We all know air pollution is bad, and can have significant health impacts for people, resulting in asthma, bronchitis, other respiratory problems and heart attacks. But two new studies show the health implications may be greater than we already knew.
Research from the School of Public Health at Harvard University found that pregnant women exposed to high levels of diesel particulates or mercury were twice as likely to have an autistic child compared with peers in low-pollution areas. In the United States, one child in 50 is diagnosed with autism, which can produce mild to severe behaviors marked by social interaction difficulties and repetitive behaviors that may make independent living impossible as the child becomes an adult.
Other research published in the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes found that children growing up in areas with high air pollution have a higher risk of insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes.
President Obama recently asked the EPA to develop new standards for power plants and how much carbon pollution can be put in the air.
While there are technological advancements and less air polluting approaches to manufacturing products, meeting energy demands, and building vehicles, homes and buildings, they are only part of the solution.
We need to make the connection between poor air quality and too many people. More people have more wants, needs and demands, which drives more production—and more pollution, even with mitigating processes and technologies. Our current model based on increasing growth and a belief in technological fixes for every problem is showing its flaws.
http://www.capsweb.org/fall-2013-newsletter#Pollution