Air pollution might lead to severe health issues. In rare cases, it could cause death. This is why air pollution laws matter. We’ll explore how different body parts react to air pollution next. Particles and gases in air pollution enter our bodies when we breathe. They have varied effects on our bodies. Air pollution can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, even before it reaches the lungs. It can cause issues like a runny nose, itchy eyes, and a sore throat. Breathing in, air travels from your nose or mouth, to your throat, into your trachea, and finally, your lungs. Air pollution can irritate these airways. The result is tight muscles around the bronchi, swollen bronchi lining, and extra mucous. When the airways narrow, breathing becomes difficult. This is what happens during an asthma attack. Air pollution worsens infections and makes lungs more prone to them. It constricts your airways, decreases airflow, and increases mucous production. It might also hinder the lungs from filtering bacteria and viruses effectively. Certain air pollutants cause lung cancer. Diesel exhaust, from vehicles, is a known carcinogen. Some pollutants are gases that easily enter the lungs, similar to oxygen. These gases move from the lungs’ alveoli into the blood, just like oxygen.
Air pollution also affects your blood and heart. It might alter your heart’s rhythm, leading to arrhythmia. Cholesterol narrowing the heart’s blood vessels forms plaque. An irregular heartbeat could cause plaque to dislodge and block blood flow, leading to a heart attack. Air pollution might also trigger body-wide inflammation when it passes from your lungs into your blood. Persistent inflammation could cause blood vessels to narrow, impeding blood flow. This inflammation might also loosen plaque in the circulatory system or lead to a blood clot, both of which could cause a heart attack.
Air pollution might harm your brain as well. Reduced blood flow, loose plaque, or a triggered blood clot in the brain could cause a stroke. Air pollution could have additional impacts on the brain. Once pollution enters the bloodstream, it reaches the brain. There, it might cause headaches, anxiety, and affect the central nervous system. In the long run, certain pollutants could decrease IQ, reduce attention span, and cause behavioral issues. One potential outcome of inhaling air pollution is an increased risk of dementia and other mental health problems. Although the link between air pollution and dementia is still being explored, tiny pollution particles could potentially cause systemic inflammation or directly harm the brain by entering it through the nose and eyes.