By Lily McDorman, Student Pharmacist with Karen Kier, Pharmacist
On behalf of the ONU HealthWise team

On June 10, 1971, Marvin Gaye released his hit Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), which was the most popular song at the time to talk about the environment.  The song was on his second album, What’s Going On. The song hit #4 on the Billboard Top 100 chart and crossed over to the Adult Contemporary chart, hitting number 34. After his tragic death in 1984, Mercy Mercy Me was his third single to be listed in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.

Many aspects of our environment are leading to concerns related to our health. In particular, air pollution is one cause of environmental changes going on in the world.  The largest contributors to air pollution are fossil fuels, industrial fumes, and transportation methods.  Recent wildfires around the globe have had a significant impact.  

Air pollution is made up of tiny harmful particles called pollutants that contaminate the environment and the air we breathe. One out of 8 deaths worldwide is linked to air pollution. Besides air pollution contributing to lung and heart disease, it is linked to an increase risk of other diseases such as dementia, diabetes, infertility, birth defects, and lung cancer. 

Researchers are beginning to investigate whether long-term exposure to air pollution may contribute to other health conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s joints. This can lead to pain, swelling, stiffness, and joint damage affecting daily activities. While the exact cause of RA is unknown, researchers believe it develops through a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

An observational study from January 2026 examined the further effects of air pollution by examining how air pollution could increase the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in a multiethnic group. This study observed over 40,000 participants over a period of 17 years. Researchers evaluated the relationship between RA and exposure to fine particulate matter (RA-PM2.5 association) to determine the hazard risk. Through this hazard risk model, the researchers found  there is an association between chronic exposure to air pollution and RA. The hazard risk was highest in men and participants of African American or Latino ethnicities. The RA incidence was lower among participants who were physically active, while RA incidence was higher among smokers, NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) users, and those who had high-risk work exposures.

While you cannot control the environment or the occurrence of air pollution, there are some steps you can take to prevent unnecessary exposure. Using the weather app on your phone or computer, you can check air quality levels before spending extended periods of time outside. Values under 100 are considered safe for all groups, while values of 100-150 are unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as people with lung or heart conditions, and older adults and pregnant women. Air quality values over 150 are considered unhealthy for the general population. On days when air quality is poor, consider limiting time outdoors, exercising indoors, and keeping windows closed. As researchers continue to learn more about the relationship between air pollution and rheumatoid arthritis, taking simple steps to minimize exposure to poor air quality may help support overall health and well-being.

As previously published, researchers wanted to know if eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in fatty fish and seafood, has health benefits that can protect the body from air pollution. Other sources of EPA can include omega-3 fatty acid supplements, fish oil supplements, and omega-3-enriched eggs. 

An April 2025 study published in Environment & Health evaluated data from 82,706 nonsmokers from the United Kingdom exposed to air pollution. The study measured blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the participants and biomarkers of inflammation. Although this study was based on lung disease, the researchers showed value in consuming omega-3 fatty acids and reducing inflammation. RA has an inflammatory component, and some research has shown a benefit in RA patients who add more omega-3 fatty acids to their diet.

Additional strategies for self-protection against air pollution involve wearing face masks to prevent the inhalation of toxic particles, replacing vehicle air filters quarterly, and staying away from smoky environments or active fires.

Mercy mercy me--A pharmacist can help pick an omega-3 fatty acid supplement or add more EPA to your diet.