Air pollution, fires, climate change and health

Abstract

Air pollution from particulate matter and noxious gases, generated mainly by burning fossil fuels and biomass, has enormous short-and long-term adverse health effects, not only to the respiratory system (as long recognized) but also to other bodily systems. The impacts include cardiovascular, neurological and immune; maternal and infant health can also be harmed. Climate change, chiefy caused by the high and still rising concentrations of three invisible gases, can itself be considered a consequence of air pollution. Rising greenhouse gases, together with human-induced landscape change, interacts with particulate air pollution by increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfres-a reinforcing feedback. Yet, particulate air pollution acts to partially mask global heating, which shows how complex the issue is. Air pollution can be categorized as ambient, indoor and household, associated with different driving forces and with different impacts. Reducing all forms of air pollution is an urgent and 'wicked' problem. Show more