Exposure to ozone in air pollution linked to obesity and diabetes

One of many side effects that air pollution can have on vulnerable individuals is poor gut health which can also be a contributing factor for obesity, diabetes and other chronic illness, say Environment International experts.

A recent Science Direct study, carried out by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, found that young adults who are exposed to greater levels of ozone pollution have a much lower microbial variation, also linked with obesity and diabetes.

As a way of examining what goes on inside the human gut, 101 faecal samples were taken from young adults across Southern California.

To account for a balanced experiment, researchers monitored the air close to the homes of each participant to calculate exposure to ozone and nitrous oxides.

As a result, ozone appeared to have the greatest impact on an individual’s gut with 11% of the variation accounting for study subjects opposed to gender, ethnicity and diet.

128 bacterial species were also identified during the research which were also triggered by the exposure of ozone, affecting muscle energy that’s carried over from sugar.

Despite ozone changing the functionality of the gut, fighting against certain bacteria, the ones being targeted are causing additional health implications, an ideology conducted by Tanya Alderete, senior author of the study.

Air pollution and CO2 emissions aren’t just contributing factors towards lung cancer and heart disease, but also other illnesses such as obesity and diabetes.

In order to protect the health and wellbeing of the population, CO2 emissions need urgent attention across all sectors of moving vehicles and outdoor power equipment.

Thankfully, EGO are already on board with making a difference by offering battery-powered outdoor solutions to conquer the dangers attached to petrol.