Understanding Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Diseases: Is It Preventable?

Morishita, Masako; Thompson, Kathryn C.; Brook, Robert D.

doi:10.1007/s12170-015-0458-1

Cited by 44 publications

(49 citation statements)

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“…Evidence has shown that interventions can reduce air pollutants exposure, especially measures such as air filtration, closing windows and air conditioning, using a particulate respirator face mask. These measures are shown to be feasible and effective [19]. Therefore, strategic priorities should go beyond reducing national level of outdoor ambient concentrations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and perceptions of air pollution in Ningbo, China

Qian

et al. 2016

BMC Public Health

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BackgroundThe residents’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to ambient air pollution and health will help to improve the understanding of environmental protection and make environmental health policies more targeted and effective. This study aimed at knowing the attitudes and behaviors towards ambient air pollution and health.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ningbo, China in January 2015. Personal information and questions pertaining to the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards ambient air pollution and health were collected through questionnaire investigations. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and multiple unconditional logistic regression analysis were used.ResultsThe questionnaire was completed by 1604 respondents (59.41 % women). The awareness rate was 64.59 % and varied significantly with age, levels of education, and occupation (all p < 0.05). Only 5.80 % of the total participants were satisfied with the air quality in Ningbo in 2014. Most respondents (78.80 %) expressed concern about the possible aggravation of the haze. More than 80 % of participants believed that it will take at least 3-5 years or longer before the air quality is improved. Television and internet resources have replaced books and newspapers as the primary sources for obtaining knowledge about haze and related protective measures. 85.22 % of respondents were concerned about air quality index (AQI). Most of the residents have taken protective measures indoors during haze weather. 48.50 % have worn face masks when going outside, the most frequently type of face masks selected were cotton (39.85 %) or gauze face masks (36.24 %). Age and occupation were the main factors associated with the level of knowledge about air pollution (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThere were a relatively high knowledge awareness rate, strong health protection consciousness and high enthusiasm for air pollution control among Ningbo residents. The elderly people and less-educated residents are the targetable population for improving environment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and perceptions of air pollution in Ningbo, China

Qian

et al. 2016

BMC Public Health

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“…Although indoor air purification has ostensible merit, the estimated reduction in time-averaged exposure was only 50%, as in prior studies. 5,13 Average PM 2.5 exposure remained at 24 μg/m 3 even during air purification, which is 2 to 3 times that faced by most Americans 2 and may leave most people incompletely protected. Thus, more substantial reductions in exposure may be required to optimally protect public health.…”

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confidence: 98%

“…This includes the United States (population-weighted mean PM 2.5 exposure level of 8.4 μg/m 3 ), 2 where the public has already enjoyed an increase in life expectancy since 1980 from improved air quality. 5 Indeed, mounting evidence supports that no threshold exists below which PM 2.5 no longer poses a health risk to the population, even when levels are within annual World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines (<10 μg/m 3 ). 2,6 Given these facts, compelling arguments can be made for implementing strategies to reduce PM 2.5 levels at both ends of the air pollution severity spectrum worldwide.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…3,4 On a more practical note, another commonly posed unresolved question is: what can (and should) an individual do to protect him- or herself against the hazards of air pollution given the fact that substantial improvements in air quality throughout many parts of the world are likely decades away? 3–5 …”

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confidence: 99%

“…5,13 The reduction in estimated PM 2.5 exposure afforded by filtration favorably influenced most of the health outcomes (blood pressure, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation), curtailed PM 2.5 -induced activation of the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and helped mitigate the ensuing metabolomic perturbations. Although indoor air purification has ostensible merit, the estimated reduction in time-averaged exposure was only 50%, as in prior studies.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Anthropogenic ambient fine particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) air pollution from fossil fuel combustion (eg, coal-fired power plants and traffic) ranks among the leading causes of worldwide morbidity and mortality. 1 In agreement with figures from the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/topics/global _burden_of_disease/en/), estimations indicate that approximately 3.15 million deaths per year are attributable to PM 2.5 . This alarming figure exceeds that of many more widely recognized risk factors (eg, hypercholesterolemia) and unfortunately is estimated to double by 2050. 1 However, perhaps underappreciated by health care professionals and the general populace alike is that the largest portion of ambient PM 2.5 -induced health effects are owing to cardiovascular events. Short-term elevations in PM 2.5 increase the risk for myocardial infarctions, strokes, heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiac death. 2,3 Longer-term exposures synergistically increase this acute risk and can even potentiate the development of chronic cardiometabolic conditions including diabetes and hypertension. As such, both the American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology have formally recognized ambient PM 2.5 as a major cardiovascular risk factor. 2,3 While nearly all of humanity is adversely affected, the public health burden of ambient PM 2.5 is disproportionately felt by rapidly developing countries. 1,4 More than 99% of individuals living in east and south Asia are chronically exposed to PM 2.5 levels exceeding annual World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines (<10 μg/m 3 ) compared with less than 20% in North America. 4 On top of this prevailing poor air quality, daily concentrations routinely exceed 100 μg/m 3 (5-to 10-fold greater than those across the United States) in megacities such as New Delhi, India, and Beijing, China. Unfortunately, extreme air pollution episodes (greater than 750-1000 μg/m 3 ) lasting several weeks per year are becoming all too routine (eg, the Chinese "airpocalypse " ). While improvements in air quality in the United States during the past few decades, largely owing to governmental National Ambient Air Quality Standards, have translated into significant improvements in life expectancy, 5,6 the opposite trend continues throughout much of Asia. 4 Successful widespread pollutioncontrol measures and advancements in using "green" technologies face numerous (eg, economic, infrastructure, and political) near-term barriers. 7 A substantial reduction from annual PM 2.5 levels in India and China (mean of 59 μg/m 3 and 41 μg/m 3 , respectively) require a major paradigm shift in human activity, and at the present rate of development, solving the worsening soci-VIEWPOINT

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Understanding Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Diseases: Is It Preventable?

Cited by 44 publications

References 48 publications

Knowledge and perceptions of air pollution in Ningbo, China

Knowledge and perceptions of air pollution in Ningbo, China

“Stressed” About Air Pollution

The Global Threat of Outdoor Ambient Air Pollution to Cardiovascular Health

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