Air pollution, a significant environmental health issue, affects everyone. However, there is growing research evidence showing that the health effects of air pollution may not be the same for men and women. This difference is driven by biological, socio-economic, and occupational factors that can influence exposure levels and health outcomes.

Biological Differences

In terms of biological differences, women have a higher percentage of body lipids than men, which can accumulate fat-soluble pollutants. This can lead to a higher concentration of certain pollutants in women, potentially increasing their risk of health effects. For example, a study published in the journal ‘Environmental Research’ in 2018 showed that women exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of chemicals released from burning coal, oil, gasoline, and tobacco, had higher levels of DNA damage than men exposed to the same levels of PAHs.

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