Does Exposure to Air Pollution Literally Accelerate Aging? (opens in new tab)

It is well established that long term exposure to forms of air pollution increases the risk of mortality and numerous age-related conditions. The mechanisms of interest revolve around increased systemic chronic inflammation that is provoked by the interaction of pollutants, such as fine particles, with airway and lung cells. Is this exposure and its consequences a form of accelerated aging? The question of whether one environmental factor or another accelerates aging forces us to consider how...