Historical Origins of Air Pollution
Pollution is not just a problem of the 20th century; it has always existed in the world and may be as old as ancient human civilization. Ancient masters of medicine not only observed the personal bodily health of the people but also linked it to the climate, environment of the particular geographical region, heredity, water supply, quality of air at a certain period of time, and seasonal variation in the world. As the world got more crowded and hotter with the passage of time, our industries, vehicles, machines, and crafts continued to pump out toxic emissions into the atmosphere, pushing the air to become dangerously polluted. Drawing on the background of air pollution from where it actually emerged, this paper argues how air pollution can potentially affect heart health while penetrating deep into our circulatory system from all around us, making it really hard for us to escape serious cardiovascular diseases.
Pollution as a Weapon and Industrial By-Product
In ancient times, kings weak in power within their territories used air pollution in the form of poisonous smoke as a weapon against stronger kings to win battles before even going to the battlefield. Moreover, people used to burn vegetable and animal oils to provide light in and out of their houses. So indoor as well as outdoor pollution was a significant issue in olden times. However, the alarming bell of pollution started ringing in the mid-twentieth century during the industrial revolution, which led to severe pollution-related illnesses around the world. The Industrial Revolution led to potential atmospheric contamination around the world due to impure emissions from the overpopulated factories and the continuing expansion of industries. During that time, in the year 1930, death bells tolled for 60 people in Meuse Valley, Belgium, due to significant air pollution events in the city that first led to cough and chest pain among citizens and then caused death due to toxic emissions and smog (Candelone et al., 1995).
Major Pollution Disasters and Public Awareness
In October 1948, the small industrial town of Donora in the United States fell victim to the chaos caused by air pollution, resulting in 20 deaths in the town and making half of the population sick. The intentional ignorance killed almost 12,000 people in London due to the “Great London Smog” of the year 1952, when citizens of London mostly died due to cardiovascular diseases caused by smog, the burning of high-sulphur coal, and fog full of industrial particulates (Candelone et al., 1995). Thus, the health effects of atmospheric pollution caused by industries were immediate and long-lasting due to the extensive burning of fuels as well as temperature inversions in towns, valleys, cities, countries, and across the globe.
Air Pollution as a Cardiovascular Risk
Thus, air pollution emerged as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, as it causes long-term damage to the heart and circulatory system. The contaminants in the air damage the blood vessels and worsen the blood supply to and from the heart, which may lead to ischemic cardiovascular disease, heart attack, atherosclerosis, and even heart failure. Atherosclerosis is an example of cardiovascular disease caused by air pollution in which the coronary artery gets blocked due to an accumulation of plaque in the coronary artery. This usually happens due to long-term exposure to nitrogen oxides and industrial particulates, which prematurely age the blood vessels. The blood vessels then develop a more rapid calcium buildup that restricts blood flow to the coronary artery and the heart. This buildup damages nearby blood vessels and restricts blood flow, which increases the chances of cardiovascular events like stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.
Mortality and Global Health Evidence
According to a recent World Health Organization report, three million deaths are reported every year due to worsened cardiovascular diseases linked to air pollution. The report stated that more than 30 percent of cardiovascular diseases are due to air pollution, and these numbers continue to rise every year. Half the world’s population has no or little access to clean fuel, which causes air pollution that subsequently leads to serious health issues, including serious strokes and heart attacks (Anderson et al., 2012). It has also been shown by a large body of science that air pollution can worsen existing cardiovascular illnesses and further contribute to the development of diseases that may lead to heart failure.
Biological Effects on the Circulatory System
Cardiovascular and circulatory systems are the main targets of air pollution, as the particulates are one-third the size of red blood cells. These polluted components enter the blood circulation and then enter the blood vessels and heart through the lung alveoli with the potency to cause dire health effects. These particulates enter blood vessels either by translocating through macrophages or crossing the barriers in the heart directly. This crossover may increase the risk of myocardial infarction and strokes, which can critically lead to heart failure. Moreover, pollution present in the air we breathe damages the inside walls of blood vessels. The impaired vessels then become narrower, which restricts blood movement and increases blood pressure. Such a condition adds strain on the heart, which also affects the heart’s normal electrical functioning. This strain causes irregular heart rhythms, which can contribute to the development of new heart health problems (Hamanaka & Mutlu, 2018).
Conclusion on Cardiovascular Harm
In conclusion, air pollution is severe and is worsening the environment while being associated with myocardial infarction, strokes, heart attack, heart failure, and deaths from cardiovascular diseases. It can have negative effects on the human heart and circulatory system, with an increased risk of high blood pressure, clotting, damage to the blood vessels, atherosclerosis, heart attack, and death from severe cardiovascular disease. However, if the world makes a transition from fossil fuels to the use of clean renewable energy resources, pollution-related cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by slowing down the pace of climate change, which would reflect increased economic productivity in a longer-lived and healthier world population and thus save humanity.
References
Anderson, J. O., Thundiyil, J. G., & Stolbach, A. (2012). Clearing the air: A review of the effects of particulate matter air pollution on human health. Journal of Medical Toxicology, 8, 166–175.
Candelone, J.-P., Hong, S., Pellone, C., & Boutron, C. F. (1995). Post‐Industrial Revolution changes in large‐scale atmospheric pollution of the northern hemisphere by heavy metals as documented in central Greenland snow and ice. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 100(D8), 16605–16616.
Hamanaka, R. B., & Mutlu, G. M. (2018). Particulate matter air pollution: Effects on the cardiovascular system. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 9, 680.
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