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Introduction
In general, public health issues are specific problems and threats related to the global populations overall health. Public health may be regarded as an interdisciplinary field directly opposite to healthcare that focuses on the welfare of individual patients. Although fundamental public health issues have a particular tendency to change in the long term, the underlying problems and strategies of their solution remain basically the same. In the present day, major public health issues include global warming, air pollution, pandemics, non-communicable disease, mental issues, tobacco-related, alcohol-related, and drug-related effects, malnutrition, obesity, HIV, a lack of basic care access, and high-threat pathogens. The purpose of this paper is to describe the issue of air pollution and provide potential solutions to minimize its negative consequences and discuss its impact on the system of health care delivery.
Air Pollution
A prevalent number of public health issues are connected with climate change, and air pollution may be considered one of the most disturbing environmental problems caused by human activities. The burning of fossil fuels leads to the release of carbon dioxide that accumulates in the atmosphere and subsequently causes the rise of global temperature and climate change ( Climate change decreases the quality of the air we breathe, n.d.). In addition, the emission of exhaust gases has a profoundly negative impact on human health as they make the air less clean and healthy to breathe.
The problem of air pollution caused by climate change and actual human activities is international, and it affects a substantial number of people across the globe regardless of their age, gender, race, and ethnicity. People who live in isolated territories or in developing countries with undeveloped health infrastructure have a particular risk to suffer from environmental challenges to a greater extent (World Health Organization, 2018). According to the United States National Climate Assessment, particulate matter air pollution and increasing ground-level ozone dramatically affect human health in various locations ( Climate change decreases the quality of the air we breathe, n.d.). In general, ground-level ozone is a substantively harmful air pollutant and the main component of smog. It is traditionally associated with multiple health problems, such as asthma, allergies, and diminished lung function and contributed to increased emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and premature deaths (Kelly & Fussell, 2015).
Children are specifically vulnerable to climate change and air pollution in comparison with adults due to their cognitive and physical immaturity. For instance, they are frequently engaged in outdoor activities, leaving them more exposed to heat and outdoor air pollutants like ozone that may trigger asthma attacks and various allergies ( Climate changes childrens health, n.d., p. 1 ). According to statistics provided by the American Lung Association, more than 2 million children with asthma live in the U.S. areas with unhealthy exceeded ozone levels ( Climate changes childrens health, n.d.). Moreover, the extension of the warm season due to the global change of weather patterns increases the amount of pollen and airborne pollutants that may have a lasting negative impact on the respiratory health of children.
Climate change may influence the quality of air in another way as well. The greenhouse effect, drought conditions, and altered weather patterns result in massive wildfires that affect human health in multiple ways. As a matter of fact, smoke exposure causes acute respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular or respiratory disorders. In general, air pollution caused by the emission of hazardous gases and global climate change as a result of human activities is a highly severe public health issue that requires a rapid and appropriate solution.
Potential Solutions to Minimize Air Pollution
In fact, specific actions to minimize the negative consequences of climate change and air pollution should be taken at all levels personal, governmental, and public health. According to recent researches, the emission of greenhouse gas in the transportation sector has increased by 16 % since 1990 ( Changing climate through healthy community and transportation, n.d.). Every person may contribute to the improvement of air quality through the reduction of personal vehicles use and participation in the programs of the health community that implies planting trees and the establishment of gardens. Moreover, the use of bicycles instead of automobiles improves physical form and decreases stress and the risk of chronic diseases.
It goes without saying that the government and its agencies are primarily responsible for appropriate action to combat increased air pollution. The first potential solution to mitigate climate change and improve air quality includes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that should be ensured by policymakers (Duque et al., 2016). Besides the burning of fossil fuels, the agriculture sector is another leading source of pollution as the digestion processes of livestock animals produce methane that causes the greenhouse effect as well (Chen, Wen, Wang, & Nie, 2017). A policy response may imply the investment in new low-carbon technologies and farms facilities or the reduction of livestock numbers.
The second step is the commitment to decarbonization. Policymakers should adopt regulatory actions and legislation that support the alternative ways of electricity generation in order to reduce emissions in the sector of transportation (The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, 2019). In addition, the government should focus on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through investment in the cities infrastructure to provide access to walking or biking.
The system of public health takes action to mitigate the negative consequences of air pollution as well. The field of public health focuses on detection, prevention, and management. Public health professionals aim to educate communities on the impact of climate change on human health. In general, they help the public to prepare for potential consequences of environmental challenges by providing water safety testing, air quality index, heatwave and storming warnings, and mosquito control programs. Public health agencies are responsible for the detection and management of all kinds of public health emergencies.
It goes without saying that the activities of public health professionals and governmental agencies have a highly positive impact on the system of health care delivery. When patients suffer from the outcomes of climate change, they require medical assistance to treat asthma, allergies, or cardiovascular and respiratory disorders caused by increased air pollution. When governmental agencies, public health professionals, and individuals combine efforts in order to mitigate the negative results of climate change, the number of patients reduces.
Conclusion
Air pollution may be defined as one of the most serious public health issues caused by the emission of hazardous gases and global climate change as a result of human activities. This problem is international as it affects a substantial number of people across the globe regardless of their age, gender, and ethnicity. The combination of efforts of individuals, communities, the government and policymakers, and public health and health care professionals should currently prevent and combat the negative consequences of air pollution.
References
Changing climate through healthy community and transportation. (n.d.). APHA. Web.
Chen, Y., Wen, X., Wang, B., & Nie, P. (2017). Agricultural pollution and regulation: How to subsidize agriculture? Journal of Cleaner Production, 164, 258-264. Web.
Climate change decreases the quality of the air we breathe. (n.d.). APHA. Web.
Climate changes childrens health. (n.d.). APHA. Web.
Duque, L., Relvas, H., Silveira, C., Ferreira, J., Monteiro, A., Gama, C.,& Miranda, A. I. (2016). Evaluating strategies to reduce urban air pollution. Atmospheric Environment, 127, 196-204. Web.
Kelly, F. J., & Fussell, J. C. (2015). Air pollution and public health: emerging hazards and improved understanding of risk. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 37, 631-649. Web.
The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. (2019). Policy brief for the United States of America. Web.
World Health Organization. (2018). Climate change and health. Web.
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