Health Hotline Magazine | April 2021

Feature Article

Air Pollution Is a Killer. Here’s How to Protect Yourself.

By Lindsay Wilson

At the time of this writing, more than two million people worldwide have lost their lives to COVID-19. The number is staggering. Now consider this: It is estimated that globally, at least seven million deaths are attributed to air pollution every year. 1,2 Seven million deaths. Every year. That number is unthinkable. Even with laws in place to protect our “clean air,” our modern world exposes us all to some level of outdoor (ambient) and indoor air pollution.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pollution levels in many areas of the United States exceed national air quality standards for at least one of several common pollutants, including fine particulate matter, ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. 3 The American Lung Association’s 2018 “State of the Air” report found that nearly 150 million Americans live in counties with unhealthy levels of air pollution, 4 with African Americans and Latinos bearing the brunt. 5

AT LEAST SEVENMILLIONDEATHS ARE ATTRIBUTEDTOAIRPOLLUTION EVERY YEAR.

Terms and conditions apply. See page 2 for details.*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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