In outdoor air, long term exposure to particulate matter is strongly linked to heart attacks and angina, and this association persists at levels of exposure below the current European limits.
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Ambient particulate matter air pollution is estimated to cause 3.2 million deaths worldwide per year, but the association between long term exposure to air pollution and incidence of coronary events remains controversial.
In the European Union the current annual limit for particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres (μm) or less (known as PM2.5) is 25 µg/m3, which is far above that implemented in the United States (12 µg/m3). And a 2013 BMJ study found average PM2.5 concentrations over a five year period in Beijing was more than 10 times the World Health Organization air quality guideline value of 10 µg/m3.
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The study involved over 100,000 people with no history of heart disease enrolled from 1997 to 2007 and followed for an average of 11.5 years.
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Burning of Cheaper Fuels in Economically Struggling Greece Leading to Air Pollution Crisis
Widespread burning of cheaper fuels during the winter, caused by the ongoing economic crisis in Greece has led to an air pollution crisis in the country.
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After taking account of several other risk factors, including other illness, smoking, and socioeconomic factors, the researchers found that a 5 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5particulate matter was associated with a 13% increased risk of coronary events and a 10μg/m3 increase in PM10 particulate matter was associated with a 12% increased risk of coronary events.
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Hong Kong Announces New Air Pollution Index to Combat Pollution
In an ongoing battle to combat air pollution, Hong Kong announced a new air quality health index, the first in Asia to use the system.
In an ongoing battle to combat air pollution, Hong Kong announced a new air quality health index, the first in Asia to use the system.
Further analyses did not alter the results significantly.
"Our study suggests an association between long term exposure to particulate matter and incidence of coronary events," say the authors.
They point out that these associations remained for exposure concentrations below the current European limits, and suggest that the burden of disease attributable to outdoor particulate matter "might be underestimated if only estimates of mortality are considered."
The results of this study, together with other ESCAPE findings, "support lowering of European limits for particulate air pollution to adequately protect public health," they conclude.
This study "has specific relevance to the management of air quality in Europe," say Professors Michael Brauer and John Mancini from the University of British Columbia, in an accompanying editorial.
They also refer to the 2013 BMJ Beijing study and say: "The important impact of air pollution on cardiovascular disease highlighted by these two papers supports efforts to meet existing and even more stringent air quality standards to minimise cardiovascular morbidity and mortality."
Source-Eurekalert
