Air Pollution
Air pollution presents a particularly insidious hazard given that the disease affects respiratory and cardio-vascular systems (source). These two systems are sensitive to air pollution as air pollution directly damages the mechanics and as a consequence the function of lungs, heart, and the circulatory system (source).
In addition, both indoor and outdoor air pollution are main environmental hazards identified that affect not only our lungs but, in fact, our whole body. As we also breathe in the oxygen necessary to sustain life, we also breathe in harmful pollutants that enter our lungs and bloodstream to then travel through the whole of our system where they reach, virtually, all our cells (source). Pollutants directly damage our lungs and other organs, cause systemic inflammation (which can reduce the immune response), and initiate a stress response which, if chronic, can lead to subsequent damage to our bodies. Acute and chronic exposure to air pollution, therefore, weakens our whole system and depletes our body of resources that are essential to combat additional stressors, such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
The dangerous and important fact about fine particulate matter is that there is technically no safe amount that a person should be exposed to regularly (source). The SRS, therefore, starts the scale at zero and maxes at the WHO recommended level of particulate matter.
How air pollution is an urban planning problem
There are four main types of air pollution sources:
mobile sources – such as cars, buses, planes, trucks, and trains
stationary sources – such as power plants, oil refineries, industrial facilities, and factories
area sources – such as agricultural areas, cities, and wood burning fireplaces
natural sources – such as wind-blown dust, wildfires, and volcanoes
The first three are factors within control of urban planning and local government regulation. The frequency, proximity and density of these factors are contributors to air pollution.
The majority of urban air pollution comes from vehicle movement but also includes particulates from asphalt, tyres and brake pads, and building exhausts.
Better regulation of these systems will work to reduce pollutant build up.