How Does Air Pollution Affect Animals? 6 Deadly Effects

What are the effects of air pollution on animals? Most of the time, climate change and air pollution are discussed through the lens of human impact—be it stifling economic growth or shortening lifespans. At this point, we all know just how terrible smog is for humans, especially children and the elderly. But have you ever stopped to think about how air pollution affects animals? Today, we discuss 6 deadly ways animals also suffer from unclean air.

Air Pollution and Animals – What’s the Connection?

When thinking about smog, few of us wonder what the effects of air pollution on animals are. Interestingly—or perhaps rather depressingly—it turns out that pets and wild animals are just as sensitive to bad air as humans, and their health can also be damaged by the combination of car fumes, emissions, ozone, and particulate matter found in the air.

Overall, air pollution greatly affects biodiversity. As its effects worsen, ecosystems are placed under ever-increasing duress, which can lead to habitat degradation and even widespread collapse of the food chain. The message here is that eventually, everything will come back to haunt us, even if we don’t feel particularly threatened in the present moment.

How Does Air Pollution Affect Animals?

Let’s dive into the specific effects of air pollution on animals. The mechanisms here are numerous and complex. The list of possible conditions developed in pets exposed to harmful substances includes the following:

• Respiratory diseases, such as asthma – It’s worth mentioning that in the case of animals the aftermaths are noticeable much later and are hard to diagnose. Nevertheless, it’s been proven that toxic fumes and smog damage the lungs of pets, as their respiratory systems are much more sensitive than those of humans.
• Fertility problems – Air pollutants hurt the animals’ ability to reproduce, which may lead to infertility.
• Weak immune systems – Animals that breathe in polluted air are more vulnerable to various illnesses and infectious diseases.
• Allergies, infections, and skin irritations – Just like humans, animals are likely to suffer from all kinds of allergies and skin issues caused by smog.
• Liver conditions – Animal livers work in very much the same ways as human livers do. One of their primary roles involves removing toxins from the animal’s body. To do so, the liver needs plenty of clean water. As you have probably figured, wild animals don’t always have access to quality sources of clean drinking water, meaning they have to resort to whatever is available. Sadly, this includes polluted bodies of water. This, in turn, negatively impacts their liver health.
• Extinction – Yes, in the most extreme cases, this can also be how air pollution affects animals. Certain species need fresh air to survive. Exposure to contaminants may cause death due to poisoning or suffocation.

What Can Be Done to Reduce the Effects of Pollution on Animals?

As with anything related to climate change or cleaning up the air, reducing the effects of air pollution on animals will require a collective effort. Governments should enforce stricter regulations on industrial emissions, invest in air quality monitoring, and promote cleaner energy sources. If you want to act, write to your legislator and inform them about the breadth of air pollution effects on animals and voice your support for green initiatives.

On an individual level, there are numerous ways you can reduce your carbon footprint. This includes basic practices such as reducing meat consumption, favouring public transport over moving around using a car, and many others.

This fight isn’t lost, and animals shouldn’t have to suffer. Airly is leading innovation efforts to make the air clean again—for everyone. Check out our case studies to see our actions at the forefront of combatting smog.

The Takeaway

The effects of air pollution on animals are devastating, especially since these creatures are innocent and defenceless. This is why it’s so important to increase the awareness of society and encourage people to take action to work towards improving the quality of air around them.

Do you struggle with interpreting air pollutant levels in your city? Read our entry discussing what an air quality index is and how to analyse it.