How Air Pollution Impacts Other Aspects Of Human Health, Not Just Lungs

Recent reports underscore air pollution's broad health impacts beyond the lungs. The World Heart Foundation linked prenatal exposure to a 23% increased risk of congenital heart disease (CHD), noting 70% of air pollution-related deaths are cardiovascular. Critically, 90% of children in lower-income countries lack timely CHD care. Particulate matter (PM2.5) can enter the bloodstream and placenta, affecting fetal development. Another study revealed air pollution causes greater bone mineral density loss in postmenopausal women, disproportionately impacting those in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Furthermore, research suggests a link between long-term air pollution and Parkinson's disease, highlighting an urgent need for more studies on this pervasive public health threat.

When people talk about the health impacts of air pollution, they often refer to the impact it can have on the lungs, but recent reports have also highlighted the impact it can have on other parts of the human body.

A recent study by the World Heart Foundation (WHF) highlighted the links between air pollution and congenital heart disease, which is sometimes known as CHD.

The report highlights evidence showing that exposure to ambient air pollution during the second and third trimesters is associated with a 23% increased CHD risk per 10 µg/m³ increment.

This builds on findings from WHF’s 2024 World Heart Report, which found that almost 70% of the 4.2 million deaths attributed to air pollution were caused by cardiovascular disease.

And the report warns 90% of children in lower-income countries lack timely and affordable access to CHD care, meaning many children are unnecessarily dying as they aren't able to receive hospital treatment.

The report’s co-lead author Mariachiara Di Cesare, who is also a professor in population studies and global health at the University of Essex said 60% of congenital heart diseases likely arises from the gene-environment interactions, in an interview.

Di Cesare added these factors include both exposure to air pollution and extreme heat.

In terms of air pollution, she said particulate matter, sometimes referred to as PM2.5 can get into bloodstream through the lungs and then impact the cardiovascular system.

She added some pollutants in the bloodstream can also enter pregnant woman’s placenta and enter a baby’s blood system too, which can have impact on the unborn child’s health.

“If a mother is exposed to air pollution or extreme heat, then we may expect a higher likelihood of congenital heart disease,” Di Cesare told me.

And a separate study published last month (June) in Frontiers in Public Health highlighted how air pollution affects bone health among postmenopausal women.

Researchers at Mount Sinai’s Institute for Health Equity Research analyzed data from 9,041 postmenopausal women enrolled at 40 U.S. clinical sites participating in the Women’s Health Initiative.

They found women living in lower-socioeconomic neighborhoods experienced significantly greater bone mineral density loss associated with exposure to nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) than women living in wealthier communities.

These pollutants are commonly associated with vehicle traffic and industrial emissions.

First author Dr. Diddier Prada said the study shows how air pollution does not affect everyone equally, in a statement.

Dr. Prada added women living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods experienced substantially greater bone loss despite similar pollution exposure.

“Our findings underscore how environmental and social conditions work together to influence long-term bone health,” he added.

And a recent paper published in Environment International by researchers at the University of Cambridge, found long-term exposure to certain types of air pollution is linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

But they also found evidence was inconclusive for a link between nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone and soot, largely due to the low number of research studies and their imprecision or a lack of consistency.

Similarly, the researchers found no evidence of a link between air pollution and either multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease, but this may because there were so few studies in this area.

Dr. Annalan Navaratnam, and Clinical Research Fellow at IMS Epidemiology, University of Cambridge, said while there are still relatively few robust studies which explore the link between air pollution and Parkinson’s disease, it is becoming clear that there is a link, in a statement.

“We urgently need more research, in larger populations, to examine what is a significant public health issue,” said Dr. Navaratnam.