Fine particle air pollution worsens health

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

According to the latest study, heart and lung disease are made worse by the tiny particles present in air pollution.
We already know that PM10s, the tiny particles that make up a lot of air pollution, are a health risk. In recent years, attention has focused on PM2.5s, which are even smaller particles. The figures refer to the diameter of the particles in micrometers. Now a team at Johns Hopkins University has come up with some new evidence on PM2.5s.

They looked at hospital admission rates and distance from a PM2.5 monitor for the period from 1999 to 2002. The study covered 11.5 million people. They found that exposure to PM2.5s increased admission rates for all outcomes, save injuries. The association was strongest for heart failure. The researchers say that the particles increase inflammation when breathed in and this is particularly harmful for the heart and lungs. More must be done to control the sources of such particles, for the sake of the nation's health.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 8th March 2006 Volume 295 pages 1127-1134