# data[].attributes.body
This is a big problem because it could cause health issues, such as breathing issues, respiratory disease, which can cause death, heart problems, and cancer. This could also harm it by contributing to the acid rain, damaging ecosystems. This has a lot of risk nd really dangerous. We could help by using less gas, clean energyand disposing.

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Deforestation is one of our environmental threats because we get our oxygen from trees, and another thing is we are destroying habitats by cutting now tree wildlife.

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I write this because with the heat from climate change its melting the ice caps and making the sea water a meter higher and soon it will flood the little islands

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I think one of the biggest threats is plastic pollution. It takes plastic up to 400 years to decompose. It is harming not only the land but the sea too.

# data[].attributes.body
I think water pollution is the biggest threat its devastating impact on human health and ecosystems.

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Water Pollution: Effects on Health, Biosphere and Economy ...

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Found on Google from decodingbiosphere.com

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Plastic pollution is one of the most dangerous environmental threats today. Plastics are everywhere, in our oceans, soil, and even the food we eat. Marine animals often mistake plastic for food, which can injure or kill them, and microplastics are now being found in human bodies too.

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Plastic pollution harms wildlife, contaminates ecosystems, and persists for centuries, posing a long term threat to the planet.

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Plastic pollution is one of the biggest threats because animal in the ocean can eat it or get tangeld in it it also spreads microplastic into the the enviorment that can affect humans health.

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I think plastic pollution is one of the biggest threats to our environment it does not only harm animal life but us fish eat micro plastics and we eat the fish and it helps contributes to climate change.

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that affects the whole planet. When plastic trash isn’t thrown away the right way, it often ends up in the ocean. Sea creatures like turtles, fish, and birds can eat the plastic or get stuck in it, which can hurt or even kill them. Over time, plastic breaks down into tiny pieces called microplastics. These little bits can spread through the water, the ground, and even the air. Scientists have discovered that people and animals can accidentally take in microplastics, which might cause health problems. Plastic pollution harms animals, nature, and even humans, so it’s important for everyone to use less plastic, recycle when possible, and help keep the Earth clean.

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In my opinion plastic Pollution is the biggest environmental issue because it affects ecosystems, harms wildlife, and persists for hundreds of years. Plastic Pollution is everywhere from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains.

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I think wildfires can be a big environmental threat because they release a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere,destroy habitats,and can have a devastating impact on air quality and human health.

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I think water pollution is big global issue and it affects the environment, our health.

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The problem of plastics

Plastic is a polymeric material-that is, a material whose molecules are very large, often resembling long chains made up of a seemingly endless series of interconnected links. Natural polymers such as rubber and silk exist in abundance, but nature's "plastics" have not been implicated in environmental pollution, because they do not persist in the environment. Today, however, the average consumer comes into daily contact with all kinds of plastic materials that have been developed specifically to defeat natural decay processes-materials derived mainly from petroleum that can be molded, cast, spun, or applied as a coating. Since synthetic plastics are largely nonbiodegradable, they tend to persist in natural environments. Moreover, many lightweight single-use plastic products and packaging materials, which account for approximately 50 percent of all plastics produced, are not deposited in containers for subsequent removal to landfills, recycling centres, or incinerators. Instead, they are improperly disposed of at or near the location where they end their usefulness to the consumer. Dropped on the ground, thrown out of a car window, heaped onto an already full trash bin, or inadvertently carried off by a gust of wind, they immediately begin to pollute the environment. Indeed, landscapes littered by plastic packaging have become common in many parts of the world. (Illegal dumping of plastic and overflowing of containment structures also play a role.) Studies from around the world have not shown any particular country or demographic group to be most responsible, though population centres generate the most litter. The causes and effects of plastic pollution are truly worldwide.

According to the trade association PlasticsEurope, worldwide plastic production grew from some 1.5 million metric tons (about 1.7 million short tons) per year in 1950 to an estimated 275 million metric tons (about 303 million short tons) by 2010 and 359 million metric tons (nearly 396 million short tons) by 2018; between 4.8 million and 12.7 million metric tons (5.3 million and 14 million short tons) are discarded into the oceans annually by countries with ocean coastlines.

Compared with materials in common use in the first half of the 20th century, such as glass, paper, iron, and aluminum, plastics have a low recovery rate. That is, they are relatively inefficient to reuse as recycled scrap in the manufacturing process, because of significant processing difficulties such as a low melting point, which prevents contaminants from being driven off during heating and reprocessing. Most recycled plastics are subsidized below the cost of raw materials by various deposit schemes, or their recycling is simply mandated by government regulations. Recycling rates vary dramatically from country to country, and only northern European countries obtain rates greater than 50 percent. In any case, recycling does not really address plastic pollution, since recycled plastic is "properly" disposed of, whereas plastic pollution comes from improper disposal.

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Plastic pollution | Definition, Sources, Effects, Solutions, & Facts

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Plastic pollution, harmful accumulation of synthetic plastic products in the environment. Plastics are persistent large-scale pollutants, and plastic debris (such as bottles, straws, containers, and plastic wrap) and particulates have been found in many environmental niches, from Mount Everest to the bottom of the sea.

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Climate change is the biggest environmental threat. It causes rising temperatures, extreme weather, and ecosystem disruption. Global average temperatures have increased by about 1.1 c since pre industrial times.

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I think the biggest environment threat is plastic Pollution. Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in the ocean, hurting sea animals and polluting the water. It breaks down into tiny pieces called microplastics that even get into our food and air. This problem keeps growing because so much plastic is used only once and thrown away. We really need to use less plastic and recycle more to protect marine life and keep our planted clean.

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 ocean animals surrounded by plastic waste, like a turtle swimming near plastic bags or a beach covered in litter.

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Wildfires worry me the most, because they can directly affect my family. They are also a big environmental threat because they destroy eco-systems, harm the wild life, and negatively impact air and water quality. They also release harmful pollutants into the air that can cause health issues.

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Climate change, in my opinion is currently the greatest threat to our planet. Because of pollution from factories, automobiles, and the burning of fossil fuels, the Earth's temperature is constantly rising. Extreme weather, ice cap melting, and more powerful hurricanes and wildfires are the results of this. Future harm to people, plants, and animals could be severe if we do nothing.

Fact: “The average temperature of the Earth’s surface is now between 1.34°C and 1.41°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s-prior to the industrial revolution-and warmer than at any time in the last 100,000 years”. - "What is Climate Change?" un.org

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Plastic pollution is a very big Environment Threat due to the fact that it takes up so much land and even taking a big spot in the oceans all around. But this is all due to us humans because sometimes we tend to just throw things out with out realizing that we are slowly killing our earth.

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plastic pollution impacts earth by spreading toxins and microplastics that contaminate the environment and food chain, and causing negative social and health effects on vulnerable communities.

# data[].attributes.body
One of the biggest environment issues is plastic pollution in the ocean because lots of our plastic ends up in the ocean every year. All this plastic harms fish, turtles, and many more marine life. One day the plastic will break down and become microplastic which could end up in your food.

Fact: According to the United Nations, around 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year. (Source: UN Environment Programme)

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Cutting down trees, can contribute to climate change and the chain reaction to many other harmful aspects of our planet deforestation can increase the chance of wildfires due to dryness and release more CO2 into our planet

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I think the biggest environmental threat is climate change because it causes extreme weather, glaciers to melt, and faster rising sea levels. It hurts the environment of certain animals making it harder for them to survive and live. If we continue going down this path it can make it much harder for us in the future.

Fact: Sea levels globally have risen by about 8 inches in the past 100 years and are rising faster now than ever. (earth.gov)

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It harms the environment by needing huge amounts of electricity and water to run its data centers, which increases carbon emissions. This can become very bad in the future as it only grows more updated and normalized.

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Food waste is a significant global issue, contributing to environmental problems and economic losses. Reducing food waste can be achieved through better planning, storage, and utilization of leftovers.

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Overpopulation is one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing the planet today. As the global population continues to grow rapidly, the demand for essential resources such as food, water, and energy increases dramatically. This surge places immense pressure on natural ecosystems, leading to the depletion of vital resources and contributing to environmental degradation. The strain on these resources often results in habitat destruction, pollution, and loss of biodiversity, which further disrupts the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystems.

One of the major consequences of overpopulation is the increased generation of waste. More people produce more garbage, which often overwhelms waste management systems and leads to pollution of land, rivers, and oceans. Additionally, the expansion of urban areas to accommodate growing populations causes deforestation and the loss of green spaces. This urban sprawl not only destroys wildlife habitats but also reduces the natural areas that help absorb carbon dioxide, exacerbating the effects of climate change.

Water scarcity is another critical issue linked to overpopulation. With more people consuming water for drinking, agriculture, and industry, freshwater sources are becoming increasingly stressed. Overuse of groundwater and contamination of surface water supplies threaten the availability of clean water for future generations. Moreover, intensive farming practices needed to feed a growing population can degrade soil quality and increase reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, leading to further environmental harm.

Addressing overpopulation requires a multifaceted approach. Providing access to education and family planning services can help slow population growth in many regions. Sustainable urban planning and the development of green infrastructure are essential to minimize the environmental footprint of expanding cities. Innovations in agriculture and resource conservation can help meet the needs of more people without further damaging the planet. Ultimately, tackling overpopulation is crucial for ensuring a sustainable future for both humanity and the natural world.

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Our biggest threat on this planet is Climate change. Climate change is the most significant issue we face this year, with increasing levels of greenhouse gases causing our planet to warm, resulting in rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

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I see wildfires as the biggest threat to our environment and way of life because they destroy the homes of not only humans, but wildlife as well. Wildfires create a toxic environment that takes a long time to clean up, and leaves the path it destroys unfixable sometimes. To me right now wildfires are the greatest threat to the way of life in my city because they are happening more often at huge amounts.

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The environmental problem that worries me the most is pollution, especially how it affects air, water, and land. It’s a global issue that continues to get worse, and it harms both the planet and the health of everything living on it. What concerns me most is how pollution is often ignored until the damage becomes extreme or irreversible.

Pollution affects people by causing serious health problems like asthma, cancer, and other illnesses, especially in communities near factories or highways. It harms animals by polluting their habitats marine animals often die from ingesting plastic, and land animals suffer from poisoned food and water. It also damages ecosystems, leading to loss of biodiversity and disrupting natural cycles like water flow and soil health.

To make things better, we need stronger regulations on industries that pollute, better waste management systems, and more investment in clean energy and education. Locally, communities can organize cleanups, reduce single use plastics, and support businesses that prioritize sustainability. Globally, countries can agree on stricter environmental laws and support developing nations in adopting greener technologies.

This is definitely an issue I’d consider exploring for my Environmental Advocacy Video Project. There are so many angles to look at, and I’d like to help raise awareness about how serious pollution is and how we can all be part of the solution.

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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Introduction

Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. We know what we're looking at when brown haze settles over a city, exhaust billows across a busy highway, or a plume rises from a smokestack. Some air pollution is not seen, but its pungent smell alerts you.

It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. Air pollution, in all forms, is responsible for more than 6.5 million deaths each year globally, a number that has increased over the past two decades.

What Is Air Pollution?

Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources.

Vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-made air pollution.

Nature releases hazardous substances into the air, such as smoke from wildfires, which are often caused by people; ash and gases from volcanic eruptions; and gases, like methane, which are emitted from decomposing organic matter in soils.

Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP), a mixture of gasses and particles, has most of the elements of human-made air pollution: ground-level ozone, various forms of carbon, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and fine particulate matter.

Ozone, an atmospheric gas, is often called smog when at ground level. It is created when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight.

Noxious gases, which include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur oxides (SOx), are components of motor vehicle emissions and byproducts of industrial processes.

Particulate matter (PM) is composed of chemicals such as sulfates, nitrates, carbon, or mineral dusts. Vehicle and industrial emissions from fossil fuel combustion, cigarette smoke, and burning organic matter, such as wildfires, all contain PM.

A subset of PM, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is 30 times thinner than a human hair. It can be inhaled deeply into lung tissue and contribute to serious health problems. PM 2.5 accounts for most health effects due to air pollution in the U.S.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) vaporize at or near room temperature-hence, the designation volatile. They are called organic because they contain carbon. VOCs are given off by paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, some furnishings, and even craft materials like glue. Gasoline and natural gas are major sources of VOCs, which are released during combustion.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are organic compounds containing carbon and hydrogen. Of more than 100 PAHs known to be widespread in the environment, 15 are listed in the Report on Carcinogens. In addition to combustion, many industrial processes, such as iron, steel, and rubber product manufacturing, as well as power generation, also produce PAHs as a by-product. PAHs are also found in particulate matter.

Air Pollution and Climate Change

Air pollution and climate change affect each other through complex interactions in the atmosphere. Air pollution is intricately linked with climate change because both problems come largely from the same sources, such as emissions from burning fossil fuels. Both are threats to people's health and the environment worldwide. Read more: Health Impacts of Air Quality.

What is NIEHS Doing?

Over its 50-plus year history, NIEHS has been a leader in air pollution research. The institute continues to fund and conduct research into how air pollution affects health and the population groups who are most affected.

How does air pollution affect our health?

When the National Ambient Air Quality Standards were established in 1970, air pollution was regarded primarily as a threat to respiratory health. In 1993, NIEHS researchers published the landmark Six Cities Study, which established an association between fine particulate matter and mortality.

Air pollution exposure is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which may lay a foundation for chronic diseases and cancer. In 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO) classified air pollution as a human carcinogen.

Mortality rates related to air pollution are a concern. Exposure to the air pollutant PM2.5 is associated with an increased risk of death.

A team of researchers, partially funded by NIEHS, found that deaths decreased after air pollution regulations were implemented and coal-powered plants were retired. The study data covered 21 years. More specifically, they found exposure to PM2.5 from coal was associated with a mortality risk that was twice as high as the risk from exposure to PM2.5 from all sources. PM2.5 from coal is high in sulfur dioxide, black carbon, and metals.

Public health concerns include cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and reproductive, neurological, and immune system disorders.

Research on air pollution and health effects continually advances.

Cancer

A large study of more than 57,000 women found living near major roadways may increase a woman's risk for breast cancer.

The NIEHS Sister Study found other airborne toxic substances, especially methylene chloride, which is used in aerosol products and paint removers, are also associated with increased risk of breast cancer.

Occupational exposure to benzene, an industrial chemical and component of gasoline, can cause leukemia and is associated with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

A long-term study, 2000-2016, found an association between lung cancer incidence and increased reliance on coal for energy generation.

Cardiovascular Disease

Fine particulate matter can impair blood vessel function and speed up calcification in arteries.

NIEHS researchers established links between short-term daily exposure by post-menopausal women to nitrogen oxides and increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

For some older Americans, exposure to TRAP can result in lowered levels of high-density lipoprotein, sometimes called good cholesterol, increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease.

According to a National Toxicology Program (NTP) , TRAP exposure also increases a pregnant woman's risk for dangerous changes in blood pressure, known as hypertensive disorders, which are a leading cause of pre-term birth, low birth weight, and maternal and fetal illness and death.

Respiratory Disease

Air pollution can affect lung development and is implicated in the development of , asthma, and other respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Increases in asthma prevalence and severity are linked to urbanization and outdoor air pollution. Children living in low-income urban areas tend to have more asthma cases than others. Research published in 2023 tied two air pollutants, ozone and PM2.5, to asthma-related changes in children's airways.

PM and nitrogen oxide are linked to chronic bronchitis.

In 2020, a major public health challenge was confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires across the western U.S. Building on a well-established connection between air pollution and respiratory-tract infections, a study linked wildfire smoke with additional COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Whom does air pollution affect the most?

Air pollution affects everyone's health, but certain groups may be harmed more.
Almost 9 out of 10 people who live in urban areas worldwide are affected by air pollution.
Children
The NIEHS-funded Children's Health Study at the University of Southern California is one of the largest studies of the long-term effects of air pollution on children's respiratory health. Among its findings:

Higher air pollution levels increase short-term respiratory infections, which lead to more school absences.

Children who play several outdoor sports and live in high ozone communities are more likely to develop asthma.

Children living near busy roads are at increased risk for asthma.

Children with asthma who were exposed to high levels of air pollutants were more likely to develop bronchitis symptoms.

Living in communities with higher pollution levels can cause lung damage.

Other studies on women and children

NIEHS-funded researchers from the University of California, Davis, Environmental Health Sciences Center are conducting the Bio-Specimen and Fire Effects (B-SAFE) Study. This ongoing project seeks to discover if and how recent wildfires and their smoke affected pregnant women and their babies. Begun in 2017, study participants are pregnant women who were living in Northern California when the 2018, 2019, or 2020 wildfires occurred there.

Breathing PM 2.5, even at relatively low levels, may alter the size of a child's developing brain, which may ultimately increase the risk for cognitive and emotional problems later in adolescence.

Prenatal exposure to PAHs was associated with brain development effects, slower processing speed, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and other neurobehavioral problems in urban youth.

In New York City, prenatal exposure to air pollution may play a role in childhood ADHD-related behavior problems.

Prenatal exposure to particulate matter was associated with low birth weight.

Women exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester, may have up to twice the risk of having a child with autism.

Second and third trimester exposure to PM 2.5 might increase the chance of those children having high blood pressure in early life.

In California's agricultural San Joaquin Valley, women who were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, or nitrogen dioxide during their first 8 weeks of pregnancy were more likely to have a baby with neural tube defects.

In Marietta, Ohio, home to a ferromanganese refinery, manganese concentrations in blood and hair, a biomarker of air pollution exposure, were associated with lower child IQ scores.

Older adults

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are a public health challenge for aging populations. NIEHS-funded researchers at the University of Washington identified a link between air pollution and dementias. This well-conducted study adds considerable evidence that ambient air fine particles increase risk of dementias. Conversely, a multi-year study published in 2022 shows improved air quality is associated with lower risk of dementia in older women. The researchers also stated this decline in dementia risk was equivalent to taking nearly 2 1/2 years off the age of the women studied.

Air pollution was linked to a greater chance of developing several neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias. Hospital admissions data from 63 million older adults in the U.S., obtained over 17 years (2000-2016), was analyzed along with estimated PM 2.5 concentrations by zip code to conduct the study.

In older adults, long-term exposure to TRAP may significantly hasten physical disabilities. The risk is more pronounced among racial minorities and lower-income people.

Osteoporosis affects women more than men. A large study associated high levels of air pollutants with bone damage, particularly in the lumbar spine, among postmenopausal women. This study expands previous findings linking air pollution and bone damage.

Nutrients may counter some harmful effects from air pollution. A 2020 study found omega-3 fatty acids, obtained by eating certain fish, may protect against PM 2.5-associated brain shrinkage in older women.

Rural dwellers

An NIEHS-funded study found that concentrations of PM 2.5 in rural Washington State were comparable to urban Seattle. In this study, as regional PM 2.5 increased, there were increased asthma symptoms, such as limitation of activities, more wheezing, and more nighttime waking, in rural children.

NIEHS supported a translational research project, Addressing Air Pollution and Asthma, that may lead to improved health for children suffering from asthma. They found that certain agricultural practices contribute to poor air quality and asthma among children. The team combined high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaners and a home-based education program to reduce children's exposure to pollutants in the home.

In the rural U.S., large-scale animal feeding operations might compromise regional air quality through emission of pollutants, such as ammonia gas. A study found acute lung function problems in children with asthma in such areas.

Different genes
Your genes play a role in respiratory health. NIEHS-funded research discovered that people with specific gene variants, which made them more likely to have lung inflammation, had a greater chance of suffering from asthma if they lived close to major roadways.

NIEHS and community involvement

NIEHS supports community participation in the research process and encourages collaborative approaches that build capacity in communities to address environmental health concerns. Community-engaged research and citizen science are two types of collaborative research approaches.

For example, NIEHS helps residents of Imperial County, California track air pollution through a network of 40 community-run monitors. In this county, long-term improvements in air quality were associated with significant lung-function improvement in children.

In another example, NIEHS grant recipients developed community-level tactics and public policies for reducing exposure to TRAP:

Using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration.

Building land-use buffers and vegetation barriers.

Improving urban design with gardens, parks, and street-side trees.

Creating active-travel options, such as bicycling and walking paths.

THE (Trade, Health, Environment) Impact Project brings together researchers and community groups to find solutions for communities affected by trade-related pollution, such as ports and roadways with trucking.

Why improving air quality matters

Air pollution and birth outcomes are linked as global public health concerns. Researchers analyzed indoor and outdoor air pollution data from all inhabited continents along with key pregnancy outcomes. Their findings indicate efforts to reduce PM2.5 exposure could lead to significant reductions in the number of low-birth weight and pre-term birth infants worldwide. Air pollution reduction would be especially beneficial for children born in low- and middle-income countries.

Among children in Southern California, decreases in ambient nitrogen dioxide and PM 2.5 were associated with fewer cases of asthma.

An NIEHS-funded study found that a mixture of several B vitamins may protect DNA from changes attributable to PM 2.5 air pollution.

Bronchitis symptoms declined as pollution levels dropped in the Los Angeles region.

Improving air quality may improve cognitive function and reduce dementia risk, according to supported in part by NIH and the Alzheimer's Association.

When fossil-fuel power plants close, nearby air pollution is reduced. A study found the incidence of preterm births went down within 5 kilometers of retired coal and oil-powered plant locations.

Further Reading

Stories from the Environmental Factor (NIEHS Newsletter)

Printable Fact Sheets

Podcasts

Additional Resources

Air Pollution Linked to Dementia Cases (September 2023) - In this edition of NIH Research Matters, read about findings from the Health and Retirement Study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, that showed higher air pollution exposure was linked to an increased risk of dementia. After consideration of all sources, fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, from agriculture and wildfires were specifically associated with an increased risk of dementia. Reducing such exposures might help lower the incidence of dementia. The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

, a tool developed in partnership by several government agencies, allows you to monitor air quality in real time anywhere in the U.S. Simply enter your zip code as indicated on the website.

EPA's Air Sensor Toolbox provides information on the operation and use of air-sensor monitoring systems for technology developers, air-quality managers, citizen scientists, and the public.

NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative - This solutions-focused research initiative aims to reduce the health consequences associated with extreme weather events and evolving climate conditions. NIH has a strong history of creating innovative tools, technologies, and data-driven solutions to address global environmental problems.

Smoke-ready Toolbox for Wildfires is a compendium of resources from the EPA to help educate you about the risks of smoke exposure and actions that protect your health.

Wildfire Smoke Collection - The journal Environmental Health Perspectives has published high-impact papers and reviews exploring exposure and resulting health effects related to wildfires.

Related Health Topics

This content is available to use on your website.

Please visit NIEHS Syndication to get started.

Introduction

Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. We know what we're looking at when brown haze settles over a city, exhaust billows across a busy highway, or a plume rises from a smokestack. Some air pollution is not seen, but its pungent smell alerts you.

It is a major threat to global health and prosperity. Air pollution, in all forms, is responsible for more than 6.5 million deaths each year globally, a number that has increased over the past two decades.

What Is Air Pollution?

Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both human-made and natural sources.

Vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-made air pollution.

Nature releases hazardous substances into the air, such as smoke from wildfires, which are often caused by people; ash and gases from volcanic eruptions; and gases, like methane, which are emitted from decomposing organic matter in soils.

Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP), a mixture of gasses and particles, has most of the elements of human-made air pollution: ground-level ozone, various forms of carbon, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and fine particulate matter.

Ozone, an atmospheric gas, is often called smog when at ground level. It is created when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight.

Noxious gases, which include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur oxides (SOx), are components of motor vehicle emissions and byproducts of industrial processes.

Particulate matter (PM) is composed of chemicals such as sulfates, nitrates, carbon, or mineral dusts. Vehicle and industrial emissions from fossil fuel combustion, cigarette smoke, and burning organic matter, such as wildfires, all contain PM.

A subset of PM, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) is 30 times thinner than a human hair. It can be inhaled deeply into lung tissue and contribute to serious health problems. PM 2.5 accounts for most health effects due to air pollution in the U.S.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) vaporize at or near room temperature-hence, the designation volatile. They are called organic because they contain carbon. VOCs are given off by paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, some furnishings, and even craft materials like glue. Gasoline and natural gas are major sources of VOCs, which are released during combustion.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are organic compounds containing carbon and hydrogen. Of more than 100 PAHs known to be widespread in the environment, 15 are listed in the Report on Carcinogens. In addition to combustion, many industrial processes, such as iron, steel, and rubber product manufacturing, as well as power generation, also produce PAHs as a by-product. PAHs are also found in particulate matter.

Air Pollution and Climate Change

Air pollution and climate change affect each other through complex interactions in the atmosphere. Air pollution is intricately linked with climate change because both problems come largely from the same sources, such as emissions from burning fossil fuels. Both are threats to people's health and the environment worldwide. Read more: Health Impacts of Air Quality.

What is NIEHS Doing?

Over its 50-plus year history, NIEHS has been a leader in air pollution research. The institute continues to fund and conduct research into how air pollution affects health and the population groups who are most affected.

How does air pollution affect our health?

When the National Ambient Air Quality Standards were established in 1970, air pollution was regarded primarily as a threat to respiratory health. In 1993, NIEHS researchers published the landmark Six Cities Study, which established an association between fine particulate matter and mortality.

Air pollution exposure is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in human cells, which may lay a foundation for chronic diseases and cancer. In 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO) classified air pollution as a human carcinogen.

Mortality rates related to air pollution are a concern. Exposure to the air pollutant PM2.5 is associated with an increased risk of death.

A team of researchers, partially funded by NIEHS, found that deaths decreased after air pollution regulations were implemented and coal-powered plants were retired. The study data covered 21 years. More specifically, they found exposure to PM2.5 from coal was associated with a mortality risk that was twice as high as the risk from exposure to PM2.5 from all sources. PM2.5 from coal is high in sulfur dioxide, black carbon, and metals.

Public health concerns include cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and reproductive, neurological, and immune system disorders.

Research on air pollution and health effects continually advances.

Cancer

A large study of more than 57,000 women found living near major roadways may increase a woman's risk for breast cancer.

The NIEHS Sister Study found other airborne toxic substances, especially methylene chloride, which is used in aerosol products and paint removers, are also associated with increased risk of breast cancer.

Occupational exposure to benzene, an industrial chemical and component of gasoline, can cause leukemia and is associated with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

A long-term study, 2000-2016, found an association between lung cancer incidence and increased reliance on coal for energy generation.

Cardiovascular Disease

Fine particulate matter can impair blood vessel function and speed up calcification in arteries.

NIEHS researchers established links between short-term daily exposure by post-menopausal women to nitrogen oxides and increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

For some older Americans, exposure to TRAP can result in lowered levels of high-density lipoprotein, sometimes called good cholesterol, increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease.

According to a National Toxicology Program (NTP) , TRAP exposure also increases a pregnant woman's risk for dangerous changes in blood pressure, known as hypertensive disorders, which are a leading cause of pre-term birth, low birth weight, and maternal and fetal illness and death.

Respiratory Disease

Air pollution can affect lung development and is implicated in the development of , asthma, and other respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Increases in asthma prevalence and severity are linked to urbanization and outdoor air pollution. Children living in low-income urban areas tend to have more asthma cases than others. Research published in 2023 tied two air pollutants, ozone and PM2.5, to asthma-related changes in children's airways.

PM and nitrogen oxide are linked to chronic bronchitis.

In 2020, a major public health challenge was confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires across the western U.S. Building on a well-established connection between air pollution and respiratory-tract infections, a study linked wildfire smoke with additional COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Whom does air pollution affect the most?

Air pollution affects everyone's health, but certain groups may be harmed more.
Almost 9 out of 10 people who live in urban areas worldwide are affected by air pollution.
Children
The NIEHS-funded Children's Health Study at the University of Southern California is one of the largest studies of the long-term effects of air pollution on children's respiratory health. Among its findings:

Higher air pollution levels increase short-term respiratory infections, which lead to more school absences.

Children who play several outdoor sports and live in high ozone communities are more likely to develop asthma.

Children living near busy roads are at increased risk for asthma.

Children with asthma who were exposed to high levels of air pollutants were more likely to develop bronchitis symptoms.

Living in communities with higher pollution levels can cause lung damage.

Other studies on women and children

NIEHS-funded researchers from the University of California, Davis, Environmental Health Sciences Center are conducting the Bio-Specimen and Fire Effects (B-SAFE) Study. This ongoing project seeks to discover if and how recent wildfires and their smoke affected pregnant women and their babies. Begun in 2017, study participants are pregnant women who were living in Northern California when the 2018, 2019, or 2020 wildfires occurred there.

Breathing PM 2.5, even at relatively low levels, may alter the size of a child's developing brain, which may ultimately increase the risk for cognitive and emotional problems later in adolescence.

Prenatal exposure to PAHs was associated with brain development effects, slower processing speed, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and other neurobehavioral problems in urban youth.

In New York City, prenatal exposure to air pollution may play a role in childhood ADHD-related behavior problems.

Prenatal exposure to particulate matter was associated with low birth weight.

Women exposed to high levels of fine particulate matter during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester, may have up to twice the risk of having a child with autism.

Second and third trimester exposure to PM 2.5 might increase the chance of those children having high blood pressure in early life.

In California's agricultural San Joaquin Valley, women who were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, or nitrogen dioxide during their first 8 weeks of pregnancy were more likely to have a baby with neural tube defects.

In Marietta, Ohio, home to a ferromanganese refinery, manganese concentrations in blood and hair, a biomarker of air pollution exposure, were associated with lower child IQ scores.

Older adults

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are a public health challenge for aging populations. NIEHS-funded researchers at the University of Washington identified a link between air pollution and dementias. This well-conducted study adds considerable evidence that ambient air fine particles increase risk of dementias. Conversely, a multi-year study published in 2022 shows improved air quality is associated with lower risk of dementia in older women. The researchers also stated this decline in dementia risk was equivalent to taking nearly 2 1/2 years off the age of the women studied.

Air pollution was linked to a greater chance of developing several neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other dementias. Hospital admissions data from 63 million older adults in the U.S., obtained over 17 years (2000-2016), was analyzed along with estimated PM 2.5 concentrations by zip code to conduct the study.

In older adults, long-term exposure to TRAP may significantly hasten physical disabilities. The risk is more pronounced among racial minorities and lower-income people.

Osteoporosis affects women more than men. A large study associated high levels of air pollutants with bone damage, particularly in the lumbar spine, among postmenopausal women. This study expands previous findings linking air pollution and bone damage.

Nutrients may counter some harmful effects from air pollution. A 2020 study found omega-3 fatty acids, obtained by eating certain fish, may protect against PM 2.5-associated brain shrinkage in older women.

Rural dwellers

An NIEHS-funded study found that concentrations of PM 2.5 in rural Washington State were comparable to urban Seattle. In this study, as regional PM 2.5 increased, there were increased asthma symptoms, such as limitation of activities, more wheezing, and more nighttime waking, in rural children.

NIEHS supported a translational research project, Addressing Air Pollution and Asthma, that may lead to improved health for children suffering from asthma. They found that certain agricultural practices contribute to poor air quality and asthma among children. The team combined high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaners and a home-based education program to reduce children's exposure to pollutants in the home.

In the rural U.S., large-scale animal feeding operations might compromise regional air quality through emission of pollutants, such as ammonia gas. A study found acute lung function problems in children with asthma in such areas.

Different genes
Your genes play a role in respiratory health. NIEHS-funded research discovered that people with specific gene variants, which made them more likely to have lung inflammation, had a greater chance of suffering from asthma if they lived close to major roadways.

NIEHS and community involvement

NIEHS supports community participation in the research process and encourages collaborative approaches that build capacity in communities to address environmental health concerns. Community-engaged research and citizen science are two types of collaborative research approaches.

For example, NIEHS helps residents of Imperial County, California track air pollution through a network of 40 community-run monitors. In this county, long-term improvements in air quality were associated with significant lung-function improvement in children.

In another example, NIEHS grant recipients developed community-level tactics and public policies for reducing exposure to TRAP:

Using high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration.

Building land-use buffers and vegetation barriers.

Improving urban design with gardens, parks, and street-side trees.

Creating active-travel options, such as bicycling and walking paths.

THE (Trade, Health, Environment) Impact Project brings together researchers and community groups to find solutions for communities affected by trade-related pollution, such as ports and roadways with trucking.

Why improving air quality matters

Air pollution and birth outcomes are linked as global public health concerns. Researchers analyzed indoor and outdoor air pollution data from all inhabited continents along with key pregnancy outcomes. Their findings indicate efforts to reduce PM2.5 exposure could lead to significant reductions in the number of low-birth weight and pre-term birth infants worldwide. Air pollution reduction would be especially beneficial for children born in low- and middle-income countries.

Among children in Southern California, decreases in ambient nitrogen dioxide and PM 2.5 were associated with fewer cases of asthma.

An NIEHS-funded study found that a mixture of several B vitamins may protect DNA from changes attributable to PM 2.5 air pollution.

Bronchitis symptoms declined as pollution levels dropped in the Los Angeles region.

Improving air quality may improve cognitive function and reduce dementia risk, according to supported in part by NIH and the Alzheimer's Association.

When fossil-fuel power plants close, nearby air pollution is reduced. A study found the incidence of preterm births went down within 5 kilometers of retired coal and oil-powered plant locations.

Further Reading

Stories from the Environmental Factor (NIEHS Newsletter)

Printable Fact Sheets

Podcasts

Additional Resources

Air Pollution Linked to Dementia Cases (September 2023) - In this edition of NIH Research Matters, read about findings from the Health and Retirement Study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, that showed higher air pollution exposure was linked to an increased risk of dementia. After consideration of all sources, fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, from agriculture and wildfires were specifically associated with an increased risk of dementia. Reducing such exposures might help lower the incidence of dementia. The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

, a tool developed in partnership by several government agencies, allows you to monitor air quality in real time anywhere in the U.S. Simply enter your zip code as indicated on the website.

EPA's Air Sensor Toolbox provides information on the operation and use of air-sensor monitoring systems for technology developers, air-quality managers, citizen scientists, and the public.

NIH Climate Change and Health Initiative - This solutions-focused research initiative aims to reduce the health consequences associated with extreme weather events and evolving climate conditions. NIH has a strong history of creating innovative tools, technologies, and data-driven solutions to address global environmental problems.

Smoke-ready Toolbox for Wildfires is a compendium of resources from the EPA to help educate you about the risks of smoke exposure and actions that protect your health.

Wildfire Smoke Collection - The journal Environmental Health Perspectives has published high-impact papers and reviews exploring exposure and resulting health effects related to wildfires.

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Air pollution is a familiar environmental health hazard. We know what we're looking at when brown haze settles over a city, exhaust billows across a busy highway, or a plume rises from a smokestack. Some air pollution is not seen, but its pungent smell alerts you.

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Plastic pollution is a huge problem because so many bottles and trash end up in rivers and oceans. I picked a picture of water with a bunch of plastic bottles to show how bad it is. It’s crazy that animals can get hurt by it and that tiny pieces of plastic can even end up in our drinking water. We use so much plastic every day without thinking about it. if more people used reusable bottles and bags, it could make a big difference.

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I think ocean pollution is a very big issue. National Geographic says that "an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean annually." Ocean pollution contaminates the water, harms wildlife, and destroys ecosystems. And it is only getting worse as time goes on.

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Plastic pollution affects the environment in many bad ways. a lot of animals in the ocean get stuck in plastic and that hurt them . It also make the cities and the beaches look dirty , and its hard to clean up .

Fact: Plastic items injure and kill million of wild animals every year (plasticpollutioncoalition)

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Water pollution has been an issue for the past thousand years. It is a threat to us because it harms humans and animals health's. It also affects our water and food supply sources. This has gone on for so long because people refuse to put in the effort to do the right thing for the earth. A simple task like reducing plastic use, throw our trash away properly, and spread awareness on how we are affecting ourselves. Can make a change.

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Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental problems today because plastic never really goes away; it just breaks down into tiny pieces called microplastics. These pieces end up in oceans, rivers, and soil, hurting animals that eat or get trapped in them. Sea turtles, fish, and birds often mistake plastic for food, which can kill them. Plastic waste also affects humans because microplastics have been found in the water we drink and even in the air we breathe. The problem keeps growing since most plastic isn't recycled; it either gets burned or dumped in landfills and oceans.

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Wildfires are frequent and intense. Wildfires are caused by the change of climate change and by human activity. Wildfires are extremely dangerous to the environment, humans, animals, and homes. The smoke from the fire is really harmful to the planet and humans.

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Wildfires scorch thousands of acres in California

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Plastic waste has always been an issue, Affecting not only ocean animals but land animals as well getting in peoples food sometimes. People know about this issue and have been knowing about it but never really trying to change it what so ever which is really devastating and scary because of how bad it affects the world, Quick fact about plastic waste is that every single year about over 8 million plastic waste ends up in the ocean.

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I think the biggest environmental threat is plastic pollution in oceans. Plastics harm marine animals that eat or get tangled in them, and they break down into microplastics that can enter the food chain. This pollution also damages ecosystems and takes hundreds of years to decompose. Reducing plastic use is important to protect both animals and people.

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This is a big problem that's been around for many years, Overfishing damages marine ecosystems and effects livelihoods and biodiversity worldwide and even coastal communities that rely on fishing suffer when fish stocks decline. What can solve this is by limiting how many people are able to catch and also choosing good sourced seafood and supporting eco-friendly fisheries.

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I believe climate change is a greatest threat to our environment because climate change causes rising temperatures and extreme weather by trapping heat from greenhouse gases, disrupting ecosystems and threatening

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Killing bee's Pesticides in Connecticut 

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Killing bee's Pesticides in Connecticut 

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Killing pees has always been an issue especilly in Connecticut because of many plants being sprayed by humans spraying chemicals which slowly poisions them directly and slowly which is affecting the bee population since 2012 and disrupts the entire eco-system.

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Global warming is the biggest environmental threat. In recent days it's been increasing at extremely high rates and once the world reaches a certain temperature, the damage our environments will endure won't be fixable.

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Plastic pollution harms wildlife through entanglement and ingestion. It contaminates soil and water, disrupting ecosystems. Microplastics accumulate in the food chain, threatening human life. The persistence of plastic leads to long-term environmental damage.

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Overfishing happens when fish are caught faster than they can reproduce, threatening the balance of our oceans. Modern fishing methods, like trawling and longlines, can capture huge amounts of fish but often destroy marine habitats and non-target species in the process.

The consequences are serious: key fish populations, including tuna and cod, have plummeted, disrupting food chains and endangering predators like sharks and seabirds. Human communities that rely on fish for food and income are also at risk.

To tackle overfishing, governments can enforce fishing quotas, protect marine reserves, and ban destructive practices. Consumers can help by choosing sustainably sourced seafood. Protecting our oceans today ensures healthy seas and food security for generations to come.

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Plastic pollution is a pervasive environmental crisis, stemming from the excessive production and improper disposal of plastic products. These plastics, designed for durability, persist in the environment for hundreds of years, breaking down into microplastics that contaminate our soils and waterways. This pollution severely impacts wildlife, as animals ingest plastic debris, leading to malnutrition, internal injuries, and death. Furthermore, the accumulation of plastic waste disrupts ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and overall environmental health, making it one of the most pressing challenges facing our planet today.

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I think water pollution is one of the most important threats in human life because and in ecosystems, we should learn to keep the world safe.