Turns out, air pollution isn't just bad for your lungs: it could also raise your chances of getting type 2 diabetes.
A new global review found that every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) bumps up diabetes risk by about 10% to 16%.
So, breathing dirty air can have bigger health impacts than we thought.
Study links PM2.5 to diabetes deaths
The study was co-authored by Dr. Anoop Misra and looked at data from North America, Europe, and Asia, including South Asia, where a 9% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes was linked to PM2.5 exposure.
They also found connections between polluted air and more cases of diabetes-related deaths and high blood sugar levels.
The study doesn't prove air pollution directly causes diabetes but highlights why cleaner air matters for everyone's health.