Air Pollution Linked to Increased Death from Heart Disease

First Posted: Sep 15, 2015 10:48 AM EDT

It turns out that there is, in fact, a link between air pollution and the risk of death. Scientists have found that increased air pollution increases a person's risk of dying from heart disease.

Fine air particles that are no more than 2.5 micrometers across can cause major health issues. They can contribute to the development of potentially fatal heart and lung diseases, in particular, because they slip past the body's defenses and can be absorbed deep into the lungs and blood stream. They are not sneezed or coughed out the way larger natural particles are removed, and fine particles are usually made of harmful chemicals, such as arsenic, selenium and mercury.

To see exactly what harm air pollution might cause, the researchers evaluated data from a detailed health and diet survey conducted by the NIH. This study involved 556,000 male and female volunteers between the ages of 50 to 71.

The researchers calculated the death risk from exposure to particulate matter for people in each national census district by cross-referencing information about the amount and type of particulate matter from the Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality System and other databases. In the end, they found a link between particulate matter exposure and increase in risk of death from all nonaccidental causes and from cardiovascular disease.

"We need to better inform policymakers about the types and sources of particulate pollution so they know where to focus regulations," said Richard B. Hayes, one of the researchers, in a news release. "It is especially important to continue monitoring health risks as national standards for air pollution are strengthened."

The findings are published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

29784, 29667

Air Pollution: Coal Ash May be Spewing Radioactive Contaminants

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).

See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone

TagsHealth, air pollution, Death, Fine Particulate Matter, Pollution, Lung, Cardiovascular health