Air pollution is no longer just an environmental issue—it is a major global public health emergency. As urbanization and industrialization accelerate, especially in central metropolitan regions, the burden of air pollution has surged. People living in central urban zones are often exposed to higher concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and a wide range of toxic heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified air pollution as the largest environmental risk to human health, contributing to over 7 million premature deaths annually. Unlike smoking or poor diet, air pollution is involuntary and unavoidable for residents of polluted urban centers—making it one of the most pressing non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors globally.
According to the WHO Ambient Air Quality Database (2023):
In Iraq, for example, urban centers like Baghdad, Basrah, and Erbil experience persistent air quality degradation due to a combination of vehicular traffic, industrial emissions, dust storms, and diesel generator exhaust.
While some effects of air pollution are subtle and cumulative, others are acute, especially in vulnerable populations:
Children, the elderly, individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, and outdoor workers are disproportionately affected.
a. Respiratory Diseases
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Long-term exposure to PM2.5 is a leading cause, even in non-smokers.
• Asthma: Higher prevalence and severity among children and adults living in central urban zones.
• Lung cancer: WHO’s IARC has classified air pollution as a Group 1 carcinogen, particularly linked to lung adenocarcinoma.
• Impaired lung development: Children exposed during early development may have permanently reduced lung function by adolescence.
b. Cardiovascular Diseases
• Fine particulate matter enters the bloodstream, leading to:
o Endothelial dysfunction
o Atherosclerosis
o Increased risk of hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes
• A meta-analysis (European Heart Journal, 2020) estimated that air pollution reduces global life expectancy by 2.9 years, primarily through cardiovascular mechanisms.
c. Neurological and Cognitive Impact
• Emerging evidence links air pollution to:
o Cognitive decline, especially in elderly populations
o Increased risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
o ADHD, autism, and developmental delays in children exposed prenatally or in early life
• Fine particles are believed to cross the blood-brain barrier, triggering neuroinflammation.
d. Endocrine and Metabolic Effects
• Exposure is linked to:
o Increased insulin resistance
o Higher risk of type 2 diabetes
o Obesity, especially in children
o Disruption of thyroid function and possible links to metabolic syndrome
e. Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes
• Air pollution during pregnancy is associated with:
o Low birth weight
o Preterm delivery
o Miscarriage and stillbirth
o Impaired placental development
f. Cancer Risk
• Beyond lung cancer, long-term exposure to urban air pollutants is implicated in:
o Bladder cancer
o Breast cancer
o Leukemias and lymphomas due to benzene and other VOCs
Monitor air quality indexes (AQI) daily using mobile apps or local data
Limit outdoor activities during high-pollution periods (morning and late evening in dense cities)
Use N95 masks or certified pollution masks when outdoors
Install air purifiers in homes and workplaces
Keep indoor environments well-ventilated but seal windows during peak pollution
Increase antioxidant-rich foods (vitamins C and E) to counter oxidative stress
2. Urban Planning and Infrastructure Reform
Promote green spaces, vertical forests, and tree belts to improve ambient air quality
Transition public and private transportation to electric or hybrid systems
Invest in public transit infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion
Enforce industrial emissions regulations and ban open burning
Design buildings for natural airflow, reducing dependency on diesel generators
3. Policy-Level Interventions
WHO’s Clean Air Initiative urges cities to meet updated AQI standards by 2030
Carbon taxation and emission caps on high-polluting industries
Air quality legislation tailored to megacities, with enforcement and accountability
Encourage solar energy and off-grid power solutions in developing regions