The air you breathe has a direct and immediate effect on your health. When pollution levels rise—indoors or outdoors—your lungs and cardiovascular system are the first to feel the impact.

Even low levels of pollution can irritate and inflame the airways, reduce lung function, and make it harder for your body to fight infections. These effects are especially felt by children, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone living with asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions.

Air pollution is made up of many substances, each affecting the body in different ways:

• Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, causing coughing and shortness of breath. Even at low concentrations, NOₓ can worsen asthma or COPD, while high levels can trigger dangerous swelling of the airways.

• Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is small enough to enter deep into the lungs and even the bloodstream. These particles increase inflammation throughout the body, reducing lung function and raising the risk of heart and circulatory problems.

• Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) causes immediate breathing discomfort, including wheezing and tightness in the chest. At higher levels, SO₂ can cause airway constriction and fluid buildup in the lungs.

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—often released from industrial sources, traffic, household cleaners, and building materials—can irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs, and may cause headaches or dizziness. Long-term exposure has been linked to cancer and damage to the nervous system.

• Carbon monoxide (CO) prevents your blood from carrying oxygen. Even short-term exposure can cause headaches, nausea, confusion, and—in severe cases—loss of consciousness or death.

• Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane contribute to climate change, which increases heat waves, pollen, mold, and wildfire smoke. These environmental changes add stress to the respiratory system and worsen chronic lung diseases.

Scientific evidence consistently shows that exposure to these pollutants increases hospitalizations for asthma, respiratory infections, COPD, and heart disease. People living near busy roads, industrial facilities, high-traffic areas, or wildfire-prone regions are at higher risk.

But pollution doesn’t just show up in statistics—it shows up in people’s daily lives. Many New Brunswickers tell us they experience more coughing, wheezing, headaches, or fatigue on days when air quality is poor. Others notice flare-ups of asthma or COPD, difficulty exercising, or worsening allergy symptoms.

Tell Us Your Story

NB Lung wants to hear from you. How has air pollution or poor air quality affected your breathing, your health, or your daily life? Your experiences help us understand what communities are facing and shape our advocacy, education, and support programs.

If you’ve noticed changes in your health related to air quality—big or small—we encourage you to reach out and share your story with us.