Is your pet suffering silently? How air pollution affects animals, explains PETA expert | Interview

Air pollution, a growing environmental crisis, is not only detrimental to human health but also has devastating effects on animals, both domesticated and wild. Dr. Mini Aravindan, Director of Veterinary Services at PETA India, sheds light on how air pollution is exacerbating respiratory problems and affecting the health, behavior, and survival rates of animals.

What are the primary ways in which air pollution impacts the respiratory systems of animals, both wild and domesticated?

Dr. Aravindan: The effect of air pollution on animals is similar to that of humans. For instance, it can irritate the throat, nose, and eyes, causing coughing and gagging, and respiratory problems like difficulty breathing. In addition to causing problems in the lungs, air pollution can also affect the heart. Serious air pollution can even cause birth defects, reproductive failure, and other diseases in animals.

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How do long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and toxic gases affect the health and survival rates of animals in urban areas?

Dr. Aravindan: PM2.5 can get into the deeper parts of the lung, while PM10 is more likely to affect the larger airways of the upper region of the lung. Particles deposited on lung surfaces can cause tissue damage and lung inflammation.

Are there specific animal species more vulnerable to air pollution due to their anatomy, habitat, or behaviors? Could you provide examples?

Dr. Aravindan: Breathing-impaired breeds (BIB), like French and English bulldogs, pugs, Pekingese, Boston terriers, boxers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, and shih tzus, suffer from a debilitating and sometimes fatal condition called brachycephalic syndrome. This can make even going for a walk, chasing a ball, running, and playing—the things that make dogs’ lives joyful and fulfilling—difficult, even without air pollution. PETA India has urged the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2017, to prohibit breeding these animals.

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What are the effects of air pollution on wildlife in protected areas close to industrial zones or cities? Are these ecosystems being effectively shielded?

Dr. Aravindan: Ecosystems face many challenges from industrial emissions, inadequate regulations and enforcement, and urban encroachment. Effects on animals include respiratory problems, problems with fertility, weaker immune systems, skin problems and allergies, liver conditions, and death. It can even lead to the extinction of species that struggle to cope.

How do pollutants like ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide affect the foraging, mating, or migration behaviors of animals?

Dr. Aravindan: Animals’ foraging behavior can be altered in several ways. Exposure to pollutants can impair their olfactory senses, making it harder for them to find food. The pollutants can also cause animals to be fatigued from respiratory distress.

Regarding mating, air pollution can disrupt hormonal functions and affect reproductive behavior. It can also affect their ability to find a mate, with scents altered. With temperatures changed, their natural cues for the mating season are also impacted. All of this can change mating timing, mate selection, and overall reproductive success. Pollutants can also disrupt endocrine systems, reducing their ability to reproduce or engage in mating behaviors.

Migration, which often requires precise navigation and timing, can also be severely affected by air pollution. Pollutants that impair cognitive abilities or cause physical stress may lead animals to misjudge migration routes or timing.

What role does air pollution play in exacerbating zoonotic diseases, and how might this increase animal and human risks?

Dr. Aravindan: Air pollution primarily weakens the immune system, causes respiratory stress, and increases the pathogen survival rate. According to a report in the Lancet, PM 2.5 has been shown to contain diverse antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes, which are easily transferred between environments and directly inhaled by humans. Furthermore, pollutants harm ecosystems, altering wildlife behavior and habitat use, leading to increased interactions between humans and other animals, which raises disease risks.

Have there been documented cases of air pollution causing genetic mutations or reproductive challenges in animals? What do these studies reveal?

Dr. Aravindan: Yes. For instance, according to this study, air pollution from steel mills has been linked to genetic mutations and reproductive challenges in wildlife.

How does air quality affect companion animals, such as dogs and cats, in urban areas? Are there preventive measures that animal companion owners should adopt?

Dr. Aravindan: Veterinarians regularly see companion animals with breathing difficulties, especially dogs with flat faces. You can help protect companion animals by keeping them indoors when the air quality is bad, having more playtime inside, filtering the air, and keeping them hydrated.

Air pollution can also cause lethargy, worsen pre-existing conditions and make it even harder for horses and bulls to haul heavy loads. When horses and bulls become ill or collapse, they pose a more significant traffic hazard.

How does air pollution interact with climate change to worsen its effects on wildlife and ecosystems? Could you explain this synergy?

Dr. Aravindan: Air pollutants and greenhouse gases often come from the same sources. Greenhouse gas pollution traps heat in the atmosphere, causing the Earth to warm.

What are the gaps in current research regarding air pollution’s impact on animals, and what areas should future studies focus on?

Dr. Aravindan: One of the best ways we can help tackle air pollution and climate change is by eating vegan. Researchers at the University of Oxford found that not eating meat and dairy products can reduce a person’s carbon footprint from food by up to 73%.