Air pollution caused by fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides is responsible for 1.85 million new cases of asthma in children and 1.8 million additional deaths each year. Approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide live in areas with heavily polluted air. In most major cities, the air is heavily contaminated with fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants. Nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter with a particle size of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) are particularly dangerous, causing asthma, lung diseases, and damage to the mitochondria of heart cells.
A recent study by the University of Ulm showed that even pollution levels below the European Union’s (EU) limits can contribute to illness. Researchers at George Washington University have now investigated the specific consequences of heavy air pollution for city residents. They analyzed health and air quality data from more than 13,000 urban centers between 2000 and 2019. In the first study, the scientists focused on nitrogen oxide pollution, which was responsible for 1.85 million cases of childhood asthma in 2019, or 8.5% of all new cases that year.
The second study focused on the fine particulate matter pollution of city dwellers and the increased mortality caused by PM2.5. According to the study published in The Lancet Planetary Health, 2.5 billion people, or 86% of urban residents, were exposed to excessive levels of fine particulate matter in 2019. On average, the pollution level was 35 micrograms of fine particulate matter per cubic meter of air, or about seven times higher than the current World Health Organization (WHO) limits. The scientists’ model calculation shows that the increased fine particulate matter pollution causes approximately 1.8 million additional deaths each year.
The situation is particularly critical in rapidly growing cities and metropolitan areas in Asia. However, in Europe, North and South America, the pollution caused by fine particulate matter has decreased significantly in recent years. “A large part of the urban population still lives in areas with unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter,” explains Veronica Southerland. The authors of the study emphasize that combating air pollution is crucial for the health of children and adults alike.
