Understanding Air Quality (AQ)

THE BAD-AIR PROBLEM, THE BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT TO HEALTH

The issue of rising air pollution is now so serious that governments globally are increasingly dedicating greater resources to assess and tackle the issue. In the UK (December 2020), a landmark ruling saw a coroner record the world’s first death as a result of air pollution. Furthermore, the World Health Organization estimates that seven million deaths annually can be attributed to outdoor air pollution, declaring it to be the biggest environmental threat to human health and a public health emergency.

Air quality, the basics

  • Air quality refers to the condition of the air in our environment in terms of the presence of pollutants like particulate matter (PM), gases, and chemicals. It indicates how clean or polluted the air is and its potential impact on human health and the environment.

  • Good air quality is essential for our health and well-being. Poor air quality can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular problems, exacerbate existing health conditions, and harm ecosystems. Monitoring air quality helps us understand the potential risks we face as individuals and take necessary mitigating precautions.

  • Common air pollutants include particulate matter (PM - most notably 2.5 and 10), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and ground-level Ozone (O3). These pollutants come from sources like vehicles, industrial processes, construction and natural factors - all of which can have various adverse effects on health and the environment.

  • Air quality has, in the past, been measured only by using monitoring stations that collect data on pollutant concentrations, but more agile and cost-effective sensory technology (such as Sensling’s) has started to take up this purpose too. Both traditional stations and advanced sensory technology use instruments to measure specific pollutants, and the data is then analyzed to assess air quality levels. How results are reported depends on the provider of the measuring technology.

Air quality + health

  • Poor air quality exposes us to harmful pollutants, like fine particulate matter, which can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing acute respiratory problems, aggravating asthma, and increasing the risk of heart diseases (along with numerous other conditions) and even premature death.

  • The list of health conditions is well established, but continues to grow. A few of the longest standing conditions associated with air pollution includes heart attacks, strokes, heart disease, congestive heart failure, COPD, Asthma, infant mortality, damaged nervous systems, breast cancer, blood cancer, childhood Leukemia, low fertility and multiple cognitive disorders.

  • Vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are most at risk. These groups typically have weaker immune and respiratory systems, making them more susceptible to the adverse effects of pollutants in the air.

  • Emerging research is now suggesting a significant link between air pollution and mental health issues. Such disorders include depression, cognitive decline and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases. These can be caused by fine particulate matter (PM) reaching the brain and contributing to neurological problems over time.

Air quality, the costs

  • Poor air quality results in increased healthcare expenses due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It also reduces workforce productivity, as sick days and decreased performance become more prevalent, collectively impacting a nation's economic output.

  • The economic burden of healthcare costs related to air pollution is substantial. Hospitalisations, medication and the expense of treatments for just respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses is huge, with many other conditions triggered and exacerbated by poor air quality.

  • Air pollution leads to increased absenteeism, reduced concentration, and lower productivity among employees due to health problems. The same could also be applied to schools and places of eduction. The resulting decrease in work efficiency contributes to significant overall economic losses for businesses and governments.

  • Yes, poor air quality also impacts tourism, property values, and environmental damage repair costs - all of which have negative economic implications for individuals, communities, organisations and governments.

4 KEY RESEARCH STUDIES ON AQ

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KEY STATISTICS ON AQ

7m

The number of premature deaths poor Air Quality causes each year across the whole world.

(Source: World Health Organization)

3%

The amount of global GDP that’s lost to air pollution through healthcare expenses and reduced productivity.

(Source: World Bank)

2yrs

How much life expectancy is reduced, on a global scale, by long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5)

(Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2019)

93%

The proportion of children who are exposed to levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that exceed World Health Organization's guidelines.

(Source: World Health Organization)

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