Smoking and alcohol are unfortunately too convenient as coping mechanisms go. A stimulant-anxiolytic to keep you going through a shift, and a sedative to slow down and stay numb. And they (nicotine especially) feel just too effective—at the start before you build up dependence at least.

Lifestyle modification can only go so far when the stress of living remains high. Swap the burnt stuff with something that puts less tar in your lungs, maybe, but any further is… sigh.

Air pollution is in fact a big impact to shorter lifespans and many health issues.

There's also a post on HN yesterday about research into air pollution from pm2.5 particles triggering cancer.