Cardiovascular Effects of Air Pollution: Current Evidence from Animal and Human Studies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes Maria Lederer ◽  
Per Morten Fredriksen ◽  
Benedicta Ngwenchi Nkeh-Chungag ◽  
Frans Everson ◽  
Hans Strijdom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality

Background: Air pollution is a global health concern. PM2.5, a component of ambient air pollution, has been identified by the World Health Organization as one of the pollutants that poses the greatest threat to public health.Cardiovascular health effects have been extensively documented and these effects are still researched. Aims: To provide an overview of recent literature regarding air pollution-associated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in humans. Additionally, potential mechanisms through which air pollutants affect the cardiovascular system are discussed based on human, and additional animal studies. Methodology: We used the strategy of a narrative review to summarize the scientific literature of studies that were published in the last 7 years. Searches were carried out on PubMed and Web of Science using predefined search queries. Results and discussion: We obtained an initial set of 800 publications that were filtered to 78 publications that were relevant to include in this review. Analysis of the literature showed significant associations between air pollution, especially PM2.5, and the risk of elevated blood pressure (BP), acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure (HF), respectively. Prominent mechanisms that underlie the adverse effects of air pollution include oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, autonomic imbalance and thrombogenicity. Conclusions: The current review underscores the relevance of air pollution as a global health concern that affects cardiovascular health. More rigorous standardsare needed to reduce the cardiovascular disease burden imposed by air pollution. Continued research on the health impact of air pollution is needed to provide further insight.

scholarly journals Air Pollution—An Overlooked Risk Factor for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Sebastian Majewski ◽  
Wojciech J. Piotrowski
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Adverse Health

Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health and a global public health concern. In 2016, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), ambient air pollution in cities and rural areas was estimated to cause 4.2 million premature deaths. It is estimated that around 91% of the world’s population lives in places where air pollution exceeds the limits recommended by the WHO. Sources of air pollution are multiple and context-specific. Air pollution exposures are established risk factors for development and adverse health outcomes in many respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or lung cancer. However, possible associations between air pollution and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have not been adequately studied and air pollution seems to be an underrecognized risk factor for IPF. This narrative review describes potential mechanisms triggered by ambient air pollution and their possible roles in the initiation of the pathogenic process and adverse health effects in IPF. Additionally, we summarize the most current research evidence from the clinical studies supporting links between air pollution and IPF.

The Global Threat of Outdoor Ambient Air Pollution to Cardiovascular Health

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Brook ◽  
David E. Newby ◽  
Sanjay Rajagopalan
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Global Threat

scholarly journals Health and Economic Impacts Assessment of O3 Exposure in Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11646
Author(s):  
José Texcalac-Sangrador ◽  
Magali Hurtado-Díaz ◽  
Eunice Félix-Arellano ◽  
Carlos Guerrero-López ◽  
Horacio Riojas-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Economic Valuation ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Uncertainty Interval ◽  
Avoidable Deaths

Health effects related to exposure to air pollution such as ozone (O3) have been documented. The World Health Organization has recommended the use of the Sum of O3 Means Over 35 ppb (SOMO35) to perform Health Impact Assessments (HIA) for long-term exposure to O3. We estimated the avoidable mortality associated with long-term exposure to tropospheric O3 in 14 cities in Mexico using information for 2015. The economic valuation of avoidable deaths related to SOMO35 exposure was performed using the willingness to pay (WTP) and human capital (HC) approaches. We estimated that 627 deaths (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 227–1051) from respiratory diseases associated with the exposure to O3 would have been avoided in people over 30 years in the study area, which confirms the public health impacts of ambient air pollution. The avoidable deaths account for almost 1400 million USD under the WTP approach, whilst the HC method yielded a lost productivity estimate of 29.7 million USD due to premature deaths. Our findings represent the first evidence of the health impacts of O3 exposure in Mexico, using SOMO35 metrics.

scholarly journals Quantifying the Health and Wealth Benefits of Reducing Point Source Pollution: The Case of the Sugar Industry in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13252
Author(s):  
Sanaullah Panezai ◽  
Ubaid Ali ◽  
Alam Zeb ◽  
Muhammad Rafiq ◽  
Ayat Ullah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Sugar Industry ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Production Method ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
World Health ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Reduced Form ◽  
The Impact

Air pollution is among the major causes of death and disease all around the globe. The prime impact of ambient air pollution is on the lungs through the respiratory system. This study aims to estimate the health cost due to air pollution from a Sugar Mill in the Mardan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. To determine the impact of pollution on respiratory illness, primary data were collected from 1141 individuals from 200 households living within a 3 km radius of the mill. The Household Production Method was used to drive the reduced-form Dose–Response Function and the Mitigation Cost Function for assessing the impact of pollution on health and then estimating the monetary cost associated with mitigating such illnesses. The results indicate that about 60% of the respondents living in the surrounding area of the mill suffered from different respiratory illnesses. The study estimates that by reducing the suspended particulate matter (SPM) level by 50%, the expected annual welfare gains to an individual living within a 3 km radius of the mill are US $20.21. The whole community residing within a 3 km radius of the mill will enjoy an estimated welfare gain of PKR. 70.67 million (US $0.511 million). If the pollution standard limits prescribed by the World Health Organization are followed, the expected monetary benefits to all the individuals living within a 3 km radius of the mill are PKR. 114.48 million (US $0.27 million) annually.

Ambient air pollution exposure and lung function assessment of filling station attendants in Ibadan, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-218
Author(s):  
Toluwanimi Mobolade Oni ◽  
Godson R.E.E. Ana
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Lung Function ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Forced Expiratory Volume ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Filling Station

Abstract Background There is an increasing range of adverse health effects associated with air pollution at very low concentrations. Few studies have assessed respiratory parameters among filling station attendants. Objectives This study assessed air pollutants; particulate matter (PM10) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) concentrations at filling stations as well as determined forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) levels among filling station attendants. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess PM10 and TVOC concentrations at 20 systematically selected filling stations in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Ibadan for 2 months using a Thermo Scientific pDR 1500 PM10 monitor and SF2000-TVOC meter. FEV1 and PEFR levels were measured in order to assess the effect of exposure to PM10 and TVOC on lung function of 100 filling station attendants using a PIKO-1 Electronic peakflow/FEV1 meter. Results Total mean PM10 concentrations (μg/m3) in the morning (43.7±16.5) and afternoon (27.8±7.9) were significantly lower (p<0.01) than the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline limit (50 μg/m3). Total mean TVOC concentrations (ppm) in the morning (12.0±3.4) and afternoon (5.6±2.4) were however significantly higher (p<0.01) than the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guideline limit (3 ppm). Mean FEV1 for filling station attendants was 1.63±0.39 and PEFR was 171.7±45.9. Conclusion Filling stations are hotspots for the emission of VOCs and PM10. However, filling station attendants in this study are at risk of exposure to high concentrations of VOCs but not PM10. FEV1 and PEFR values among filling station attendants were very low which could possibly be attributed to extended exposure to air pollutants. Regular medical examinations should also be conducted on filling station attendants in order to aid early detection of deviations in their health status.

scholarly journals The Adverse Effects of Air Pollution on the Nervous System

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sermin Genc ◽  
Zeynep Zadeoglulari ◽  
Stefan H. Fuss ◽  
Kursad Genc
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Cerebrovascular Dysfunction ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Exposure to ambient air pollution is a serious and common public health concern associated with growing morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the last decades, the adverse effects of air pollution on the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems have been well established in a series of major epidemiological and observational studies. In the recent past, air pollution has also been associated with diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and neurodevelopmental disorders. It has been demonstrated that various components of air pollution, such as nanosized particles, can easily translocate to the CNS where they can activate innate immune responses. Furthermore, systemic inflammation arising from the pulmonary or cardiovascular system can affect CNS health. Despite intense studies on the health effects of ambient air pollution, the underlying molecular mechanisms of susceptibility and disease remain largely elusive. However, emerging evidence suggests that air pollution-induced neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, microglial activation, cerebrovascular dysfunction, and alterations in the blood-brain barrier contribute to CNS pathology. A better understanding of the mediators and mechanisms will enable the development of new strategies to protect individuals at risk and to reduce detrimental effects of air pollution on the nervous system and mental health.

scholarly journals Comparison of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cookstoves and Wood Cooking Fires on PM2.5 Trends in Brick Workers’ Homes in Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 5681
Author(s):  
James D. Johnston ◽  
Megan E. Hawks ◽  
Haley B. Johnston ◽  
Laurel A. Johnson ◽  
John D. Beard
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
World Health ◽  
Liquefied Petroleum Gas ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Prior studies document a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms among brick workers in Nepal, which may be partially caused by non-occupational exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from cooking. In this study, we compared PM2.5 levels and 24 h trends in brick workers’ homes that used wood or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cooking fuel. PM2.5 filter-based and real-time nephelometer data were collected for approximately 24 h in homes and outdoors. PM2.5 was significantly associated with fuel type and location (p < 0.0001). Pairwise comparisons found significant differences between gas, indoor (geometric mean (GM): 79.32 μg/m3), and wood, indoor (GM: 541.14 μg/m3; p = 0.0002), and between wood, indoor, and outdoor (GM: 48.38 μg/m3; p = 0.0006) but not between gas, indoor, and outdoor (p = 0.56). For wood fuel homes, exposure peaks coincided with mealtimes. For LPG fuel homes, indoor levels may be explained by infiltration of ambient air pollution. In both wood and LPG fuel homes, PM2.5 levels exceeded the 24 h limit (25.0 µg/m3) proposed by the World Health Organization. Our findings suggest that increasing the adoption of LPG cookstoves and decreasing ambient air pollution in the Kathmandu valley will significantly lower daily PM2.5 exposures of brick workers and their families.

scholarly journals Social Inequalities in Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution: A Systematic Review in the WHO European Region

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (17) ◽  
pp. 3127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Fairburn ◽  
Steffen Andreas Schüle ◽  
Stefanie Dreger ◽  
Lisa Karla Hilz ◽  
Gabriele Bolte
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
World Health ◽  
European Region ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Oxides Of Nitrogen ◽  
Majority Population

Ambient air pollution is a long-standing and significant public health issue. The aim of this review is to systematically examine the peer-reviewed evidence on social inequalities and ambient air pollution in the World Health Organization European Region. Articles published between 2010 and 2017 were analyzed in the review. In total 31 articles were included in the review. There is good evidence from ecological studies that higher deprivation indices and low economic position are usually linked with higher levels of pollutants such as particulate matter (particulate matter under 2.5 and 10 microns in diameter, PM2.5, PM10) and oxides of nitrogen (e.g., NO2, and NOx). There is also evidence that ethnic minorities experience a mixed exposure in comparison to the majority population being sometimes higher and sometimes lower depending on the ethnic minority under consideration. The studies using data at the individual level in this review are mainly focused on pregnant women or new mothers, in these studies deprivation and ethnicity are more likely to be linked to higher exposures of poor air quality. Therefore, there is evidence in this review that the burden of higher pollutants falls disproportionally on different social groups.

scholarly journals Leveraging Existing Cohorts to Study Health Effects of Air Pollution on Cardiometabolic Disorders: India Global Environmental and Occupational Health Hub

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117863022091568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gagandeep K Walia ◽  
Siddhartha Mandal ◽  
Suganthi Jaganathan ◽  
Lindsay M Jaacks ◽  
Nancy L Sieber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Policy Advocacy ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Pollution Exposure ◽  
Environmental And Occupational Health

Air pollution is a growing public health concern in developing countries and poses a huge epidemiological burden. Despite the growing awareness of ill effects of air pollution, the evidence linking air pollution and health effects is sparse. This requires environmental exposure scientist and public health researchers to work more cohesively to generate evidence on health impacts of air pollution in developing countries for policy advocacy. In the Global Environmental and Occupational Health (GEOHealth) Program, we aim to build exposure assessment model to estimate ambient air pollution exposure at a very fine resolution which can be linked with health outcomes leveraging well-phenotyped cohorts which have information on geolocation of households of study participants. We aim to address how air pollution interacts with meteorological and weather parameters and other aspects of the urban environment, occupational classification, and socioeconomic status, to affect cardiometabolic risk factors and disease outcomes. This will help us generate evidence for cardiovascular health impacts of ambient air pollution in India needed for necessary policy advocacy. The other exploratory aims are to explore mediatory role of the epigenetic mechanisms (DNA methylation) and vitamin D exposure in determining the association between air pollution exposure and cardiovascular health outcomes. Other components of the GEOHealth program include building capacity and strengthening the skills of public health researchers in India through variety of training programs and international collaborations. This will help generate research capacity to address environmental and occupational health research questions in India. The expertise that we bring together in GEOHealth hub are public health, clinical epidemiology, environmental exposure science, statistical modeling, and policy advocacy.

scholarly journals Size distribution and chemical composition of indoor and outdoor particles in lab building

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balal Oroji ◽  
Asghar Sadighzadeh ◽  
Eisa Solgi ◽  
Alireza Zakeri ◽  
Mohammad Sadegh Oliaei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Size Distribution ◽  
Atmospheric Aerosols ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Size Distribution Of Particles ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Introduction: Exposure to toxic components in indoor PM is associated with a wide spectrum of adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. The fine PM pollution in ambient air is currently a major health concern in Iran and is driving increasing research interest. Due to air pollution in Tehran met-ropolitan, it is necessary to study the concentration and size distribution of particles inside and outside the building.   Materials and methods: Hence, for this study, concentration and size distribution of particles matter was calculated with diameters of PM≤0.4, PM0.4-0.7, PM0.7-1.1, PM1.1-2.1, PM2.1-3.3, PM3.3-4.7, PM4.7-7, PM7-11, PM≥11 and TSP during two seasons in the lab building in the Tehran. Measurements on the aerodynamic size of atmospheric aerosols carried with Anderson type 1-ACFM Cascade Impactor with six-stage. The length of each collection period was about 24 h. Results: The results show that the effect of outdoor air pollution on the con-centration of particles in the indoor environment is significant. According to these results, the lowest value is for particles with a diameter greater than 11 µm. the highest value of this ratio is dedicated to PM≤0.4 and with the increase of the aerodynamic diameter of the particles, the I/O decreases as well. A similar trend was recorded for concentration of TSP. The highest difference in the concentration of TSP in indoor and outdoor was 60.25 and 188.36 µg/ m3, respectively. Conclusion: This effect is due to factors such as the lack of standard ventilation, old doors and windows and the life of the building.

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