Air Pollution: The Invisible Health Killer
Mar 07, 2025•12 min
Episode description
Story at-a-glance
- Over 99% of people worldwide live in areas exceeding WHO air pollution guidelines, and research shows that fine particulate matter air pollution contributes to 20% of global Type 2 diabetes cases
- A 2025 study found that chronic low-dose exposure to traffic-derived air pollution triggers fatty liver disease, causing inflammation, reduced glycogen storage and liver scarring in mice
- Human studies confirm the link between air pollution and liver damage, with exposure leading to significant elevations in liver enzymes
- Air pollution disrupts metabolic health through multiple pathways, including oxidative stress, systemic inflammation and interference with the autonomic nervous system and key metabolic organs
- While outdoor air quality is often beyond individual control, using air purifiers, proper ventilation and water filtration — due to chlorine vapors — significantly reduces exposure to harmful indoor air pollutants