptions, of course). Their exposure to air pollution can raise the possibility of strokes and cancer, as well as obstructive pulmonary disease.
Due to the rapidly developing technology, we can monitor the data on emission levels in real-time, using the air quality sensor integrated with an online map, such as Airly.org. That's the best way to avoid the negative implications - particularly for the most vulnerable groups.
How to protect yourself from air pollution?
Avoiding exposure is the best thing you can do for yourself. It doesn't mean you should lock yourself up in the house - however, when the levels are higher, it's worth limiting the time spent outside to the necessary minimum. Also, the antismog mask is a must in this case. Following the real-time data through air quality apps like Airly.org is the best preventive measure you can take.
