By Salifu Faridat
A comprehensive study conducted in the UK recently involving over 250,000 individuals has demonstrated the hastened progression of lung diseases due to air pollution.
The research found a direct correlation
between higher levels of air pollution in residential neighborhoods and an increased likelihood of developing lung illnesses, leading to higher instances of multiple diseases and even premature death.
This reinforces the emerging understanding that the detrimental impact of air pollution accumulates over a person’s lifetime.
The study’s findings also cast doubts on the adequacy of current legal air pollution standards, suggesting that further reductions in air pollution would substantially enhance public health, even when complying with existing regulations.
People already affected by lung conditions are especially vulnerable and require additional protection against prolonged exposure to air pollutants.
The extensive study monitored the health of 266,000 adults over an average span of 12 years. These participants, who hailed from England, Wales, and Scotland, had volunteered for the UK Biobank project.
Unlike previous research that focused on isolated health outcomes, such as the initial diagnosis of conditions like asthma, hospital admissions, or mortality, this study traced the trajectory of participants’ lung health from a disease-free state to the development of chronic lung conditions and eventual death.
By the study’s conclusion, approximately 13,863 individuals had been diagnosed with ailments such as asthma, lung cancer, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while 1,055 individuals suffered from multiple lung illnesses.
The data also considered lifestyle factors, including smoking, obesity, occupation, and income, to ensure accurate analysis.
Notably, the study highlighted particle pollution as the most impactful contributor to lung disease progression. This outcome was observed even though the average pollution levels near the participants’ homes were in alignment with England’s 2040 targets and those proposed for the EU by 2030.
This discrepancy suggests that the current standards may not offer adequate protection against such health risks.
Nitrogen dioxide exhibited similar patterns, although the calculation method for assessing individuals’ exposure to this pollutant was more intricate and less certain.
Although the research centered on lung diseases, a notable portion of the study’s participants (10,562 people) died from causes unrelated to lung conditions, indicating a broader impact of air pollution.
These findings align with previous research demonstrating that air pollution not only exacerbates lung illnesses but also shortens lives and raises mortality rates from various diseases.
This study corroborates earlier research from 2019, which revealed a decline in lung function among UK Biobank volunteers due to air pollution.
Additionally, individuals from lower-income households experienced twice the decline in lung function and a threefold increase in the risk of COPD compared to those from higher-income backgrounds with the same level of air pollution exposure.
International studies have also established a connection between air pollution and heightened risks of lung cancer and reduced survival rates.
Professor Stephen Holgate from the University of Southampton, who was not directly involved in the study, emphasized the critical role air pollution plays in deteriorating lung health and contributing to premature death.
Holgate called for greater recognition of the
substantial impact of air pollution on public health and the implementation of more stringent measures to reduce exposure to toxic pollutants.
