Breathing Unequal Air: Global and US Air Quality Across the Lifespan and the Nursing Response.

Authors

Adelita G Cantu

Published in

The Nursing clinics of North America. Volume 61. Issue 4. Pages 585-599. Epub Sep 18, 2026.

Abstract

Air pollution remains one of the most significant environmental threats to human health, contributing to nearly 8 million deaths annually worldwide. Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), ozone (O₃), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) are among the primary pollutants responsible for cardiopulmonary, neurocognitive, and perinatal morbidity across the lifespan. This article reviews current global and national data on air quality, highlighting trends in exposure, health outcomes, and nursing and policy responses. Integrating air quality awareness into nursing curricula and practice represents a critical step toward achieving environmental and health equity in a changing climate.

PMID:
42919509
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 24 Oct 2026.

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