Which item is listed as a risk factor for poor health?

• A. Air pollution
• B. Climate resilience
• C. Good nutrition
• D. Access to healthcare

Answer: (A)

Exposure to environmental pollutants, like air pollution, is a known risk factor that can increase the burden of disease. Breathing polluted air introduces irritants and inflammatory particles into the respiratory system, raising the risk of conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and heart disease, and can worsen existing health problems. This makes air pollution the factor that contributes to poorer health outcomes.

In contrast, good nutrition supports immune function and reduces risk for many chronic diseases, access to healthcare helps with early detection and management of illness, and climate resilience reflects a community’s ability to adapt to environmental stresses, which tends to lessen health risks rather than increase them.