Frailty in Ageing Populations Worsened By Air Pollution, Global Review Finds (theguardian.com)
(Friday October 03, 2025 @05:22PM (msmash)
from the in-the-air dept.)
- Reference: 0179640138
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/10/03/117228/frailty-in-ageing-populations-worsened-by-air-pollution-global-review-finds
- Source link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/03/frailty-in-ageing-populations-worsened-by-air-pollution-global-review-finds
Air pollution increases the likelihood of people [1]becoming frail in middle and old age , according to an international review of studies. The Guardian:
> The review team found 10 studies that looked at outdoor air pollution and frailty. The people studied came from 11 countries including China, the UK, Sweden, South Africa and Mexico. Two of the studies showed that men were more vulnerable than woman, with a stronger association between particle pollution and frailty. The risk of frailty increased with outdoor particle pollution. For the UK, this could mean about 10-20% of frailty cases are attributable to air pollution.
>
> Exposure to secondhand smoking was the environmental factor that presented the greatest risk of frailty. The risk of frailty was increased by about 60% for people who breathed other people's smoke at home. Using solid fuels for cooking or home heating also carried an extra risk of frailty. This was about half the risk of living with a smoker, based on studies from six countries.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/03/frailty-in-ageing-populations-worsened-by-air-pollution-global-review-finds
> The review team found 10 studies that looked at outdoor air pollution and frailty. The people studied came from 11 countries including China, the UK, Sweden, South Africa and Mexico. Two of the studies showed that men were more vulnerable than woman, with a stronger association between particle pollution and frailty. The risk of frailty increased with outdoor particle pollution. For the UK, this could mean about 10-20% of frailty cases are attributable to air pollution.
>
> Exposure to secondhand smoking was the environmental factor that presented the greatest risk of frailty. The risk of frailty was increased by about 60% for people who breathed other people's smoke at home. Using solid fuels for cooking or home heating also carried an extra risk of frailty. This was about half the risk of living with a smoker, based on studies from six countries.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/03/frailty-in-ageing-populations-worsened-by-air-pollution-global-review-finds
and here I thought (Score:2)
by flippy ( 62353 )
air pollution was GOOD. Geez, "air pollution is bad for humans". How is this news? I'm pretty sure we've known it for a long time, though we often choose to ignore it.
Re: and here I thought (Score:2)
by OrangeTide ( 124937 )
For some people, economic growth is more important than human health. Especially if those people have little political power.
is this supposed to be news?? (Score:2)
pretty sure i've known this for over 50 years
Solutions? (Re:is this supposed to be news??) (Score:1)
> pretty sure i've known this for over 50 years
Not only that but nothing new on what to do about it.
If the issue is electricity and industrial heat from fossil fuels then get more nuclear power plants. If the issue is engine exhaust in population centers then get more EVs on the road. Even if this is a switch to PHEVs as a means to address "range anxiety" for those not yet trusting a BEV to get them where they are going then it's still a lot less engine exhaust where people live, leaving the burning of hydrocarbons out along interstates where there's