Essay Effects of Air Pollution on Animals

Introduction

Environmental pollution is a major problem facing humanity and all forms of life on Earth today. Air pollution is considered the largest environmental pollution risk factor. Air pollution has a very wide geographical variation and each citizen of our planet is affected by its devastating consequences. Exposure to polluted air can have permanent effects on population health. While our daily lives may not feel threatened right now, air pollution has a compounding effect that will only get worse without intervention.

Not many people today are concerned an air pollutant may cause or contribute to an increase in mortality or may pose a present or potential hazard to their health. I wasn’t either. I grew up in a small village, surrounded by trees and clean air. I didn’t realize I had a problem breathing until I went to college and moved to a big city. I noticed that I was having trouble breathing on days when the air quality was poor. I started looking for answers to why I was having so much trouble breathing. It took many doctor visits, a couple of different diagnoses, and about two years before receiving the terrifying diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. Ever since air quality has been a top priority for me.

Physical activities like volcanoes and fires release various pollutants in the environment. Anthropogenic activities, however, are the main cause of air pollution. While dangerous chemicals can accidentally escape into the environment, many of air pollutants are released from industrial equipment and other activities and may cause adverse effects on human health and the environment. It causes numerous diseases in human organisms, animals, and plants, ruins the balance of the environmental system, and even causes fatalities.

According to IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), air pollution is estimated to have contributed to about 4.9 million deaths (8.7% of all deaths worldwide) in 2017. This number is disturbing and needs immediate response. Reducing polluted air will help save millions of lives.

Body

Air pollution has both acute and chronic effects on human health, affecting several different systems and organs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), people exposed to toxic air pollutants can suffer from an increase in cancer and other serious health effects. Other negative health issues include:

• Reduced fertility and birth defects
• Developmental issues
• Respiratory damage
• Damage to neurological function
• Weakening of the immune system

1. Supporting evidence

Increase In Elderly And Infant Deaths

In a study of more than 22 million elderly deaths, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that daily changes in ozone and fine particulate matter resulted in higher death statistics when ranges were higher, even when the levels were lower than current air quality standards. Additionally, in a birth study by the Environmental Influence on Ageing in Early Life (ENVIRONAGE) of 641 mothers and newborns, mothers with higher levels of exposure to specific particulate matter gave birth to infants with significantly lower telomere length, unexplainable by other factors, such as socioeconomic class. (Telomere length is a biological aging marker related to life expectancy.)

1. Respiratory system

Because most of the pollutants enter the body through the airways, the respiratory system is in the first line of battle in the onset and progression of diseases resulting from air pollutants. They cause a distinct amount of damage to the respiratory system, depending on the amount of inhaled pollutants and deposition in target cells. The first impact in the upper respiratory tract is irritation, particularly in the trachea, resulting in speech disturbance.

Many studies confirm that all types of air pollution, at elevated concentrations, can affect the airways. Nevertheless, similar effects are also observed with long-term exposure to lower pollutant concentrations. Symptoms such as nose and throat irritation, followed by bronchoconstriction are usually experienced after exposure to increased levels of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and certain heavy metals such as arsenic, nickel, etc. In patients with lung lesions or lung diseases, pollutant-initiated inflammation will worsen their condition. In addition, some air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides increase the susceptibility to respiratory infections. Finally, chronic exposure to ozone and certain heavy metals reduces lung function while the latter are also responsible for asthma, emphysema, and even lung cancer.

2. Cardiovascular system.

Many experimental and epidemiologic studies have shown the direct association between air pollutant exposure and cardiac-related illnesses.

Air pollution is linked to changes in white blood cell counts[86] which also may affect cardiovascular functions.

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Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin modifying its conformation and reducing its ability to transfer oxygen. The decreased supply of oxygen can affect the function of various organs (and especially high oxygen-consuming organs such as the brain and the heart), leading to impaired concentration, slow reflexes, and confusion. Air pollution that causes lung irritation and changes in blood clotting can obstruct blood vessels, leading to angina or even more serious complications. Symptoms such as tachycardia, increased blood pressure, and anemia due to an inhibitory effect on hematopoiesis have been observed as a consequence of heavy metal pollution.

3. Nervous system

There have always been arguments about the connection between exposure to air-suspended toxic materials and the nervous system. However, these toxic substances are now thought to hurt the nervous system. Neurotoxicity leading to neuropathies, with symptoms such as memory disturbances, sleep disorders, anger, fatigue, hand tremors, blurred vision, and slurred speech, have been observed after arsenic, lead, and mercury exposure. The toxic effect of air pollutants on the nervous system also includes neurological complications and psychiatric disorders. Neurological impairment can have serious implications, particularly in babies. Recent studies have reported the connection between air pollution and neurobehavioral hyperactivity, criminal activity, and age-inappropriate behaviors.[90,91] Studies have also revealed the association between air pollution and higher risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.[93] Some studies showed that aggression and anxiety in megacities are in close relationship with the high level of air pollutants.

2. Supporting evidence

Harm to Animals

Air pollution hurts animal health, just as it does on humans.

All animals, despite their size, can be affected by pollution. Animals depend on oxygen that comes from the air, and when the air is contaminated, harmful gases and particulates are inhaled. Experts agree that pollution affects animals in the same way as it does humans. The pollution that animals inhale can accumulate in their tissues over time, causing damage to their organs. Not only do animals inhale harmful gases from pollution, but contaminants are also absorbed through the skin and come from food and water.

In a recent study of dogs in Mexico City, scientists examined the brains of local dogs to compare them with the brains of dogs in cities with less pollution. The brains of dogs living in Mexico City showed inflammation, amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease in humans.

Another study conducted by the University of Massachusetts and the Tufts University Cummings School of Medicine involved 700 dog owners and their use of pesticides. The results showed that about a third of the dogs had canine malignant lymphoma, a type of cancer. The study also showed that the dogs had a 70 percent higher chance of developing lymphoma if the owners used pesticides in their yards.

All animals, wildlife, insects, and invertebrate species are vulnerable to air pollution damage. Persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, acid rain, and other toxic substances can decimate animal populations, and cause deformities in the entire animal kingdom, including birds, fish, mammals, and birds. Air pollutants can poison and disrupt wildlife endocrine function, lower reproductive rates, cause vulnerability to disease and stress, and cause organ injury and death. Like the proverbial canary in the coal mine, other animals being affected by air pollution is a huge warning to humans. Toxic air quality can harm animals in two important ways:

• By affecting the living quality of their environment or habitat
• By affecting their food supply availability and quality

3. Supporting evidence

Damage to Plant Life

Ozone, fluorides, nitrates, and sulfur dioxide have been proven to damage plant leaves resulting in leaf drop and plant death. Other toxins such as nitrogen dioxide may cause slow leaf growth, and carbon dioxide from car exhaust can stunt plant growth. Weakened plants can suffer from more diseases and insect infestation. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), ozone from gasoline engines and fossil fuels causes the most damage to plants and has been shown in studies to reduce crop plant production in several main food sources such as corn, soybeans, wheat, peanuts, etc. During the gas exchange process, ozone enters the leaves, causing chlorosis and necrosis. This reduces the plant’s photosynthetic ability and can result in yield reduction. When plant life is damaged, there are less food resources available for humans and other animals.

Conclusion

This brief research essay presents the adverse effects of several air pollutants on human health, animals, and plants. The main conclusion drawn is that, given the increased exposure of humans to a diversity of pollutants, dietary interventions, rich in plant-derived foods, may protect or reduce their effects on different organs. This conclusion is supported by several epidemiological studies on the beneficial effect of a Mediterranean-type diet on human health.

Based on many clinical and animal studies we can determine that exposure to a substance could be associated with health effects.

Air pollution is an increasing concern for the environment, affecting everyone, including plants and animals.