Air Pollution May Affect Every Organ, Cell in the Body

Taking a long, deep breath is good for both our bodies and minds. It supplies necessary oxygen to our blood and can help to create emotional calm.

However, calm and oxygen are not the only things a deep breath brings. In many parts of the world, a deep breath also brings pollutants into our bodies.

For many people around the world, breathing polluted air has become the new “normal.” On its website, The World Health Organization warns that “91% percent of the world’s population lives in places where air quality exceeds WHO guideline limits.”

On its website, WHO experts say that air pollution kills "an estimated 7 million people worldwide every year." It says about 4 million deaths are linked to outdoor air pollution and about 3 million deaths are linked to inside air pollution, also called "household air pollution." The WHO adds that air pollution harms billions more.