A review of low-level air pollution and adverse effects on human health: implications for epidemiological studies and public policy

Abstract

The aim of this study was to review original scientific articles describing the relationship between atmospheric pollution and damage to human health. We also aimed to determine which of these studies mentioned public policy issues.Original articles relating to atmospheric pollution and human health published between 1995 and 2009 were retrieved from the PubMed database and analyzed. This study included only articles dealing with atmospheric pollutants resulting primarily from vehicle emissions. Three researchers were involved in the final selection of the studies, and the chosen articles were approved by at least two of the three researchers.Of the 84 non-Brazilian studies analyzed, 80 showed an association between atmospheric pollution and adverse effects on human health. Moreover, 66 showed evidence of adverse effects on human health, even at levels below the permitted emission standards. Three studies mentioned public policies aimed at changing emission standards. Similarly, the 29 selected Brazilian studies reported adverse associations with human health, and 27 showed evidence of adverse effects even at levels below the legally permitted emission standards. Of these studies, 16 mentioned public policies aimed at changing emission standards.Based on the Brazilian and non-Brazilian scientific studies that have been conducted, it can be concluded that, even under conditions that are compliant with Brazilian air quality standards, the concentration of atmospheric pollutants in Brazil can negatively affect human health. However, as little discussion of this topic has been generated, this finding demonstrates the need to incorporate epidemiological evidence into decisions regarding legal regulations and to discuss the public policy implications in epidemiological studies.

Environmental pollutants and stroke-related hospital admissions

“…Olmo et al 1 list the main Brazilian and non-Brazilian studies that show the association between exposure to air pollution and human morbidity. These studies also show the association between exposure to air pollution and human mortality.…”

Size–segregated particulate matter inside residences of elderly in the Metropolitan Area of São Paulo, Brazil

“…The susceptibility to air pollution varies with different age groups, socioeconomic status, and pre-existing health conditions (Pope, 2000;Peled, 2011;Olmo, 2011). The elderly among the other population groups are ageing faster worldwide, especially in the MASP (Alessandri and Maeda, 2011;United Nations, 2015).…”

“…The elderly among the other population groups are ageing faster worldwide, especially in the MASP (Alessandri and Maeda, 2011;United Nations, 2015). The air quality standards for PM 2.5 or PM 10 may not be safe for elderly people and even exposure to much lesser concentrations, compared with the younger age groups, could lead to much higher health risks in elderly because of their lower immunity and less efficient respiratory system (Saldiva et al, 1995;Gouveia and Fletcher, 2000;Peled, 2011;Olmo et al, 2011;Arbex et al, 2012). For example, past studies suggest association of PM and its compounds with health problems in the elderly such as the acute respiratory inflammation, pneumonia, asthma chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, autonomic cardiac dysfunction, renal and cognitive deficit, and cardiovascular and respiratory mortality (Saldiva et al, 1995;Liao et al, 1999;Simoni et al, 2003;Holguín et al, 2003;Gonçalves et al, 2007;Halonen et al, 2009;Power et al, 2011;Nascimento, 2011;Weuve et al, 2012;Han et al, 2016;Mehta et al, 2016).…”

“…For this reason, measurements in such residences are extremely important to assess their air quality. While the toxicological and epidemiological studies present evidence of health effects for PM mass concentration (Elder et al, 2006;Kampa and Castanas, 2008;Brook, 2008;Arbex et al, 2012;Heal et al, 2012;Power et al, 2011;Nascimento, 2011;Olmo, 2011;Weuve et al, 2012;Han et al, 2016;Mehta et al, 2016), the effects of different particle sizes on human health still require exhaustive assessments. The knowledge of their exposure doses is, therefore, important and is also covered within the scope of this present work.…”

The relationship between low birth weight and exposure to inhalable particulate matter

“…Motor vehicles are a major source of air pollution in urban areas. However, it is important to emphasize that in certain regions of the world biomass burning is also an important source of air pollution that causes adverse health effects 1,2 .…”