Assessing the Impact of Air Pollution on Physiology: Implications and Prospects

Air pollution due to industrial activity, vehicles, and construction has shown immediate and long-term effects on human health. While respiratory condition manifests directly, long-term conditions like heart diseases, cancer, lung damage, and the impact on fetal health have been established. This study is aimed to explore the effects of air pollution on the physiological health of humans using a smart wearable watch. A total of 8 healthy security guards posted at the institute gate close to a very busy traffic junction for 12 hours a day were recruited. The physiological indicators such as heart rate (HR), body temperature (BT), and SPO2 levels were recorded by the wearable device for changes during the day/night for two seasons (summer and winter). Air pollution monitoring sensors were also deployed at the same site to record PM2.5, PM10, relative humidity (RH), and environmental temperature (ENT). A survey of 43 questions under three different sections: demographic, medical condition, and quality of life (QoL) were also filled by each participant. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical analysis (Wilcoxon, Correlation) have been presented based on the collected data. The research shows an association between short-term fluctuations in physiological parameters due to air pollution. Still, the findings need to be weighted with the accuracy and consistency of the wearable devices.