London, UK: According to a recent study, those who live in polluted environments are more likely to have many chronic illnesses. More than 360,000 individuals with health data in the UK Biobank between the ages of 40 and 69 were examined by researchers.
The researchers found greater chances of multiple neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular and common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, even having allowed for differences in income. These persistent issues have a significant negative impact on people’s lives as well as our economy and healthcare system.
The UK government set a goal for England to have the worst particle pollution in 2040 earlier this month. 18 years from now, 35 years after the WHO recommendations were established, England intends to comply with them. According to a recent health study, people who are exposed to particle pollution that is worse than the England target for 2040 have an additional 20 percent probability of developing several serious diseases.
We will need to track people’s changing health over time to know for sure if air pollution caused these chronic health problems. If air pollution exposure indeed affects risk, it presents an opportunity to shape the epidemic of multiple long-term illness using environmental policy such as expanding low-emission zones or avoiding building care homes in pollution hotspots.
Dr. Ioannis Bakolis, from King’s College London, who led the study, stated.
A recent analysis of first world war army records found that air pollution had been reducing the height and health of soldiers who grew up downwind of areas of intense coal use. A wide range of chronic illnesses can be caused by air pollution, as per the report.