Air Pollution: The Invisible Health Killer

Story at-a-glance Over 99% of people worldwide live in areas exceeding WHO air pollution guidelines, and research shows that fine particulate matter air pollution contributes to 20% of global Type 2 diabetes cases A 2025 study found that chronic low-dose exposure to traffic-derived air pollution triggers fatty liver disease, causing inflammation, reduced glycogen storage and liver scarring in mice Human studies confirm the link between air pollution and liver damage, with exposure leading to significant elevations in liver enzymes Air pollution disrupts metabolic health through multiple pathways, including oxidative stress, systemic inflammation and interference with the autonomic nervous system and key metabolic organs While outdoor air quality is often beyond individual control, using air purifiers, proper ventilation and water filtration — due to chlorine vapors — significantly reduces exposure to harmful indoor air pollutants