06 April 2026 : Review article
A Review of the Increasing Impact and Effects of Air Pollution Throughout Life and Before Birth
Dinah V. Parums
DEF 1
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.953109
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e953109
Introduction
Components of Air Pollution
Fetal Development and Low Birth Weight
Pregnancy Loss and Birth Outcomes
Male Fertility
Childhood Lung Development
Childhood Asthma
Childhood Cardiovascular Development
Childhood Cognitive and Behavioral Development
Mental Health in Children and Adolescents
Lung Disease in Adults
Cardiovascular Disease in Adults
Mental Health, Cognition, and Dementia
Air Pollution and Cancer
International Recommendations on Air Pollution and Health
Conclusions
References
Table 1 Environmental and domestic air pollutants and the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline values [2,3,6].
| Air pollutant | Description | Guideline value |
|---|---|---|
| Particulate matter, diameter ≤2.5 μm, is a small particle that can pass into the bloodstream when inhaled | 5–15 μg/m | |
| Particulate matter, diameter ≤10 μm, is a small particle that can pass into the bloodstream when inhaled | 15–45 μg/m | |
| Very fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) from the burning of coal, gas, diesel, and wood | 5–15 μg/m | |
| A common industrial pollutant derived from burning fossil fuels (coal and petrochemicals) | <40 mg/m | |
| Nitrogen dioxide (toxic gas) is associated with petrol and diesel vehicle | 10–25 μg/m | |
| Formerly a component of petrol and still used for industrial purposes | <0.5 μg/m | |
| Ozone forms at ground level from the reaction between pollutants, solvents, and nitric oxide driven by solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation (sunlight) | <100 μg/m (ground level) | |
| Carbon monoxide is an important household (domestic) air pollutant produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil (carbonaceous) fuels | 4 mg/m over 24 hours | |
| The WHO guideline for * fine particulate matter (PM2.5) recommends an annual average concentration of no more than 5 μg/m and a 24-hour average of no more than 15 μg/m, not to be exceeded for more than 3–4 days per year, and for ** PM10, an annual mean of 15 μg/m and a 24-hour mean of 45 μg/m []. | ||