The contribution of PM2.5 to cardiovascular disease in China

Abstract China is experiencing rapid urbanization and industrialization with correspondingly high levels of air pollution. Although the harm of PM2.5 has been long reported, it is only quite recently that there is increasing concern in China for its possible adverse health effects on cardiovascular disease. We reviewed the epidemiologic evidence of potential health effects of PM2.5 on cardiovascular disease reported from recent studies in China (2013 onwards). There is clear evidence for the contribution of PM2.5 to cardiovascular outcomes, including mortality, ischemic heart disease, and stroke from studies based in various regions in China. This evidence adds to the global evidence that PM2.5 contributes to adverse cardiovascular health risk and highlights the need for improved air quality in China.

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Ambient and household air pollution: complex triggers of disease

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.00235.2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 307 (4) ◽

pp. H467-H476 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Stephen A. Farmer ◽

Timothy D. Nelin ◽

Michael J. Falvo ◽

Loren E. Wold

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Health Effects ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

World Health ◽

Outdoor Air ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Adverse Health ◽

Indoor And Outdoor

Concentrations of outdoor air pollution are on the rise, particularly due to rapid urbanization worldwide. Alternatively, poor ventilation, cigarette smoke, and other toxic chemicals contribute to rising concentrations of indoor air pollution. The World Health Organization recently reported that deaths attributable to indoor and outdoor air pollutant exposure are more than double what was originally documented. Epidemiological, clinical, and animal data have demonstrated a clear connection between rising concentrations of air pollution (both indoor and outdoor) and a host of adverse health effects. During the past five years, animal, clinical, and epidemiological studies have explored the adverse health effects associated with exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollutants throughout the various stages of life. This review provides a summary of the detrimental effects of air pollution through examination of current animal, clinical, and epidemiological studies and exposure during three different periods: maternal (in utero), early life, and adulthood. Additionally, we recommend future lines of research while suggesting conceivable strategies to curb exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants.

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Industrial pollution related health problems among residents of a rural area in central Kerala

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20214042 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Suchithra Erath Thadathil ◽

Jaya Koothupalakkal Viswambharan ◽

Alok Kanjhoor Premdas ◽

Ashwin Raj

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Health Effects ◽

Rural Area ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Control Group ◽

Case Group ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Significant Difference

Background: Air pollution leads to several health effects, the major systems affected were respiratory, dermatology, neurology and ophthalmology. This study is an attempt to find out various health effects of pollution, from a food factory to the nearby residents.Methods: A cross sectional comparative study was performed on 248 residents nearby a food factory, situated in rural area of Thrissur district and a comparative group of 266 participants taken 5km away from this factory.Results: Both the groups were comparable in socio-demographic profile except religion and occupation. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the use of firewood in both the groups. The symptoms of major systems involved were respiratory (odds ratio 3.9, 95% CI 2.2 to 6.8), dermatological (odds ratio 18.3, 95% CI 8.3 to 40.7), neurological (odds ratio 13.5, 95% CI 4.1 to 44.7) and ophthalmological (odds ratio 5.9, 95% CI 2.6 to 13.6). The major symptoms complained by them were pruritus (32.7%), skin lesions (17.7%), breathlessness (16.9%), itching eye (13.3%) watering from eye (11.7%) and headache (11.3%). All these symptoms among the case group compared to control group were very high and these associations were highly statistically significant (p<0.001).Conclusions: This study showed an increased occurrence of adverse health effects among the individuals who were residing near the food factory. Therefore this study points out the possibility of environmental pollution (mainly air pollution) as a main factor for the increased prevalence of symptoms among those who reside nearby the factory.

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New Opportunities to Mitigate the Burden of Disease Caused by Traffic Related Air Pollution: Antioxidant-Rich Diets and Supplements

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17020630 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 630 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jillian Barthelemy ◽

Kristen Sanchez ◽

Mark R. Miller ◽

Haneen Khreis

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Health Effects ◽

Burden Of Disease ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Preventive Measure ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Adverse Health ◽

Antioxidant Intake ◽

Antioxidant Supplements

Air pollution is associated with premature mortality and a wide spectrum of diseases. Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is one of the most concerning sources of air pollution for human exposure and health. Until TRAP levels can be significantly reduced on a global scale, there is a need for effective shorter-term strategies to prevent the adverse health effects of TRAP. A growing number of studies suggest that increasing antioxidant intake, through diet or supplementation, may reduce this burden of disease. In this paper, we conducted a non-systematic literature review to assess the available evidence on antioxidant-rich diets and antioxidant supplements as a strategy to mitigate adverse health effects of TRAP in human subjects. We identified 11 studies that fit our inclusion criteria; 3 of which investigated antioxidant-rich diets and 8 of which investigated antioxidant supplements. Overall, we found consistent evidence that dietary intake of antioxidants from adherence to the Mediterranean diet and increased fruit and vegetable consumption is effective in mitigating adverse health effects associated with TRAP. In contrast, antioxidant supplements, including fish oil, olive oil, and vitamin C and E supplements, presented conflicting evidence. Further research is needed to determine why antioxidant supplementation has limited efficacy and whether this relates to effective dose, supplement formulation, timing of administration, or population being studied. There is also a need to better ascertain if susceptible populations, such as children, the elderly, asthmatics and occupational workers consistently exposed to TRAP, should be recommended to increase their antioxidant intake to reduce their burden of disease. Policymakers should consider increasing populations’ antioxidant intake, through antioxidant-rich diets, as a relatively cheap and easy preventive measure to lower the burden of disease associated with TRAP.

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Bioactive Compounds of Strawberry and Blueberry and Their Potential Health Effects Based on Human Intervention Studies: A Brief Overview

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11071510 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1510 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Katharina Miller ◽

Walter Feucht ◽

Markus Schmid

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Phenolic Compounds ◽

Health Effects ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Intervention Studies ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Human Intervention ◽

Potential Health

Strawberries and blueberries are two of the most commonly consumed berries. Berries, in general, are characterized by their highly nutritive compounds, including minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, and dietary fiber, as well as their high content and wide diversity of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds and organic acids. These bioactive compounds have been associated with protective effects against chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other disorders. In this paper 16 human intervention studies investigating the beneficial health effects of dietary strawberry or blueberry consumption on inflammation, cardiovascular disease or cognitive function and mental health are reviewed.

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Premature Adult Mortality and Years of Life Lost Attributed to Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution and Potential for Mitigating Adverse Health Effects in Tuzla and Lukavac, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos11101107 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 1107

Author(s):

Vlatka Matkovic ◽

Maida Mulić ◽

Selma Azabagić ◽

Marija Jevtić

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Life Expectancy ◽

Health Effects ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

Ambient Air ◽

World Health ◽

Years Of Life Lost ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Adverse Health

Ambient air pollution is one of eight global risk factors for deaths and accounts for 38.44 all causes death rates attributable to ambient PM pollution, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is 58.37. We have estimated health endpoints and possible gains if two policy scenarios were implemented and air pollution reduction achieved. Real-world health and recorded PM pollution data for 2018 were used for assessing the health impacts and possible gains. Calculations were performed with WHO AirQ+ software against two scenarios with cut-off levels at country-legal values and WHO air quality recommendations. Ambient PM2.5 pollution is responsible for 16.20% and 22.77% of all-cause mortality among adults in Tuzla and Lukavac, respectively. Our data show that life expectancy could increase by 2.1 and 2.4 years for those cities. In the pollution hotspots, in reality, there is a wide gap in what is observed and the implementation of the legally binding air quality limit values and, thus, adverse health effects. Considerable health gains and life expectancy are possible if legal or health scenarios in polluted cities were achieved. This estimate might be useful in providing additional health burden evidence as a key component for a clean air policy and action plans.

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Cardiovascular effects of air pollution

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs20070444 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 115 (6) ◽

pp. 175-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 381

Author(s):

Robert D. Brook

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Health Effects ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Cardiovascular Effects ◽

Systemic Circulation ◽

Pollution Source ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Particle Exposure

Air pollution is a heterogeneous mixture of gases, liquids and PM (particulate matter). In the modern urban world, PM is principally derived from fossil fuel combustion with individual constituents varying in size from a few nanometres to 10 μm in diameter. In addition to the ambient concentration, the pollution source and chemical composition may play roles in determining the biological toxicity and subsequent health effects. Nevertheless, studies from across the world have consistently shown that both short- and long-term exposures to PM are associated with a host of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial ischaemia and infarctions, heart failure, arrhythmias, strokes and increased cardiovascular mortality. Evidence from cellular/toxicological experiments, controlled animal and human exposures and human panel studies have demonstrated several mechanisms by which particle exposure may both trigger acute events as well as prompt the chronic development of cardiovascular diseases. PM inhaled into the pulmonary tree may instigate remote cardiovascular health effects via three general pathways: instigation of systemic inflammation and/or oxidative stress, alterations in autonomic balance, and potentially by direct actions upon the vasculature of particle constituents capable of reaching the systemic circulation. In turn, these responses have been shown to trigger acute arterial vasoconstriction, endothelial dysfunction, arrhythmias and pro-coagulant/thrombotic actions. Finally, long-term exposure has been shown to enhance the chronic genesis of atherosclerosis. Although the risk to one individual at any single time point is small, given the prodigious number of people continuously exposed, PM air pollution imparts a tremendous burden to the global public health, ranking it as the 13th leading cause of morality (approx. 800000 annual deaths).

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Health impacts of anthropogenic biomass burning in the developed world

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.01865-2014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 46 (6) ◽

pp. 1577-1588 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Torben Sigsgaard ◽

Bertil Forsberg ◽

Isabella Annesi-Maesano ◽

Anders Blomberg ◽

Anette Bølling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Effects ◽

Biomass Burning ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Combustion Products ◽

Biomass Combustion ◽

The European Union ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Adverse Health ◽

Developed World

Climate change policies have stimulated a shift towards renewable energy sources such as biomass. The economic crisis of 2008 has also increased the practice of household biomass burning as it is often cheaper than using oil, gas or electricity for heating. As a result, household biomass combustion is becoming an important source of air pollutants in the European Union.This position paper discusses the contribution of biomass combustion to pollution levels in Europe, and the emerging evidence on the adverse health effects of biomass combustion products.Epidemiological studies in the developed world have documented associations between indoor and outdoor exposure to biomass combustion products and a range of adverse health effects. A conservative estimate of the current contribution of biomass smoke to premature mortality in Europe amounts to at least 40 000 deaths per year.We conclude that emissions from current biomass combustion products negatively affect respiratory and, possibly, cardiovascular health in Europe. Biomass combustion emissions, in contrast to emissions from most other sources of air pollution, are increasing. More needs to be done to further document the health effects of biomass combustion in Europe, and to reduce emissions of harmful biomass combustion products to protect public health.

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Protective Effect of Breastfeeding on the Adverse Health Effects Induced by Air Pollution: Current Evidence and Possible Mechanisms

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16214181 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (21) ◽

pp. 4181 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zielinska ◽

Hamulka

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Protective Effect ◽

Health Effects ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Under Five ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Adverse Health ◽

Air Pollution Exposure ◽

Pollution Exposure

Air pollution is a major social, economic, and health problem around the world. Children are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of air pollution due to their immaturity and excessive growth and development. The aims of this narrative review were to: (1) summarize evidence about the protective effects of breastfeeding on the adverse health effects of air pollution exposure, (2) define and describe the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of breastfeeding, and (3) examine the potential effects of air pollution on breastmilk composition and lactation. A literature search was conducted using electronic databases. Existing evidence suggests that breastfeeding has a protective effect on adverse outcomes of indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure in respiratory (infections, lung function, asthma symptoms) and immune (allergic, nervous and cardiovascular) systems, as well as under-five mortality in both developing and developed countries. However, some studies reported no protective effect of breastfeeding or even negative effects of breastfeeding for under-five mortality. Several possible mechanisms of the breastfeeding protective effect were proposed, including the beneficial influence of breastfeeding on immune, respiratory, and nervous systems, which are related to the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective properties of breastmilk. Breastmilk components responsible for its protective effect against air pollutants exposure may be long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA), antioxidant vitamins, carotenoids, flavonoids, immunoglobins, and cytokines, some of which have concentrations that are diet-dependent. However, maternal exposure to air pollution is related to increased breastmilk concentrations of pollutants (e.g., Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or heavy metals in particulate matter (PM)). Nonetheless, environmental studies have confirmed that breastmilk’s protective effects outweigh its potential health risk to the infant. Mothers should be encouraged and supported to breastfeed their infants due to its unique health benefits, as well as its limited ecological footprint, which is associated with decreased waste production and the emission of pollutants.

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Air Pollution as a Cause of Obesity: Micro-Level Evidence from Chinese Cities

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16214296 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (21) ◽

pp. 4296 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zhiming Yang ◽

Qianhao Song ◽

Jing Li ◽

Yunquan Zhang

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Particle Size ◽

Health Effects ◽

Multinomial Logit Model ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Adverse Health ◽

Individual Vulnerability ◽

The Government ◽

The Impact

Chinese air pollution is obviously increasing, and the government makes efforts to strengthen air pollution treatment. Although adverse health effects gradually emerge, research determining individual vulnerability is limited. This study estimated the relationship between air pollution and obesity. Individual information of 13,414 respondents from 125 cities is used in the analysis. This study employs ordinary least squares (OLS) and multinomial logit model (m-logit) to estimate the impact of air pollution on obesity. We choose different air pollution and Body Mass Index (BMI) indicators for estimation. Empirical results show Air Quality Index (AQI) is significantly positively associated with the BMI score. As AQI adds one unit, the BMI score increases 0.031 (SE = 0.002; p < 0.001). The influence coefficients of particle size smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), particle size smaller than 10 μm (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) to the BMI score are 0.034 (SE = 0.002; p < 0.001), 0.023 (SE = 0.001; p < 0.001), 0.52 (SE = 0.095; p < 0.001), 0.045 (SE = 0.004; p < 0.001), 0.021 (SE = 0.002; p < 0.001), 0.008 (SE = 0.003; p = 0.015), respectively. Generally, air pollution has an adverse effect on body weight. CO is the most influential pollutant, and female, middle-aged, and low-education populations are more severely affected. The results confirm that the adverse health effects of air pollution should be considered when making the air pollution policies. Findings also provide justification for health interventions, especially for people with obesity.

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