How does environmental pollution affect health?

People are still afraid of environmental pollution affecting health. However, not everyone knows how dangerous it is.

Cardiovascular effects

Air pollution can increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders and even lead to heart attacks. Jon Ayres, professor of environmental and respiratory medicine at the University of Birmingham (UK), said: "When small carbon particles enter the lungs, they cause an inflammatory response and release chemicals into the blood, narrowing the arteries, causing blood clots, thereby increasing the risk of heart attacks."

Air pollution can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Illustration photo

Increased risk of cancer

The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer has found a link between air pollution and bladder cancer. Around 10,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year, largely due to exposure to toxins in polluted air.

“Urine is highly concentrated with toxins, and the kidneys and urinary system are affected, including the bladder, which is more exposed to air pollution than other parts of the body,” explains Nick James, professor of clinical oncology at Warwick Medical School.

Effects on the brain

According to Boldsky, pollution can affect the brain, causing cognitive decline and memory loss. According to the results of a study of 20,000 women in Chicago, those who lived in polluted areas had impaired memory and thinking skills compared to those who lived in areas with clean air.

Causes infertility in men

A 2008 study examining male fertility in Upper Silesia, the most polluted region in Poland, found that infertility rates were higher there than in other regions. Another study in the Czech Republic found that DNA in young men’s sperm was diluted in the winter, when air pollution from burning coal for heating was higher.

Effects on the lungs

Inhaling polluted air puts a strain on the lungs, making them more susceptible to damage. It can also aggravate symptoms in people with asthma, emphysema and bronchitis. One study also found that asthma rates were much higher in children living near polluted areas than in other areas.

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