In a new paper, researchers report that when people are breathing cleaner air, their health could be improved rapidly.
They conclude that people can reap a range of benefits when air pollution is cut—from fewer asthma attacks to lower risks of heart attack and stroke, to a longer life expectancy.
The research was from the Environmental Committee of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS).
Air pollution affects the heart, the kidneys, the brain, and it’s linked to higher risks of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, and many cancers.
The team says in cities hosting the Olympics, there are cleaner air and healthier residents.
For the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, officials bumped up public transportation and closed downtown streets to private vehicles.
As a result, peak daily ozone levels dropped by 28%, and the number of city children needing medical care for asthma attacks fell by more than 40%.
Another example was Beijing that hosted the 2008 Olympics. The Chinese national government put three-month restrictions on traffic, as well as factory emissions.
Air pollution plummeted, and within two months, there were declines in doctor visits for asthma and in deaths from heart disease and stroke.
Factory shutdowns could also bring big health benefits. And the improvements were not limited to lung disease. Premature births were reduced, as was the area’s daily mortality rate.
The team says people should try to breathe cleaner air, both indoors and outdoors. They should avoid smoking and use less energy at home.
The team also advocating for local and national measures to reduce air pollution.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Dean Schraufnagel.
The study is published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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