Abstract
1/2022
vol. 8
Review paper
Impact of air pollution on health, including the role of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Divison of Pathophysiology, Wroclaw Medical University Wrocław, Poland
- Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wrocław, Poland
- Department of Population Health, Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
- Department of Paralympic Sport, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
J Health Inequal 2022; 8 (1): 75–81
Online publish date: 2022/06/30
Environmental pollution is a global problem, temporarily obscured by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper analyses the epidemiological and geographical differentiation of air pollution and provides an overview of types of pollution, their sources, and their effects on the human body. The paper characterises the effects of air pollution on the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and other systems, including the impact of exposure to air pollution on children, pregnant women and the fetus. In addition, the paper discusses the legal basis for governing the emission of pollutants, as well as individual protective measures for preventing or removing pollution. However, it should not be forgotten that success may only be achieved when individual countries and organisations, such as the European Union, create and implement global policies to address air pollution.
Keywords
air pollution; environmental health; COVID-19
Integrated with
