Health Conditions Linked to Pollution Exposure

At CleanRecoveryAct.com, we maintain a regularly updated list of illnesses that have been scientifically linked to pollution exposure. Even if you’re not considered a “Sensitive Individual,” air, water, and soil pollution can still harm your health—often gradually and silently over time.

Pollution Affects Everyone

While those with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or compromised immune systems may feel the effects more immediately, everyone is at risk. Long-term exposure to toxic chemicals—often released nightly from factories, refineries, and other industrial sites—can lead to serious health problems, even in otherwise healthy individuals.

Illnesses Linked to Pollution

This is not a complete list. It is reviewed and updated quarterly based on the latest research and medical literature:

• Asthma & Respiratory Illness

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• Lung Cancer

• Heart Disease & Stroke

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Hormone Disruption

• Infertility

• Neurological Disorders (including Parkinson’s & MS)

• ADHD & Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Migraines

• Anxiety & Depression

• Autoimmune Conditions

• Skin Conditions (eczema, psoriasis)

• Endocrine Disruption

• Kidney & Liver Damage

• Increased Risk of Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, lead, arsenic, PFAS, and particulate matter (PM2.5) are just a few of the substances linked to these and other health conditions.

Where Does This Data Come From?

We cross-reference publicly available data from:

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Peer-reviewed medical journals

• NIH & PubMed.gov studies

Prevention Starts With Awareness

If you wake up tired, have chronic inflammation, or unexplained symptoms, it may not be “just stress.” Environmental toxins could be playing a role—especially if you live within 10 miles of a factory, airport, golf course, or major freeway.

Visit our “Polluters Near Me” tool to find out what’s being released near your home—and what you can do about it.

100 Diseases and Conditions Exacerbated by Air Pollution

Extensive research has identified numerous diseases and conditions that are either caused or worsened by exposure to polluted air:

1. Asthma
2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
3. Lung cancer
4. Ischemic heart disease
5. Stroke
6. Hypertension
7. Type 2 diabetes
8. Obesity
9. Alzheimer’s disease
10. Parkinson’s disease
11. Dementia
12. Depression
13. Anxiety disorders
14. Schizophrenia
15. Autism spectrum disorders
16. Epilepsy
17. Cognitive decline
18. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
19. Sleep disorders
20. Chronic bronchitis
21. Pneumonia
22. Tuberculosis
23. Laryngitis
24. Sinusitis
25. Rhinitis
26. Otitis media
27. Conjunctivitis
28. Macular degeneration
29. Cataracts
30. Skin cancer
31. Bladder cancer
32. Kidney cancer
33. Leukemia
34. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
35. Multiple myeloma
36. Breast cancer
37. Prostate cancer
38. Cervical cancer
39. Esophageal cancer
40. Stomach cancer
41. Liver cancer
42. Pancreatic cancer
43. Colorectal cancer
44. Thyroid disorders
45. Endocrine disruption
46. Infertility
47. Miscarriage
48. Preterm birth
49. Low birth weight
50. Birth defects
51. Neonatal mortality
52. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
53. Astigmatism
54. Glaucoma
55. Chronic fatigue syndrome
56. Fibromyalgia
57. Autoimmune diseases
58. Lupus
59. Rheumatoid arthritis
60. Multiple sclerosis
61. Crohn’s disease
62. Ulcerative colitis
63. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
64. Gastritis
65. Peptic ulcers
66. Hepatitis
67. Cirrhosis
68. Chronic kidney disease
69. Nephritis
70. Anemia
71. Thrombocytopenia
72. Leukopenia
73. Immune suppression
74. Allergic reactions
75. Eczema
76. Psoriasis
77. Hives
78. Acne
79. Hair loss
80. Nail disorders
81. Osteoporosis
82. Osteoarthritis
83. Gout
84. Muscle weakness
85. Tendonitis
86. Hearing loss
87. Tinnitus
88. Vertigo
89. Balance disorders
90. Hyposmia (reduced sense of smell)
91. Hypogeusia (reduced sense of taste)
92. Dry mouth
93. Dental caries
94. Periodontal disease
95. Temporomandibular joint disorders
96. Voice disorders
97. Thyroid nodules
98. Goiter
99. Metabolic syndrome
100. Systemic inflammationThe Times+11Wikipedia+11WIRED+11Wikipedia+7Wikipedia+7European Environment Agency+7AP News+4EHS Daily Advisor+4The Times+4WIRED+2Wikipedia+2World Health Organization+2Wikipedia+2European Environment Agency+2The Times+2WIRED+1The Guardian+1WikipediaWikipediaWikipediapca.state.mn.us+5The Times+5US EPA+5World Health Organization+21Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability+21WIRED+21

Sources: NIEHS, WHO, Health.com