I think that the image itself is powerful and does invoke an understanding of air polution and its effects.
This image can be enriched by centering the left pair of lungs so it is cropped slightly more symmetrically to the ones on the right, as this will make it even more apparent to the viewer that both images are of the same pair of lungs. While the link to the time lapse video is very powerful, a second possibility would be to include other time points, such as after two weeks, or a month, in order to show the gradual blackening over time. Other options might be to include local readings of PM 2.5, thereby contrasting the visual with the “science” of air toxicity.