According to a new study of over 364,000 people in England, exposure to traffic-related air pollution is linked to an increased likelihood of having multiple long-term physical and mental health conditions.
This is the largest study ever conducted to investigate whether air pollution exposure is linked to the occurrence of multiple long-term health conditions.
It is led by researchers from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN).
high air polluted areas are more likely to have multiple long-term health conditions
Maxim Tolchinskiy/Unsplash
Multimorbidity is defined as having two or more physical or mental health conditions, and it affects 27% of adults in primary care in the United Kingdom, as per ScienceDaily.
It raises the use of healthcare services as well as the costs of primary and secondary care, but its relationship with air pollution has never been studied in the UK.
The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, found that high levels of traffic-related air pollution - fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - were linked to an increased risk of having at least two long-term health conditions.
Co-occurring neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular, and common mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, were found to have the strongest associations.
According to Dr. Amy Ronaldson, Research Associate at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, and the study's first author, people who have more than one long-term health condition have a lower quality of life and a greater reliance on the healthcare system.
According to our NIHR-funded research, people who live in areas with higher traffic-related air pollution are more likely to have multiple health conditions.
The study does not prove that air pollution causes multimorbidity, but it does suggest that more research is needed in this area.
Simple measures to reduce traffic could potentially improve lives and relieve pressure on our healthcare systems.
Researchers examined data from UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database and research resource that contains anonymized genetic lifestyle, and health information from 500,000 UK participants.
Between the ages of 40 and 69 Participants were evaluated for 36 chronic physical and five mental health conditions.
The presence of two or more of these conditions was defined as multimorbidity.
Physical and mental health data from the UK Biobank in 2010 were linked with the estimated concentration of air pollution at the participants' homes.
Dr. Ioannis Bakolis, Reader at IoPPN, King's College London, and senior author on the study, stated that while it is unclear how air pollution affects multiple organs and systems at the same time, there is some evidence that mechanisms such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune activation may be triggered by air particulates, which can cause damage to the brain, heart, blood, lungs, and gut.
According to the study, air pollution may have a negative impact on several body systems and increase the likelihood of people developing multiple long-term health conditions through shared mechanisms.
More research is needed to determine how air pollution affects the various bodily systems, but addressing air pollution may help prevent and alleviate the debilitating effects of multiple long-term health conditions.
There are numerous ways to improve indoor air quality.
We can all contribute to a cleaner California by reducing our energy consumption, purchasing sustainable products, and avoiding chemical exposure, as per the California Air Resources Board.
Reduced energy consumption aids in the reduction of air pollution.
When you use less gasoline, natural gas, and electricity (power plants burn fossil fuels to generate electricity), you not only save money, but you also emit fewer pollutants.
Many products in the home, garden, and garage emit smog-forming chemicals that pollute the air when they are used.
These products' volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) penetrate deep into the lungs and can trigger asthma attacks or worsen respiratory illnesses.
When you leave a room, turn off the lights.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs to save energy.
Request a home audit from your energy provider and inquire about alternative energy options such as solar or wind.
Instead of air conditioning, use a fan.
Set a programmable thermostat to 78°F during the summer and 68°F during the winter.
Replace the insert with an EPA-approved wood burning stove.
On days when the air quality is poor, avoid using your wood stove or replacing it.
Don't use a gas stove to heat your home.
When not in use, use a surge protector for multiple appliances and turn it off.
Use water-based cleaning products with a "zero VOC" label.
Insulate your water heater and any hot water pipes that are accessible.
Avoid using toxic chemicals at home and instead opt for natural alternatives.
Plant a tree; it will help to filter the air and provide shade.
